The Easiest DIY Natural Deodorant

Eating right is a way to care for yourself, but self care is not limited to eating right.

For want of a more simple description, self care is the act of taking care of yourself.  Self care is the sleep you get, the company you keep, the relationship you have with yourself, even the products you use on your body.

It is never enough to drink a green juice and be on your way. Health is a mindset — it doesn’t come in pill form. One step to self care is taking care of the skin that you are in, and staying aware of the products that you use. Drugstore lotions, shampoos and deodorants often contain parabens and sulfates, chemical compounds that can leach into the body through the skin. Thankfully, it is just as easy to buy a paraben-free and sulfate-free products as it is to not. If you’re going to buy your deodorant, soap and shampoo, please check the labels.

It makes no sense to eat clean, but wash dirty. Making your own natural deodorant is a quick, cheap and easy DIY solution to avoiding unnecessary chemicals in your personal care products.

This solution works, people. It has seen me through spin class and survived the subway on a summer’s day. This natural deodorant has also had unexpected, but not unpleasant, side effect: I don’t seem to sweat as much since making the switch. Making your own takes only a few ingredients and a few minutes.

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons coconut oil
4 tablespoons baking soda
4 tablespoons cornstarch
6 to 10 drops essential oil of your favorite scent

Instructions:

Mix together the cornstarch and the baking soda. Mash in the softened coconut oil until the mixture is totally combined. Stir the essential oil of your choice into the mixture.

Store in a sealable glass jar in a cool place. Apply a small amount with your hands each day.

Photo credit: Yolanda Hinchliffe