Easy Breezy DIY: Natural Deodorant

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This is NOT a sponsored article and I am NOT a doctor, nutritionist, or astronaut… just in case you were wondering. I AM a writer however, so check out BuddhafulBritt.com for more.

This is 2016, and most of us (I hope) are aware that the drug-store deodorant we are accustomed to, such as Secret, contain harmful ingredients like aluminum compounds, which have been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

Other ingredients in store-bought deodorant are Parabens which may disrupt our hormone balance by mimicking estrogen, Propylene Glycol causes damage to the Central Nervous System and Triclosan which disrupts the Endocrine system.

Bottom line?  Most drug-store deodorants may be VERY bad for us.

So I went on a quest to find the best alternative. The last few years I have been using “the crystal,” you know the kind found at places like Whole Foods which claim to be less toxic than typical deodorants found at the drug store; but are they?

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Not exactly.

You see, I had my bloodwork done; they found abnormally high amounts of aluminum in my bloodstream. Naturally, I boasted that it must have come from a source other than my crystal deodorant, since I was “crunchy,” aka natural.

Low and behold, the doc busted my bubble and informed me that although the crystal is slightly better than name-brands, it is still made from harmful aluminum.

As you can clearly see in the photo below, the label says “No aluminum CHLOROHYDRATE,” but this can be deceiving becuase the main ingredient is “Alum,” or “Potassium Aluminum Sulfate.” In actuality, they are not being fraudulent, per se… but it is still aluminum based. Those tricky, tricky labels.

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Damn. I really LOVED the crystal.

My bestie then turned me onto Schmidts… a crunchy brand from Portland Oregon. People in the natural community RAVE about this product, and I have to say, it works AMAZINGLY as claimed.

I love the company, what they stand for, AND supporting an American business woman like Jaine Schmidt.

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BUT… I was allergic to the baking soda (or other ingredients) under my arms. Soon after starting this product, cyst-like eruptions caused me so much pain that I couldn’t sleep or have clothing come in close proximity to my underarms.

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People LOVE this product though, and if you can tolerate the ingredients, I say go for it!

Many in my online group have had a similar experience as I did; baking soda can be an irritant for some. Be forewarned, if you start to experience swollen glands, cysts, pimples or a rash… please discontinue it.

I was left with no other option than to return to the lesser evil of the crystal, and just be happy that I was not stinking up the yoga room during Shavasana. But then… I heard something ingenious.

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MILK OF MAGNESIA, the blue bottle you have seen under your grandma’s bathroom sink. No, not for constipation… it can be rubbed under your arms to combat STANK!

I know this seems like an oddity; I too thought there was no possible way that this chalky, watery, concoction could keep me feeling fresh and clean, but it does.

Keep reading though, there is a trick…

At first, the Milk of Magnesia straight from the bottle was not quite working for me; I would re-apply a few times throughout the day, uncertain if I was “less than fresh.” I was especially nervous if I was out all day and not able to re-apply as needed.

Lets be honest, carrying around a bottle of Milk of Magnesia in your purse could lead to some embarrassing moments.

But, a lucky accident caused me to lose the cap of my Milk of Magnesia bottle, and after a few days the consistency thickened. I couldn’t pour it out of the bottle any longer, so I would swipe my finger inside.

This miracle condensed the of Milk of Magnesia, causing it to be exactly what was needed for all-day freshness.

Leaving it out in the air turns the milk into a smooth paste-like substance which concentrates the ingredients making it stronger, longer lasting, and easier to rub under your arms.

What I do, is buy a large bottle (any brand will do, but no flavors) pour it into a small glass container and let it sit out for a few days until it dehydrates; you can then place the thick cream into a more convenient container for future use.

After a few days, it will become a thick, creamy, consistency as shown in the photo below; the key is the thickness. Use a little on your finger, or a cotton ball, to wipe under your arms, then place a lid or cover on it once it has thickened. I have tested this out, and the thicker consistency, the longer the coverage. I can go more than 24 hours without worrying if I smell fresh or not.

So, then I got creative.

I decided to pour an entire bottle into a corning-ware style roaster pan ( Use a non-metal container). This creates more surface area to the dehydrating method, which gives you thick buttery Milk of Magnesia in a shorter amount of time.

Then, I use a rubber spatula to place my concoction into little glass containers (from the dollar store) for future use. I am THRILLED with the results of this little discovery I’ve made, and I’m sure you will be too.

BUT WAIT… Milk of Magnesia can do more cool things. Did you know that the chalky substance can also help with greasy facial skin? It can be used as a primer to your make-up routine.

The reviews are overwhelmingly in favor of the Milk of Magnesia helping make-up stay matte all day without looking shiny.

Now, the granola-girl inside of me doesn’t like to mess with a body’s natural duties, but sometimes I can see where this might be a temporary fix on special occasions.

Other fascinating uses for Milk of Magnesia would be for diaper rashes, poison ivy, cystic acne, and even cools down sunburn.

I would love to hear your natural deodorant journey. Have you tried Milk of Magnesia?

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