All-natural products are really big right now. The more natural and organic, the better. People are quickly learning that a lot of the products we use everyday are chock full of harmful ingredients that have no business being anywhere near our bodies. Like deodorant, for example. Go grab your big brand stick right now and read the ingredients. You’ll be shocked.
So, what’s the alternative? I mean, you can’t go around sweaty and stinky all the time, right?
Make your own! Deodorant is super easy to make and uses ingredients you can get in any drug store or order online. Before I tell you how to DIY, let’s take a look at some helpful info about natural deodorant.
Table of Contents
Pros
- Saves money
- Way healthier
- More control over ingredients
- Makes great gifts
- Eco-friendly
Cons
- Takes time to make
- Ingredients can be hard to find locally, may have to order online
- Takes a few weeks for your body to expel the toxins from old deodorant
Why Natural Deodorant?
Like most natural products, whether buying it from a shop or making it yourself, there’s always a long list of benefits that far outweigh anything else.
Better for the Environment
Store-bought products use plastic containers that you just throw away after use. These empty containers pile up in dumps and waste centers, taking about 1000 years to fully break down. By making your own deodorant, you can clean and reuse the plastic container multiple times. Better yet, use glass jars as an alternative!
Better for Your Skin
Big brands use harmful ingredients such as aluminum. That’s right. When you slather on that floral scented deodorant, you’re actually clogging your pores with chemicals and allowing aluminum to slowly creep into your bloodstream. This stores in your body, inflames your glands, and eventually releases in the form of skin irritations such as acne and discoloration.
Healthier
By making your own deodorant, you can control what goes on your skin. Mix it up with different essential oils to soothe any irritation. Add a drop of aloe to heal razor burn. Stir in some carrot seed oil or wheat germ for SPF protection. (that’s right, we never think to protect our armpits from the sun’s harmful rays)
Cost Effective
This one is a no-brainer. By making your own homemade natural deodorant, you can save money in the long run. Yeah, a store-bought stick is pretty cheap, usually $2-$5 depending on the brand, but that adds up over the course of a year.
By making your own, you can control the costs, buy ingredients in bulk, and stockpile all the deodorant you want! Plus, they make awesome gifts if you fancy them up with a cute label.
What You Will Need for This Tutorial:
- 6 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 1/4 cup (or 4 tablespoons) of baking soda
- 1/4 cup (or 4 tablespoons) arrowroot or cornstarch (I used cornstarch because arrowroot is extremely hard to find in my small town)
- essential oils (optional) I chose Young Living Northern Lights Black Spruce because it smells great, it’s for my hubby, and it’s what I had on-hand.
- Medium sized bowl for mixing
- A spoon
- Glass jar or empty container
How to Make It! Step by Step Instructions
There are tons of great DIY recipes you can try, but I really like this one because it’s super easy and I love the result.
Step One: mix dry ingredients
Take your ¼ cup of baking soda and dump into a clean, medium sized bowl. Then take your ¼ cup of arrowroot or cornstarch and carefully mix it in. Sifting the dry ingredients together as best you can. You want a nice consistency here.
Step Two: add coconut oil
Take your coconut oil and mash in each of the 6 tablespoons one at a time. This helps keep a nice consistency and makes sure the coconut oil is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Step Three: add preferred oils
Add oils if you wish. This step is totally optional. If you prefer an unscented (aside from coconut) deodorant, then leave this out. But if you do want it, then add a few drops of your fav scent! Play around with a few until you get one you like.
Step Four: fill container
Once everything is well mixed, scoop into a glass jar or an empty, clean deodorant container. You can get them online or take some time to clean out a used one you have at home. When filling the container, press it down with a spoon or finger as you go to get that compact form.
Tip: Store any leftover product in a glass mason jar for future use and refill your plastic container!
Directions to Use Properly
- Apply to clean, dry skin. This will allow the deodorant to absorb properly.
- Use sparingly. Using too much will result in unabsorbed deodorant and leave excess on the surface of your skin which can cause staining on your clothing.
- Remember that there’s a detox period for everyone who switches from store-bought to natural. It can take anywhere from 2-10 weeks for your body to expel all the built-up toxins that have been stored in your body. So, you will sweat more, and produce some odor. Worry not! This is temporary and, once it’s done, you’ll feel so much better and the natural deodorant you make will work amazingly!
Conclusion
And that’s a wrap! What did you think? Was this tutorial helpful for you? If so, please comment and share below your experience with DIY natural deodorant! Share any cool recipes you’ve tried!
