Change Challenge - Deodorant/Antiperspirant

Photo by Roadsidepictures 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret (no pun intended). :)  Some of you that know me in real life might be a little surprised.

Most of the time, I don't wear deodorant. Yep, there it is.  Now that it's out there, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Or maybe I should wait until I see some of my friends again and see if they're still willing to be friends with me. :)

It all started about a year ago when I was pregnant with Brenden.  I had been reading about some of the nasty ingredients in different personal care products. Deodorant, actually specifically antiperspirant, contains aluminum.  Aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer, two things that run in my family.  Antiperspirants actually work because the aluminum blocks, or clogs, your sweat glands, meaning that you don't sweat, when maybe you should.  You also usually put it on after you shower, and shave if you're a woman, meaning that your pores are open and even more absorbent. Also, antiperspirants are created to stay on your skin and work for hours (isn't that the marketing campaign of some of the major brands?) allowing even more exposure to the aluminum and other harmful chemicals it is made up of.

I didn't really know what to do as far as alternatives to conventional antiperspirants, but I also knew I didn't want to keep putting it onto my body, so I basically just decided to stop wearing it.  I kind of think that God gave us sweat glands for a reason, and maybe it's not such a good idea to block them and keep them from working right.  I was at home most of the time with my daughter, so it wasn't like I was going to be super stinky around other people.  And I found, surprisingly, that I actually didn't sweat much (it was wintertime, but I also was pregnant) and I didn't really have any body odor either.

Now, I think I am one of those lucky people that naturally doesn't sweat much (don't hate me!), but I also think that maybe there is something to the idea that when we put on deodorant or antiperspirant every day, that it messes with our bodies natural balance.

I do feel like my body has kind of regulated and balanced itself.  I didn't wear deodorant all summer long and didn't have any problem with sweating too much or stinking really badly, unless I was exercising, but again, isn't that when we are supposed to sweat?

Baby Steps
I know that just stopping wearing deodorant may not be something that you are ready to jump right on board with, so I have some baby steps and other alternatives for you to try.  Basically the point is to move away from antiperspirants and also deodorants that contain harmful chemicals and find an alternate method for dealing with sweat and body odor.

Baby Step #1 - Switch to deodorant. While most conventional deodorants have chemical ingredients that should be avoided, at least they don't contain aluminum, so this would be a small step in the right direction.  It also may help to begin the process of regulating your body too, since you aren't artificially blocking your sweat glands.  This is the step my hubby is on.

Baby Step #2 - Use a rock crystal deodorant.  This is a more natural form of antiperspirant.  I know some people swear by it, but it doesn't work so well for others.  You may have to try it and just see if it would work for you.  You can find it at major drug and grocery stores, it's not something that you have to order online.

Baby Step #3 - Use baking soda.  This is what I used over the past year if I felt like I was getting sweaty and stinky.  I have a shaker with baking soda in my bathroom for cleaning, so I would just shake a little onto my hands and pat it onto my underarms.  It won't stop you from sweating, but will help with the smell. If you're concerned about wetness too, you can mix equal parts baking soda and cornstarch and apply that to your underarms. The cornstarch helps keeping sweating to a minimum.  This is a super cheap and low commitment option.  If you don't like the baking soda on your armpits, use it to make some cookies! :)

Baby Step #4 - Make homemade deodorant.  I recently made this homemade deodorant, and really like it. I still don't wear deodorant on most days, but if I know that I'm going somewhere or doing something where I might sweat more than usual, I'll wear this.  I also see myself using this in the summer time when I'm more likely to sweat.

BIG Step #5 - Stop wearing deodorant! This is not really a step I expect most people to actually take, but I would love to hear about it if you do, and how it works for you!! 


Being Frugally Green: 

I told you that I think that my changes in personal care products are the most frugally green things that I do, and here's why - the best part about not wearing deodorant - it's FREE! And it has simplified my life - I don't have to worry about cutting coupons for deodorant and matching them with the sale at this specific store during this specific week.  Also, I can buy the ingredients for the homemade deodorant in bulk and then whenever I need to make some, I have everything I need on hand. I don't create waste from used deodorant containers. It's just one more thing that I don't have to worry about in my already busy and full life!

Try taking a baby step towards a safer, more natural deodorant option this week!  And of course, you're welcome to chime in if you know me in person and have noticed that I've been sweaty and stinky over the past year! :)

Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom
Finer Things Friday at Kitchen Stewardship this week!  
Works for Me Wednesday at We Are That Family