Andrea and Chad at The Green Christian wrote about the challenge of switching to baking soda instead of deodorant. And they LOVE it.
Their glowing review almost makes me want to try using it – and I just may if I ever forget to add deodorant to my shopping list.
I have to admit, though, that I like quickly rolling on the fairly safe store-bought brand I use. To clarify, I NEVER use antiperspirant. In the five minutes I use to get ready in the morning, ease and speed is vital. (Hopefully, this time limitation will change once my children get a little older and more self-sufficient.)
To be perfectly clear, I would try to use baking soda as an underarm deodorant if I didn’t have any healthy options. Yet I’m able to see which deodorants are safe and which ones aren’t at Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database.
What about you? If you have a few extra minutes available in your morning routine, would you try baking soda for deodorant? Or are you sticking to commercial products?
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I’m really enjoying this series, and I laugh because I use the phrase, “I may be green, but not that green all the time.” My #1 is the menstrual cup. Yep, not doing that.
About deodorant, what are your thoughts on the deodorant crystals?
Jen, the menstrual cup and washable/reusable pads are definitely coming next week!!!
I haven’t heard of deodorant crystals before … have you checked the Cosmetics Database (http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/) to see if they’re safe. I think I’m going to check right now, because I’m curious about what they are. :)
Stacey, you make an excellent point about not knowing how the personal products were made and what exactly is in them. I don’t think of the actual production process much, mainly so I don’t live a totally paranoid life. :) But, maybe I should contemplate it more often.
I have tried baking soda as deodorant. Like every thing, some things work for some and not for others. It kind of irritated my underarms. For almost two years I have been using my Homemade products, including my spray that is an amazing deodorant and more. :) I have a hard time purchasing anything that will go in or on my family’s bodies since I have been making our own products. You never really know what is in them or the process in which it was made (sanitary or not, etc.) Thank you for your great and informative posts Hilary!
I’ve tried a deodorant crystal before…it’s no antiperspirant, of course, but they work pretty well. And while I recall them being a little pricey, they last for a really long time!
Have you tried cornstarch or rice flour, Jacque? I know both of those can safely be substituted for powder with babies. I don’t know if they’d be effective.
And, honestly, I went through quite a few months after Big Brother was born when I didn’t wear deodorant … a lot of it was just having “mommy brain” and forgetting, the other part was being afraid of ingredients. I found that I could definitely smell myself when I sweat, though. Gross. So, I went back to deodorant.
OK I will admit it. I do not use deodorant. I just don’t want that risk. I bathe or shower every single day and take my chances. Let me know if you think I smell :) I would like to find a safe powder though to put on my chest and underpants area though for hot, sticky, humid days. Thoughts?
Good idea, I’ll try cornstarch! thanks…
I use a spray that is the same as the stone. The stone is just a mineral rock (it’s a salt), and the spray is the same thing but put into a liquid. I never liked the stone, it doesn’t seem to work for me. But I love the spray, have no problems with it. BUT I have to use it in the morning after my shower and at night before I go to bed – otherwise I smell pretty bad when I wake up LOL :-)
I’ve just discovered this blog and LOVE it! I haven’t made an effort (too much) before now to detoxify/green up our family, but I did stop using antiperspirant several years ago. You may talk about it in a post I haven’t read yet, but what are your thoughts about using baby powder? That’s what I have used since I made the switch and it works really, really well.
I’m so glad you’ve found Accidentally Green, Susan! (And even more glad that you love it!)
This has been my only deodorant post so far. I’d suggest using cornstarch or baking soda instead of talcum powder, though. I did just write about baby powder http://accidentallygreen.com/dont-throw-your-baby-in-with-the-bathwater/ and it’s dangerous because the powder is made of tiny mineral particles that can cause respiratory problems. (Sorry for the news … especially since it works so well for you!)
Thanks! After I posted I read about the baby products. I’ll give the baking soda a try..just love the nice smell of the powder. LOL
I’m a teenager and i use my own home-made deodorant, mainly because i’m allergic to the aluminium in anti-perspirants, but also because i found the store-bought healthier deodorants to not really work well, so i figured i didn’t have much to lose making my own…I use a recipe with coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda and vitamin e oil and it seems to work quite well at keeping BO at bay :)