- Step 1: Begin by pouring the water into a spray bottle and then adding the vegetable glycerin and and aloe vera gel. Shake vigorously until it is all blended together.
- Step 2: Next, add the witch hazel extract and the essential oils and shake again until the mixture is smooth. The lavender oil helps create a pleasant scent and it is also an antiseptic. The tea tree oil is also an antiseptic, an antibacterial and a fungus and germ fighter.
- Step 3: Spray one or two times under each arm and wait a few seconds for the mineral water to evaporate a little bit before dressing. Also, feel free to add an additional essential oil for a more potent fragrance.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Try Bergamot on Your Pits
One of my friends is a true follower of all things natural. Food? All organic and local. Clothing? Either recycled or handsewn. Beauty? When it comes to products, nothing of the paraben / synthetic nature remotely touches her body. So, when I saw her splash a little bergamot oil on her pits one day, I was intrigued. "It's a natural deodorizer," she said. I gave it a whirl. With surprising results, I was practically stink-free. From what I could tell, my underarms smelled rather nice — well, like citrus. She also recommended I dab on a little baking soda if I ever felt a little drippy.
Like playing mad scientist? You can always mix up your own custom scent. Try Aura Cacia Bergamot Essential Oil ($13.59) paired with a complementary aroma such as sandalwood, nutmeg, vetiver, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, or ylang ylang.
Thanks Bella!Labels: aroma, bergamot oil, deodorant, DIY, essential oils
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Herbal Deodorant Spray Recipe
A light, refreshing, [safe] yet very effective deodorant spray. Ingredients:
3 oz. witch hazel
1 oz. high proof vodka
1 tsp tea tree oil
1 tsp rosemary oil
1 tsp grapefruit seed extract
1 tsp lime oil
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together and pour in a fine-mist spray bottle. For a stronger deodorant, substitute 1 oz. of the witch hazel with lime juice.
[Note: perform a skin test if you have a sensitivity to citric acid.]
Labels: deodorant, DIY, herbal deodorant, living holistically
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Want a Safer Deodorant? Make it Yourself!
This fun, easy at-home liquid deodorant recipe is free of aluminum, parabens, and paba. It's a safer alternative to antiperspirants — but remember, it won't keep you dry, it will only help to disinfect and cover the smell of your body's natural perspiration.If you want to concoct your own danger-free deodorant, here's what you'll need:
1/4 cup witch hazel extract
1 tsp aloe vera gel
1/2 cup mineral water
1 tspn vegetable glycerin
two drops lavender oil
three drops tea tree oil
Labels: aluminum, deodorant, DIY, non-toxic, paraben-free, parabens
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Does Your Antiperspirant Cause Cancer?
Mercola answers:
Let’s get one thing straight, folks. There are certain metals that are toxic to humans; they are poison and most people do not understand this. They are NOT nutrients in small quantities -- if anything they are anti-nutrients.What are these commonly misunderstood toxins?
Mercury, fluoride, and aluminum.
You don’t need any of these poisons in your body, so remember to avoid them. Unfortunately, if you use antiperspirants, you are most likely exposing yourself to aluminum -- the heavy metal that’s been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and now possibly breast cancer. Aluminum salts can account for 25 percent of the volume of some antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores that release sweat under your arms -- with the active ingredient being aluminum. Not only does this block one of your body’s routes for detoxification (releasing toxins via your underarm sweat), but it raises concerns about where these heavy metals are going once you roll them (or spray them) on. Given that antiperspirants are used on your armpits, the aluminum salt concentration is highest near your breast tissue. Further, when women shave under their arms it can result in a higher aluminum-salt absorption rate due to the damaged skin.
The aluminum in antiperspirants has been linked to breast cancer before. A 2006 study found that aluminum salts can mimic the hormone estrogen, and chemicals that imitate that hormone are known to increase breast cancer risk.
Fortunately, reducing your exposure is pretty simple -- simply ditch your antiperspirant and deodorant.It’s worth mentioning that deodorants are not the same thing as antiperspirants. They may actually be less problematic than antiperspirants, as they work by neutralizing the smell of your sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria, but do not prevent sweating. However, many deodorants also contain aluminum, along with parabens, which have also been linked to breast cancer. So, you’re clearly better off avoiding both antiperspirants and deodorants.
Personally, I have not used any antiperspirants or deodorants for over 25 years. Simple soap and water has served me quite well, and I don't ever recall anyone telling me I had an offensive odor. When I stopped using them I noticed the stains I was getting on the underarms of my shirts stopped. It was clear that they were NOT related to my sweat but to the chemicals in the antiperspirant I was using. If you get stains in the armpit areas of your shirts you can virtually be guaranteed it is from the antiperspirant.
Please remember that most chemicals you put on your skin are absorbed quite nicely into your bloodstream. So if you wouldn’t eat something you would put on your skin, I would advise not using it. If you simply can’t imagine going without antiperspirant or deodorant, you can find aluminum-free varieties in your local health food store. (But I would encourage you to at least TRY going without before making your mind up.)
Let’s get one thing straight, folks. There are certain metals that are toxic to humans; they are poison and most people do not understand this. They are NOT nutrients in small quantities -- if anything they are anti-nutrients.What are these commonly misunderstood toxins?
Mercury, fluoride, and aluminum.
You don’t need any of these poisons in your body, so remember to avoid them. Unfortunately, if you use antiperspirants, you are most likely exposing yourself to aluminum -- the heavy metal that’s been linked to Alzheimer’s disease and now possibly breast cancer. Aluminum salts can account for 25 percent of the volume of some antiperspirants. Antiperspirants work by clogging, closing, or blocking the pores that release sweat under your arms -- with the active ingredient being aluminum. Not only does this block one of your body’s routes for detoxification (releasing toxins via your underarm sweat), but it raises concerns about where these heavy metals are going once you roll them (or spray them) on. Given that antiperspirants are used on your armpits, the aluminum salt concentration is highest near your breast tissue. Further, when women shave under their arms it can result in a higher aluminum-salt absorption rate due to the damaged skin.
The aluminum in antiperspirants has been linked to breast cancer before. A 2006 study found that aluminum salts can mimic the hormone estrogen, and chemicals that imitate that hormone are known to increase breast cancer risk.
Fortunately, reducing your exposure is pretty simple -- simply ditch your antiperspirant and deodorant.It’s worth mentioning that deodorants are not the same thing as antiperspirants. They may actually be less problematic than antiperspirants, as they work by neutralizing the smell of your sweat and by antiseptic action against bacteria, but do not prevent sweating. However, many deodorants also contain aluminum, along with parabens, which have also been linked to breast cancer. So, you’re clearly better off avoiding both antiperspirants and deodorants.
Personally, I have not used any antiperspirants or deodorants for over 25 years. Simple soap and water has served me quite well, and I don't ever recall anyone telling me I had an offensive odor. When I stopped using them I noticed the stains I was getting on the underarms of my shirts stopped. It was clear that they were NOT related to my sweat but to the chemicals in the antiperspirant I was using. If you get stains in the armpit areas of your shirts you can virtually be guaranteed it is from the antiperspirant.
Please remember that most chemicals you put on your skin are absorbed quite nicely into your bloodstream. So if you wouldn’t eat something you would put on your skin, I would advise not using it. If you simply can’t imagine going without antiperspirant or deodorant, you can find aluminum-free varieties in your local health food store. (But I would encourage you to at least TRY going without before making your mind up.)
Labels: aluminum, antiperspirant, deodorant, toxins
