So this update is the prequel to what will soon be the natural deodorant swap, but, and I CANNOT emphasize this enough, MAKE SURE YOU DETOX BEFORE YOU SWITCH. The detox helps pull out toxins (such as aluminum) out of your body so that the natural deodorant can work better. Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk.
I’ve heard so many stories about how natural deodorant doesn’t work but I was determined to make the switch while my interactions with humans was at a minimum. I read about different ways to detox (almost all including something called bentonite clay) but I wanted to get started ASAP so, I quit cold turkey. Less than 24 hours into this experiment, I was smelling less than pleasant and washing my body twice per day. I ordered some bentonite clay from this Etsy shop and continued to try to effectively detox while I waited for it to arrive.
As the days went on, I was tired of the general smell of my body so I turned to essential oils. I have many of them for my infuser, and after reading that tea tree oil has been known to kill bacteria, I figured that I couldn’t smell a whole lot worse, so I gave it a try. I started to put it onto my armpits after my showers and I noticed a huge difference. Day by day it got better. About a week and a half into my detox, the clay arrived!
This stuff worked wonders. I used a Tbsp of clay powder and enough water to make it into a smooth, mask like texture. This took A LOT of trial and error but here are my general notes:
– Use a fork to mix it because it helps get the lumps out.
– You can also add apple cider vinegar with the water but I found that I then
smelled heavily of vinegar… which I guess is better than B.O. but…
– Add as mush water as you see fit. Add small amounts at a time but every . time I made it, it took different amounts of water. IDK, just make it thick . . . enough.to spread smoothly and evenly.
– If you make too much, cover it and store on your counter. It doesn’t dry o out super fast.
I used an old mask applicator and spread an even layer on each arm pit and let it dry. Yes, you will look odd. I was laying on my living room floor with both arms in the air waiting for it to dry but… you gotta do what you gotta do. Once it dries, you can take a shower or just get a warm washcloth and wipe it off. Regardless, I was amazed by the results. I smelled a whole lot less, and felt great (you get a kind of cooling sensation while it’s on). I detox pretty much every day and the clay mask helps pull out the aluminum and many other toxins in your armpits.
But why stop there?!?! I applied it to blemishes and other skin impurities and they looked so much better after. I read that bentonite clay is also safe to brush your teeth with but I think I’ll stick to the toothpaste bits. Overall, the bentonite clay gets a 10/10 and I will make sure that I always have some at home. It is so versatile, made a huge difference in my transition to natural deodorant, and can be used for so many different things.
Stay tuned for phase two as I try out a few different natural deodorants, and hopefully find one that makes me not smell. We will see. For now, I’d like to apologize to all those around me (basically two people and a cat) for sticking with me through this oddly smelling time.
Sustenance and Sustainability 