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Loading...Deodorant: Easy Greening
- Melissa Breyer
- November 20, 2006
- 6:49 am
- 23 comments
In ancient Egypt, long before the cosmetics industry hijacked personal care, body odor was disguised with citrus oils and spices. By the 20th century marketers had convinced the population that social success was a stretch unless body odor was quashed. The problem is that the products promoted in this scheme may not be the best for our health.
The Issues
Body odor is the result of bacteria (naturally found on skin) which feeds on sweat. Antiperspirants work by plugging your pores with aluminum salts, blocking the route for sweat to exit your body. Deodorants don’t reduce the amount of sweat, but make the skin acidic and thus unfavorable for the odor-generating bacteria.
The problems with non-natural, commercial products start with aluminium compounds (particularly Aluminium chlorohydrate) which are easily absorbed through the skin. Aluminum compounds can accumulate in the brain and have been linked to Alzheimer’s.
Next are parabens (short for para-hydroxybenzoate) a class of preservatives widely used in cosmetics and personal care products that are being investigated for their possible role in breast cancer. Parabens mimic the activity of estrogen in the body. Since estrogen promotes the growth of breast cancer cells and a woman is eight times more likely to develop breast cancer in the part of the breast closest to the underarm, scientists are studying the connection. A 2004 study found parabens in 18 of 20 samples from breast tumors. The research is considered inconclusive in linking the use of deodorants to breast cancer, but it has sparked further studies and is enough to have us breaking out in a sweat.
And then there’s propylene glycol—a humectant originally developed as an anti-freeze. Found in many commercial deodorants and antiperspirants, it is a neurotoxin known to cause contact dermatitis, kidney damage, and liver damage. In propylene glycol’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), published by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, workers are urged to avoid skin contact with the toxic chemical as it may cause eye and skin irritation. (Yes, the same ingredient commonly used in products applied to the skin.) In addition, it states, “chronic exposure can cause gastro-intestinal disturbances, nausea, headache, vomiting, and central nervous depression.” Well alrighty then, how about some nice wholesome alternatives?:
Do-It-Yourself
In addition to using plain witch hazel, or baking soda, here are some refreshing recipes inspired by Earthly Bodies & Heavenly Hair by Dina Falconi (Ceres Press, 1998). These should be mixed and applied with a cotton ball.
Witch Hazel Tea Tree Double Whammy
10 drops tea tree essential oil
1 ounce of witch hazel
Ken’s Deodorant
4 ounces witch hazel
8 drops lavender essential oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil
Woodland Deodorant
1/4 cup 80 proof vodka
1/4 cup distilled water
10 drops tea tree
16 drops cedarwood essential oil
20 drops sandalwood essential oil
Exotic Deodorant
1/4 cup 80 proof vodka
1/4 cup distilled water
10 drops geranium Egypt essential oil
10 drops patchouli essential oil
15 drops lavender essential oil
Choose Green Products
You can check the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database to see the hazard score of your current products or an alternative you might be considering. Here are a few other suggestions:
Crystal Body Deodorant is hypoallergenic, fragrance free, non-sticky, non-staining, and is made of 100% natural mineral salts with no artificial coloring or ingredients.
Avalon Organics Deodorants come from a company whose “Consciousness in Cosmetics” principle guides the formulation of all of their yummy products—for deodorant, that translates to no aluminium compounds, parabens or propyelene glycol.
Cleure Body Spray Deodorant provides 24 hours of natural deodorant protection.
Read more: Beauty, Eco-friendly tips, Holistic Beauty, Skin Care, , aluminium, antiperspirants, breast cancer, deodorant, propylene glycol
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living
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Melissa Breyer
Melissa Breyer is a writer and editor with a background in sustainable living, specializing in food, science and design. She is the co-author of True Food (National Geographic) and has edited and written for regional and international books and periodicals, including The New York Times Magazine. Melissa lives in Brooklyn, NY.
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23 comments
+ add your ownI just started using products by a company called PrimaJolie and I like them very much. Their deodorant is all natural and pure and really works.
I'm going to try one of this recipes.
Making your own deodorant sounds good, probably a lot more effective than the crap they sell in town. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find Crystal anywhere, which is quite inconvenient.
I alt the crystal and organic deoderant spray. I heard a doctor say baking soda is very alkaline and totally wreaks the skin pH protection. I wonder if it's true.
I use Crystal deodorant. I drink water and sit in the sauna. I think I stink when I eat lots of junk food. I like the witch hazel, tea tree, lavender and vodka options.
I am definitely going to make my own deodorant, thank you!
I've been using the Crystal salt deodorant (both solid and spray) for over 3 years now and I'm a HUGE fan! The trick is to slowly phase out shirts where you've stained them with regular deodorants. Whenever I wear a shirt that has the nasty baked in (reads tumble dried) my shirt will smell, but not my skin. All new shirts purchased after I made the switch are perfectly scent free.
Just bought the organic deodorant from Origins... I must say it doesn't work nearly as well as my old toxic deodorant... But I will continue to try it out until it's finished. I'm hoping that maybe my body will adjust to it. Maybe my body is just cleansing itself of all the toxins and that's why it isn't working well? I can only hope :-/
I am going to try some of these recipes. I had actually been thinking about this so thank you for the info.
I forgot about how well baking soda worked. I think I will go back to using it.
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