Golden Glow Sunday
Uh oh, body odor (B.O.)!
Now that Spring has “Sprung,” and as we trade our sweaters for short sleeves, maybe you’re having some social anxiety about B.O.! As we head into graduation, wedding and summer party season, arming yourself with an effective yet healthy deodorant/antiperspirant is as important as what dress to wear!
Many mainstream deodorants/antiperspirants can be harmful to your health, especially for pre-teens and teens whose bodies still have fluctuating hormones as they are growing up. Even rashes can develop when the harsh chemicals mingle with your sweat. In order to achieve optimal health, finding effective grooming products without toxins and endocrine disruptors is essential.
Think about it: traditional deodorants are filled with ingredients like fragrance (also known as the “new second-hand smoke”), aluminum, and parabens that studies have linked to certain types of cancer and hormonal imbalances. Our bodies can often process a small amount of chemicals periodically, BUT the odds of illness increases when you’re exposed on a daily consistent basis.
So can I find natural deodorants and still smell good, feel good, and look good?
I have a solution but first hang in there as I elaborate on a few key points:
Deodorants - prevent odor only
Antiperspirants - prevent sweating only but not odor
Natural deodorants are not an antiperspirant – and for really good reason. Antiperspirant contains aluminum which blocks sweat glands and inhibits their natural cleansing and detoxifying functions. Instead, it adds to the problem of toxic buildup in our bodies by trapping toxins, heavy metals, hormone disruptors, and other harmful substances within the body. It takes conscious, consistent effort to detox these harmful chemicals in your body. It’s advisable to avoid adding this to your body’s toxic load from other unavoidable toxins from the environment, etc., that your body has to deal with.
So you’re telling me I can smell fresh but can’t stop the sweat?
Yes, you can smell and feel fresh but it’s going to take a shift in your mindset regarding the sweat part.
Here’s the truth: Sweating is SO good for you. It’s a healthy, natural and necessary function to rid the body of toxic buildup and keep your body balanced. When you are at home, try to skip wearing any deodorant as an easy wellness hack.
Ok, but I’m perplexed. When I want good coverage and smell good, what is the healthiest approach?
My friend, Kristen has been on a comical and awkward quest for the ultimate clean armpit approach. There seemed to be an unappealing odor as soon as she applied natural deodorant. She was perplexed then relieved to learn it wasn’t her. Ironically, it was the deodorant!
First, she found a charcoal deodorant. Effective for squashing the smell, but left dark streaks on her clothes.
Next up: a “detox” deodorant with clay and other serious sounding natural ingredients. But the application is the pits for your pits. You shake it onto your fingers. It’s sticky, messy and unruly to apply. One time she mistakenly thought it was her dry hair shampoo which resulted in sticky white streaks through her dark hair!
Last: a beautifully packaged deodorant that is an actual salt cube. Just add water, and… more frustration. This led to a different kind of wetness under the arms and- before heading out! Not easy. It did help with the smell and to manage the sweat.
The solution? Primally Pure is a great product, free of all those nasty's.
Even though there are no organic antiperspirants, use my effective sweat prevention tips and techniques:
Use an organic deodorant that swaps out man-made unhealthy chemicals for healthy products from the Earth. Better not to apply these synthetic ingredients onto your skin: triclosan, propylene glycol, phthalates, and parabens. Google them to learn why you don’t want them seeping into your body daily. By using effective non-toxic ingredients such as arrowroot powder, beeswax, kaolin clay, and organic essential oils minimize the amount of toxic buildup in your body – and can still effectively fight B.O.
2. Use this thorough approach to shaving:
SCALE AND SIZE: Make sure the razor you’re using fits your underarm and removes ALL your hair. Any rogue hairs can hold the smell and make it worse. Some razors have extra wide heads and won’t effectively shave all of your underarm. Find a razor that best fits your size. You may need one for your armpit and one for your legs. Maybe you don’t shave in the shower, but use an electric hair remover. You can look in the mirror to make sure you’re getting every stray hair.
WHEN: Ideally, shave armpits at night and apply the deodorant in the morning. It allows tiny tears in the skin that develop from shaving to heal. And ensures your pores are closed and skin is dry for the most effective application.
3. Dab the product on and don’t swipe. And apply a few dabs to each pit, ideally allowing it to dry between applications to get full coverage and prevent irritation.
4. For extra sweat coverage, use a body powder that absorbs sweat. Apply this on top of your organic deodorant.
There’s a healthier way!
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