For Glory & Beauty

Here is a short list of things I am passionate about:

Jesus, my family, and homemade deodorant.

You heard me. Homemade deodorant. When you hear those words, words like "crunchy," "granola," and "hippie" may come to mind. Let me be the first to say that I am none of these stereotypes, but I am a firm believer in homemade deodorant. I love it enough to claim that I am passionate about it, and I would love to (passionately) share with you why I love it and how to make some yourself, but first I'll share with you how in the world I decided to write about it.

Our theme this month is Spring Cleaning. When I found out our theme, my mind instantly began to think about all of the awesome cleaning tips I could share with the World Wide Web, and then I remembered: I'm a mother (with a  toddler), which basically means my house is neither clean, nor tidy. I'm sure there are mothers out there whose houses are pristine and could pass a white-glove check, but I don't think I've met one in person yet. I'm told they exist. I think. Anyways, I have all these awesome cleaning ideas that I believe would work, in theory, yet I don't feel as if I have the "right" to speak to their efficiency since I haven't had much practice post-partum.

I began to think of other practical areas in my life that I could share with you, and then it hit me-- my beloved armpit paste! I started making my own deodorant around three years ago. Back then it seemed that detoxing was all the rage, and homemade deodorant, so I read, was a great way to start detoxing your body of the harsh chemicals found in deodorant.

I am not a scientist or healthcare professional, so I have no evidence that this actually detoxes. In the event that it does, I feel like it fits our theme. Reduce the "toxins" you slather onto your armpits, if you so desire! Clean those puppies out! I say this half-jokingly, but in all seriousness, I so feel so much better about using homemade deodorant for many reasons.

1. I can actually pronounce the ingredients

2. It's so much cheaper in the long run

3. My armpits smell glorious

4. This stuff even works for my husband!

5. Placebo effect or real effect, my armpits feel free from the chemical bondage of store-bought deodorant.

I first read about homemade deodorant and thought, "this is dumb. If the clinical strength stuff doesn't work, how would this concoction of ingredients work?" Little did I know it would be the most effective deodorant I would ever use! The amazing part is that you probably already have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your cupboard. So, how do you make this supposedly amazing stuff?

-Baking soda

(preferably aluminum-free if you can find it)

-Cornstarch

-Coconut oil

(preferably organic)

-Essential oils for scent

(lavender is a good one)

-A container

(such as a glass jar large enough for your hand to fit)

-Measure equal parts of the baking soda and cornstarch. You can use as little or as much as you want. I usually do 3/4 cup each.

-Next you will want to melt about 1/2 cup of coconut oil until it's liquid.

-Mix around 10-15 drops of essential oil into the coconut oil. You can use more or less depending on your preference in strength. 

-Next you will gradually add the coconut oil to the powder mixture, mixing until the consistency is a thick paste.

You don't want it to be too runny because then it will be too greasy, but if it's so thick you can't easily spread it around, then it will be too dry to stick to your armpits. The consistency is also a preference issue. You can add more powder or more oil to get it to the consistency you desire. If yours isn't just right, that doesn't mean the deodorant won't work, it just may be more difficult to apply.

Store in a warm place to keep the coconut oil from solidifying. If it solidifies, you can just grab a pinch and play with it between your fingers to help it melt down to a more spreadable consistency. You will want to take around a dime-sized ball and gently rub it into each of your armpits. This can sometimes get messy, which can be a turn-off for some, but I usually apply it over the sink so it creates less mess. It takes a few times to really get the hang of it, but I think the results are worth the extra fuss. I have personally found that this works better than my store-bought, and I am never going back. I will say that your body may be sensitive to some of the ingredients and could not react so well to this, but if you're not very sensitive and you're willing to try it, go for it!

I hope you enjoy this recipe, and I hope you enjoy the feeling of freeing your armpits.

Repeat after me, "free the pits!"