Moon Woman Rising

Moon Woman Beauty: Homemade deodorant

A reader asked about my thoughts on homemade deodorant and I am happy to oblige! Because I have tried them all - the homemade recipes, the "all natural" products from the store, the not-so-natural - everything.

First things first: do not use antiperspirants. 

Antiperspirants are chemicals added to commercial deodorant that stop your pores from sweating. Your under arms sweat out what your body does not want to keep in and helps keep you cool. Why plug up your pores and force your body to keep those bodily chemicals, such as urea, which transports waste nitrogen, in the body? Sweat may be inconvenient, but it is not the cause of body odor, but rather the bacteria on the skin which feed on the sweat causes the odor. Worst of all, almost all antiperspirants use aluminum to stop your pores from sweating - which is why the FDA labels deodorants with antiperspirants as drugs. 

Now, it seems the studies on the link between antiperspirants and breast cancer are still inconclusive, but I tell you this: for my part, I do not want to plug up the pores that are trying to eliminate bodily fluids right near a large amount of my lymph nodes, whose job is to process and remove waste materials in the body. That is one bodily function I don't want to mess around with!

Did you know: There is not one brand of men's deodorant on the market that contains antiperspirants. I think that's very...interesting.

Straight deodorant doesn't clog the pores or stop you from sweating, it deodorizes - in other words, it makes bad odors smell good. You can find natural deodorant at health food stores, but beware, some that seem natural, like the rock crystal, may actually contain aluminum and other chemical nasties.  

I have found that making deodorant homemade is the best solution - it works against odor, its inexpensive and I know what goes into it. (Remember, underarms are very personal. Some people sweat a lot. Some don't. I don't sweat a ton. I shave my underarms, so I think my skin is more sensitive than if I didn't.)

A popular recipe for homemade deodorant is the baking soda, cornstarch and coconut oil mixture. At first, I didn't love this recipe, I think because I started using it in the winter and it was a little drying. In the summer, it is wonderful and works great for me.

Use 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup corn starch and 1/4 cup coconut oil. Heat the coconut oil in the microwave or on the stove top until melted. Take off the heat and add the baking soda and cornstarch until combined. Add between 10-20 drops of  essential oil, such as lavender. Pour the mixture into a container (I used a jar) or you could also reuse an old stick deodorant container.

The mixture will harden up slightly and then you just dig a few fingers in and rub the mixture on your under arms. 

In the winter, I use a very simple recipe: 2 oz. of jojoba oil mixed with essential oils. This is actually my perfume base and I have a few different kinds - my favorites are a patchouli/orange/ylang-ylang mix and a neroli/rose mix. One day I just rubbed some on my underarms and noticed I had no odor throughout the day, no irritation or itchiness, no stickiness or oilyness. 

I love jojoba - its an oil closest to the makeup of our own skin and has antibacterial properties, making it a good choice for your underarms, because bacteria is what causes odor. Does it stop you from sweating? No. But remember, sweating is not bad! Its a natural bodily process that aids the body in elimination. Our bodies are not dirty, they are sacred. When we let our bodies do what they need to do, they function at their best and we feel our best. At our most beautiful.

So sweat away moon sisters! Use nature's oils to make it smell sweeter if you like, but remember:

The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea. - Isak Dinesen

X.Aja

Moon Woman Beauty

When I tell people I clean my face with oils, I get the same raised eyebrows that I do when I tell them I don't use shampoo. But then they usually tell me how nice my skin looks. Even so, most people are skeptical of using oils to clean their face. Its counter-intuitive to what we have been told, that we need to scrub the oils from our face because oils cause acne and blemishes. Like those who believe their hair is too oily for the no-poo hair method, I can tell you, oil is not the enemy! It’s what makes our skin soft, supple and resilient. It’s our skin's own natural protector and the Oil Cleansing Method helps maintain that goodness.

When we use harsh chemicals on our skin to strip away the oils, we strip out what nourishes our skin. We then need moisturizer to replace what we have depleted. It’s a harsh cycle that keeps us buying unneeded beauty products that are often unhealthy for both us and the environment. Using natural homemade products is better for the environment and in my experience, gives better results. Beautiful results. 

My skin is in that confused early 30s period. Sometimes wrinkles threaten to emerge from years of good laughter. Sometimes breakouts pop up unexpected, like a hormonal 16 year old. I would rather have wrinkles honestly. I have at least earned those beautiful marks of age and one day will wear them proudly in every corner of my face. But I am not a fan of breakouts and I want my skin to stay supple and nourished. The Oil Cleansing Method works to keep my skin soft and smooth, but also cleaner than its ever been.

Here's how it works: Oil is attracted to oil. Dirt is attracted to oil. Dirt and oil can cause blemishes when it’s trapped in the pores. A skincare regime that cleans the pores, exfoliates and nourishes the skin can minimize acne without stripping it of its natural softness and oils. The Cleansing Oil attracts dirt and removes makeup easily. A very warm washcloth opens the pores so they can release any dirt or grime, which is naturally drawn to the Cleansing Oil. When wiped away, soft, smooth skin is the result, often without the need to follow with moisturizer (although I always recommend daily SPF on the face) 

How to make Cleansing Oil

:: 3 parts jojoba oil (jojoba oil is the closet oil to our own skin and very nourishing)

to

:: 1 part castor oil (castor oil has amazing drawing qualities, it draws impurities from the skin)

&

:: several drops of rose essential oil (for its beautiful fragrance, as well as anti-bacterial and cooling properties)

Place the oils together in a jar or dropper. 

How to use the Oil Cleansing Method

Do not wet the face. Dip your fingers in the oil or use several dropper-fulls of oil on the finger tips. It doesn't take much. Massage all over the face. Its smells heavenly, so enjoy! Then using very warm water, wet a washcloth, wring it out and place it on your face, letting the heat open your pores. Use the washcloth to wipe the oil from your face. Pat dry with a towel and admire your beautiful skin.  

You can use other types of oils – I know some women who love olive oil, or more or less castor oil. My recipe is best for combination skin.  Once or twice a week follow up with an exfoliator and mask.  Using all natural homemade products has made such a difference in my skin. Its brighter and more alive. I also spend a fraction of what drug store products cost, while also using less packaging and less chemicals that harm the environment.

So I feel beautiful too, which is the most important part!

X. Aja