DIY Deodorant + Crystal Essence
Crystal Essence Pomegranate Roll-On ($4.75)
Does eco-deo really work? We’ve heard the complaints from many an ecoista: From roll to spray, you’ve tried them all—but nothing seems to work as well as the chemical antiperspirant you discovered in high school.
So here’s the low-down: No, natural deodorant does not work as well as antiperspirants at controlling wetness. To do that, you have to block pores with a coating of potentially carcinogenic chemicals and, typically, aluminum. Try to remember that sweating means your body is employing one of its most important detoxifying mechanisms—it’s a good thing, people.
But the truth about controlling odor is somewhat different, if you know the secret of using natural deodorants properly. We’ve got one word for you: Re-apply. We keep sticks in desk drawers, yoga bags—sometimes even our purses. We’ve been known to discreetly re-apply everywhere from cubicle to car. It really works!
That’s why this recipe from Planet Green is such a bonus. First, it controls odor. Second, it lets us reuse our old deodorant stick casings. And third, it’s cheap, meaning you can afford to make a bunch and stash them everywhere.
DIY All-Natural Deodorant
1. Mix together ¼ cup of cornstarch with ¼ cup of baking soda.
2. Optional: add your choice of essential oils if you’d like your deodorant scented.
3. Add 2 tbsp. of coconut oil and a few drops of skin-softening, vitamin E.
4. Blend everything together until it forms a silky mass.
5. Pack the mix into an old deodorant stick casing.
6. Get creative and create your own clever label to stick on the front of your homemade odor-eater.
If DIY doesn’t tempt you, try one of the new scents from Crystal Essence, which has been making chemical-free deodorants for nearly 20 years. The fruit-meets-flower Pomegranate scent smells absolutely gorgeous—making re-application something to look forward to.
Is this the answer to your eco-deo dreams?
What’s a natural beauty? That depends—although we’ve got an oh-so-unofficial definition on our What is Green Beauty? page. At EcoStiletto, our readers range from hard-core treehuggers to newbie ecoistas just learning about red flags on labels. But all of us recognize the fine feeling of accomplishment that you get from DIY beauty products. There’s something to be said for awesome labels and beautiful packaging, but grabbing something from your pantry and making miracles on your face—that’s priceless. We found grab-and-go recipes for getting gorgeous—plus our pics for exfoliants, deodorant, fruit acid treatments, cellulite reducers and hydrating cleansers that kick the DIY theme up a notch or two. Ready, set, go!
