#MakeTheSwitch to Natural Deodorant
30 Day Deodorant Detox. Don’t sweat it.
When it comes to switching your deodorant, it can be a challenge to break the habit of buying the same one because you know that it works. What we put under our arms is one of the most essential choices we make when it comes to personal care products, and it’s a great place to start making the switch to all natural beauty routine.
Discover why switching to natural deodorant benefits your internal & external health along with tips and recommendations to make your switch an easy one.
The Antiperspirant Problem
There are 2 major health-risks associated with using conventional deodorants. Firstly, conventional deodorants contain parabens, phthalates, triclosan, and other ingredients that we want to avoid in our beauty products. These ingredients are toxic endocrine disrupters and/or carcinogens, which can lead to infertility, hormonal imbalance, and cancer with prolonged use over time. Some scientists have also proposed that underarm antiperspirants or deodorants may be related to breast cancer because they are applied frequently to an area next to the breast*.
The second thing is that they contain aluminum to control perspiration. The aluminum compounds used in antiperspirants work by closing pores to prevent the release of sweat. This doesn’t mean you stop sweating. Aluminium compounds are known to be capable of causing both DNA alterations and epigenetic effects, and this would be consistent with a potential role in breast cancer if such effects occurred in breast cells.*
Intake of parabens is a concern because studies show that parabens have estrogen-like properties. Estrogen is known to cause breast cells (both normal and cancerous) to grow and divide. Some conditions that increase the body's exposure to estrogen (like not having children, late menopause, obesity, etc.) have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.*
Making The Switch To Natural Deodorant
By transitioning to natural deodorant, your underarms will feel fresher and over time will release less of an odor. Since your skin isn’t irritated and absorbing toxic ingredients, you will be able to get a cleaner shave that lasts longer too!
Making the switch can be difficult, natural deodorants are not perfect and they react with everyone’s skin differently, so there may be some trial and error… and reapplication. But be patient and give your body time to readjust.
The Deodorant Detox
When you first switch to natural deodorant you’re probably going to feel like it doesn’t work. You might not love it immediately, but push through this detox period and allow your body to eliminate all the toxins that may have been building up in your armpits. It will take about 2-4 weeks for your body to adjust and you will be back to normal while all the trapped substances make their way out of your clogged glands.
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1st Week: “It’s Working!”
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2nd Week: “Oh man, why am I smelling?”
This is totally normal, your body is beginning the detox process and purging all of the built up toxins from your pits. Some people may feel a little itchy or have some redness. Keep your armpits clean and don’t over apply the deodorant. -
3rd Week: “I don’t smell as much but I’m so sweaty”
Your body is still in the process of purging all of the toxins and bacteria, you might be sweating more than usual. -
4th Week: “I’m feeling back to normal, and my odor is lessening each day”
Your underarms are completing the purging process and detox.
How to do an armpit cleanse in 30 days.
Simple steps you need to take to detox and switch to a natural deodorant.
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EXFOLIATE: After you stop using your current deodorant, use a cloth or loofa in the bath or shower to exfoliate the dead skin and toxins.
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APPLY: Apply an aluminum free natural deodorant to your armpits. If you are sensitive to baking soda, look for deodorants for sensitive skin or with alternate ingredients such as magnesium hydroxide.
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MONITOR: If you start to smell an odor, wash your pits off with a wet towel, wet cloth, or natural baby wipe and then reapply your deodorant. Make sure not to over apply.
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DETOX: Repeat this process for up to four weeks or until your natural deodorant works for up to 6 hours. Once you are detoxed, apply once in the morning and once before bed and you should be good to go!
HOW NATURAL DEODORANT WORKS
The main thing to look for in deodorant is absorption. The ingredients in a natural deodorant that work great for absorbing wetness are baking soda and arrowroot powder. These ingredients are both totally safe and non-toxic, I’m not saying they are on par with antiperspirant, but it’s close! Magnesium Oxide is also becoming a very popular choice for its absorption properties since many people are sensitive to baking soda.
Ingredients to look for in Natural Deodorant
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Carrier Oils & Soothing Moisturizers.
Coconut Oil, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil, Sunflower Oil.
These oils act as the base of the deodorant and/or provide soothing benefits, and vitamins to the sensitive skin of your pits. -
Essential Oils.
Lavender, tea tree, grapefruit, bergamot rosemary, sage, lemongrass ect.
These essential oils derived from plants have great antibacterial properties to prevent odor and growth of sweat-digesting bacteria.*
SOME GREAT ALL NATURAL DEODORANTS
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant: Rose + Vanilla
The smell of a rose is one of those experiences that can ignite fond memories of young love and backyard gardens. The brand new scent from Schmidt’s is a heavenly bouquet of rose with hints of sweet, powdery vanilla in a stick.
Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Natural fragrance, Tocopherol (vitamin E)
Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick
Available in two scents: Lavender Bergamot, Lemon Eucalyptus
Skin conditioning, organic plant oils and butters moisturize and soothe even the most sensitive skin. With only a touch of baking soda, magnesium is the queen here, so this stick has a similar gentleness to the baking soda-free cream formula, which also smells fantastic and is equally as effective.
*helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, *maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) root powder, euphorbia cerifera (candelilla) wax, magnesium hydroxide, *butyrospermum parkii (shea) fruit butter, *theobroma cacao (cocoa) seed butter, sodium bicarbonate, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil. +- citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot, bergaptene-free) fruit oil, *cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) oil, *mentha piperita (peppermint) oil, eucalyptus globulus (eucalyptus) leaf oil, *eugenia caryophyllus (clove) flower oil.
Ursa Major Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant
This extra fresh deodorant offers a crisp and cooling blend of eucalyptus, ginger, rosemary, grapefruit, chamomile and lemon. Hops and Eucalyptus fight odor, Kaolin clay absorbs moisture and Aloe soothes skin. Great for both men and women, this 100% natural deodorant gives a cool, tingly sensation when you apply it.
Aloe vera (aloe barbadensis) leaf juice*, propanediol, sodium Stearate, tapioca Starch, silica, microcrystalline cellulose, cellulose gum, shea (butyrosperum parkii) butter (community trade), sodium bicarbonate, kaolin (clay), tocopheryl acetate, glyceryl caprylate, glyceryl undecylenate, glycerin, royal jelly extract, hops (humulus lupulus) extract, lemon (citrus medica limonum) peel extract, ginseng (panax quinquefolium) root extract, calendula officinalis flower extract, matricaria (chamomilla recutita) flower extract, saccharomyces ferment, rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) leaf oil, peppermint (mentha piperita) oil, grapefruit (citrus grandis) peel oil, eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus) leaf oil.
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant for Sensitive Skin, Fragrance-Free
A must-have for those seeking effective sensitive skin protection and a luxurious experience without scent. Schmidt’s baking soda free deodorant is smooth and creamy and specifically formulated for skin that gets irritated by baking soda.
Magnesium hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil, Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder, Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax, Tocopherol (vitamin E).
Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream, Baking Soda Free, Grapefruit
Designed without baking soda and clay, this deodorant uses magnesium and arrowroot powder to control moisture and odor. Nourishing plant oils and butters soothe and condition the skin, and a potent blend of gorgeous citrus essential oils keeps you smelling fresh throughout the day.
*maranta arudinacea (arrowroot) powder, *butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, magnesium hydroxide, *cocos nucifera (virgin coconut) oil, *simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) oil, citrus paradisii (grapefruit) essential oil, citrus bergamia (bergamot) essential oil, *citrus sinensis (sweet orange) essential oil, *citrus limon (lemon) essential oil.
REFERENCES
- Darbre PD. Aluminium, antiperspirants and breast cancer. J Inorg Biochem. 2005;99:1912-1919.
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J. Antimicrob. Chemother. Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their major constituents against respiratory tract pathogens by gaseous contact (2001) 47 (5): 565-573.doi: 10.1093/jac/47.5.565. - Darbre PD. Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer. Journal of Applied Toxicology 2003; 23(2):89–95.
