Category: Men

Detox Your Armpits?!?!

Published on by Pam PaulickLeave a comment

Written by Brandy Keysor

A few weeks ago at the Scentible Oilers Social, we had a make and take station for all natural deodorant (recipe at the bottom of the page).  I was at another make and take station, and I was talking and listening to all the chatter.  One thing I heard was that most people love the natural deodorant, but there was a side note that I heard repeated often.  When you are new to using natural products and you switch from a traditional antiperspirant  to an all natural deodorant, there is an adjustment period where most of us feel very self conscious.  We tend to be extremely aware of every drop of sweat we produce and we fear the ultimate humiliation of “stinking” and if we are active at our jobs at all, it can be difficult to stick with the new product while our bodies are trying to normalize and get rid of toxic stuff.

I remember when I switched over to a natural deodorant, I was very self conscious.  I am a dog groomer and so I don’t sit at a computer all day, I wrestle dogs and cats in the tub, on the table etc.  I sweat, a lot, especially in the summer.  About a month into my journey though, I was caught off guard when I noticed half way through my day that I had forgotten to put deodorant on that morning.  I stopped dead and slowly looked around to see if my coworker had noticed.  I realized two things at that point.  First, even though I had been rushing around all morning, I wasn’t drenched in sweat.  Second, I could hardly detect an odor even putting my nose as close to my armpit as I could reach.  I have always considered myself to have heavy perspiration and in fact, when I was in high school, I used those prescription strength antiperspirants.

I was able to “work” through my adjustment period with natural deodorant this last time, but I had tried a couple of times before and gave up because I was so self conscious of my under arm wetness and odor.  It helps to have a great deodorant recipe, but if you still have trouble, I found a great article on taking steps to “detox” your armpits and actually decrease the adjustment period for natural deodorant on www.Wellnessmama.com.  I enjoy following her blog and she has some great tips for adjusting to a natural deodorant that I thought I would mention.

 

  1. If wetness and odor are a big concern, mix ¼ Apple Cider Vinegar with ¾ distilled (or boiled) water in a spray bottle and mist your armpits before you apply your deodorant. Let it dry, and then apply your deodorant. This will help to kill any bacteria in your pits and will help you to stay dryer longer.  In the beginning of my deodorant journey, I would spray my pits in the morning and apply my deodorant, then in the afternoon if I felt my deodorant was not lasting, I would re-spray this and re-apply my deodorant.

 

  1. You can do an actual detox “mask” for your armpits. This is especially helpful for those of us that are having a hard time adjusting to natural deodorant. Make a paste of 1 Tablespoon Bentonite clay, 1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar, and 1-2 Teaspoons of water and apply it to your armpits. Let it sit a few minutes and then rinse off.  See http://wellnessmama.com/25432/detox-your-armpits/ for the full recipe.

 

  1. Try a different recipe for your deodorant, if you are still not comfortable with the results. There are 2 recipes on this site that are “tried and true” by the members of the Scentsible Oiler team, but everyone is different – make adjustments if you need to!  You can remove the baking soda and try arrowroot or cornstarch instead, if you are having redness and irritation of your pits. Some people cannot handle baking soda in their armpits. I actually used Tapioca starch in one of my recipes because that is what I had on hand. A totally off the wall deodorant substitute is plain Milk of Magnesia.  You can apply it directly to your armpits with a cotton ball and let dry.  It works for many people who cannot use a baking soda  deodorant.  And one last suggestion is to spray Magnesium Oil on your armpits and let it dry, but that can cause redness and irritation too.  If you add more water to your Magnesium Oil, it might decrease those symptoms. (Magnesium Oil is not an “oil”, but a concentrated magnesium chloride water spray.  It’s not a Young Living product, but can be found at health food stores or on Amazon.)

 

I hope that if you are not using a natural deodorant, that these tips might encourage you to give it a try.  After all, adding essential oils to a natural or home made deodorant recipe is such a great way to introduce people to oils and also is a small change that can have immense impact on our overall health.  Happy Oiling!  Brandy

 

Lavender Melaleuca Deodorant (from Abundant Health website)

Ingredients List:

  • 3 Tbs coconut oil
  • 1 Tbs beeswax pellets
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1 vitamin E capsule
  • 5 drops melaleuca essential oil
  • 5 drops lavender essential oil
  • 1 empty 2.65 oz. deodorant container

Instructions:  Combine coconut oil and beeswax pellets in a heat-proof glass bowl or glass measuring cup. Place bowl or measuring cup in a sauce pan filled with an inch of water. Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until completely melted. Stir in cornstarch, baking soda, and the oil from one vitamin E capsule. Remove from heat, and add essential oils. Quickly pour mixture into an empty deodorant container. Wait for mixture to harden and cool completely, and then start enjoying your all-natural essential oil deodorant!

Simple Lemon Deodorant

Ingredients List:

  • 6 Tbsp Organic Coconut Oil
  • 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Cup Arrowroot Powder
  • 10 Drops Young Living Lemon Essential Oil
  • 1 empty 2.65 oz. deodorant container or a small Mason Jar

Instructions: Mix in a bowl with a fork.  Note that it will seem like it’s not going to come together but it will!  Just keep mixing!  This deodorant works well but it’s a bit more runny than the recipe with beeswax.  People have different preferences of storage – some like using a small Mason Jar and applying with fingers, others prefer using a deodorant container.  Be sure to store in a cool place (not the refrigerator).  If it gets too warm the deodorant will get “melty” due to the coconut oil.

For more information or to order the Young Living products mentioned in this recipe please contact the Scentsible Oiler who referred you to this page or contact our team using the form below: 

 

DIY Lotion Bars

Published on by Pam PaulickLeave a comment

By Heather Steiner

As the unrelenting cold days set in, so does the occasional dry skin in our household.  I’ve never liked putting lotion on myself or my kids.  There’s something unappealing about the sort of slimy, strangely smooth feeling it leaves on my skin, not to mention the list of ingredients on the bottle I can’t pronounce.  Coconut oil and beeswax, however, feel lovely and are recognizable ingredients.

lotion bars
Photo by Heather Steiner Photography

We’ve all heard about the wonders of coconut oil.  It’s said to do this, that and the other.  While I don’t know if any of this, that or the other is true, it’s an oil, and so it’s moisturizing because it adds back the oil that’s naturally stripped from our skin this time of year by the cold weather and extra hand washing.

Beeswax simply acts as a barrier by holding the moisture to your skin, and keeping the lotion bar from feeling greasy.

I use both lavender and tea tree (melaleuca alternifolia) for their long histories of use for the skin, and because I love how they smell together.  It is a scent enjoyed by all the members of my family, including the guys.

Lotion Bars Ingredient List:

  • ½ cup organic coconut oil (should be solid at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup beeswax pellets
  • 10 drops Young Living Lavender essential oil
  • 10 drops Young Living Tea Trea (Melaleuca Alternifolia) essential oil

Add the coconut oil and beeswax to a small glass bowl.  Make a double boiler by setting the glass bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and slowly mix until everything has melted.  Be patient, beeswax takes a few minutes to melt.

I recommend setting aside a glass bowl or measuring cup for projects such as these.  Beeswax has a high melting point, and can be difficult to completely clean off.  Alternatively, after cleaning as well as possible, you can pour boiling water in your bowl, empty it into the sink and quickly wipe it out with a towel to remove any remaining beeswax.

When the oil and beeswax are melted and combined, remove the bowl from the pan, and stir the mixture to speed cooling.  Once the mixture has cooled enough that you can touch it, but it is still melted (test this by holding the side of the bowl, not by putting your finger into the mixture) add the essential oils and stir to combine.  Quickly pour the mixture into the mold of your choice (I recommend a muffin tin) and allow to cool to room temperature.  You can speed up this process by placing the filled molds in the refrigerator until firm.

To “unmold” your lotion bars, fill a large cake pan with very hot water, dip the underside of the muffin tin in the hot water until you can spin the lotion bars in the muffin tin.  Quickly invert the muffin tin onto the countertop to release the bars.  Repeat, if needed, to release the remaining lotion bars.

Lotion bars are best applied after bathing and your skin is still damp and warm.  If you have cold hands or it is an especially cold day, hold the bar between your hands for a few moments until it softens slightly, making it easier to apply.

Looking for more recipes?  Visit our recipes page for more DIY ideas!

For more information or to order the Young Living products mentioned in this recipe please contact the Scentsible Oiler who referred you to this page or contact our team using the form below: