Why I Made the Switch to Zero Waste Deodorant
For the past several years, I’ve been hunting for a good, natural deodorant option that actually works. Perhaps my pits are just extra smelly, but I’ve really struggled with finding one that’s effective. My hunt for a natural deodorant started long before my hunt for a zero waste deodorant. Needless to say, I was pretty stoked to find a both natural and plastic free deodorant. But we will get to that later. So let’s talk about why I decided to switch to a natural deodorant first!
Why Should I Use Natural Deodorant??
My biggest concern with standard deodorants is they contain a lot of chemical ingredients. I’m usually pretty mindful about not eating foods that contain long lists of chemical ingredients I can’t pronounce; I try to do the same when it comes to products I am using on my body. Many conventional deodorants contain parabens and phthalates that are known hormone disruptors that can negatively affect the endocrine system.
Actually, there’s been much debate in the past few years over the safety of standard deodorants. And to be honest, there still isn’t a clear answer as to whether or not standard deodorants are dangerous or not. Recently, many researchers are discussing the theory of breast cancer being caused in part by the use of deodorant with the ingredient aluminum. Doctors have stated that most cancerous tumors are found in the upper fatty tissue quadrant for those with breast cancer, and this location generally comes in quite a lot of contact with deodorant and antiperspirant products.
It’s a correlation but not necessarily cause and effect. Much more research and studies need to be done to make a clearer conclusion about the effects of deodorant. However, until then, I’d rather be certain to keep my body safe from harmful chemical so I believe it’s best to find a natural deodorant that works for your body. In my opinion, the smaller the amount of chemicals in/on your body, the better!
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OK, I understand that a lot of conventional, plastic deodorant containers are now recyclable that didn’t used to be. You do have to be sure that your plastic container is completely empty before recycling and check to make sure your local recycling facility accepts that particular kind of plastic. If your recycling facility does not, there’s also the option to recycle through TerraCycle, a company notorious for accepting hard to recycle containers and materials. BUT, why I choose to use a zero waste and plastic free deodorant is because every single piece of plastic created still exists today. Also, it’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans. I am trying my best to reduce plastic consumption in my household as much as possible for this reason!
Which Natural Deodorant Is Right For Me?
From experience, I can tell you that the best way to find a natural deodorant you like, is to try several different kinds. I tried a few natural but not zero waste deodorants in the past and didn’t like them because they weren’t strong enough for my pits. I would be quite smelly by the end of the day, not cool! I’ve also tried some others, and they’ve made my skin burn probably due to a skin allergy. Do some research on your own and purchase a few different kinds to find your best fit! Everyone’s body is different and you might find a deodorant that is compatible with your skin but might not be a great pick for someone else.
BUT let’s talk about my favorite zero waste and natural deodorant. At the beginning of the last year, I ordered myself a jar of the Elevated Pits Natural Deodorant. I wanted to try it out myself before sharing it with you guys in the shop. Like I’ve stated before, I’m pretty skeptical when it comes to natural deodorants so I wanted to make sure it was something super great before carrying it in the Tiny Yellow Bungalow shop. This deodorant is the bee’s knees. It comes in a glass jar (yay zero waste) that you can reuse infinitely or recycle. It’s made in the USA, vegan, and MOST importantly in my book, it works!! This deodorant has been able to withstand my stinkiest of days (knock on wood).
DIY Deodorant
If you’re feeling really spunky, you can try making a natural, zero waste deodorant on your own at home. I know lots of zero waste bloggers that have experimented with DIY deodorant recipes. Nadine from The Zero Journey uses 1/4 cup each of coconut oil, baking soda, and corn starch or arrowroot powder. She also adds lavender oil for a little scent and says it’s a really great, effective DIY recipe! You can read more about her zero waste bathroom routine here. Also, My friend Eva over at Kind Planet has a zero waste deodorant recipe on her blog, you can find it here. Another option is to just do a quick Google search. There are lots of recipes for homemade deodorant online! They generally have coconut oil as the base due to its antimicrobial qualities. DIY deodorant is a great option if you have a tighter budget. Let me know if you do some deodorant experimenting, would love to hear what works best for you!
Other Natural Zero Waste Deodorants
Just because I love the Elevated Pits Natural Deodorant doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for everyone! There are a few other natural deodorants that I’ve heard good things about from friends and throughout the zero waste community. Here are just a few that I’ve heard mention of. Not all of these are 100% plastic free (some have a plastic lid) but I think they are great alternatives to conventional deodorants and antiperspirants that come in plastic tubes.
Have a wonderful chemical-free day guys!
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Two things. One, I ended up making my own because where I live there were no zero waste or even better alternatives for deodorant than the regular branded store bought ones. I even contacted some of those companies to see if their packaging was recyclable; Nivea, for one, just gave me a long spiel about how their company is environmentally friendly without ever answering my question: is your deodorant packaging recyclable? They just danced around the question, as you do in marketing I suppose.
Anyway. Two, I made my own from coconut oil, corn starch, and baking soda. I was reluctant to try it, but it has been amazing. My sister has always been reluctant to become more green and try making things herself. She also has struggled finding a deodorant that kept the odour away; she tried all the brands in sticks, gel, spray, you name it. I gave her a tiny tester tin and said, “Just try it. If you hate it, whatever.” She tried it and loved it. That really meant a lot coming from her!
How cool! That’s great that you found a homemade deodorant recipe that works for you and especially wonderful that your sister likes it too! If you wouldn’t mind sharing your recipe, I would be so happy to edit this post and include it, crediting you of course. I’m sure people would love to hear about a tested DIY recipe that works well! 🙂
It’s 1/4 cup each of coconut oil, baking soda, and corn starch or arrowroot powder. I also add lavender oil for a little scent. I found it from another blogger; my post with the link is https://zerojourney.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/zw-bathroom-alternatives/ . Thanks Jessie 🙂
Great, I’ll add your recipe now and share the link to your blog!
Crystal deodorant is also a wonderful deodorant alternative, I was making my own deodorant for the longest time and it was giving me oil stains on the armpits of a lot of my clothes. I didn’t know what to do about it because zero waste detergent isn’t the best at getting out those types of stains. I switched to crystal deodorant when I read Bea Johnson’s book and I love it! The times when it can be applied are more specific because your armpits have to be clean when it is applied but it stays on all day, the bar literally lasts for years, I don’t ever notice a smell, and no more oil stains!
That’s great that you’ve found something you really like!