D is for Deodorant – Do it yourself Daily

Written by: Carole Schor on September 8, 2011.

DIY Deodorant for Natural Health

Every day we slather on some deodorant to keep our underarms free from sweating and our bodies smelling fresh and clean.  But is dry, fresh and clean doing more harm to us than good?

According to Lisa Archer, National Coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, Breast Cancer Fund, “By now you’ve probably guessed that parabens and fragrance should be on your “avoid” list. For deodorant, add aluminum to that list, too.”

And then, according to the American Cancer Society, aluminum is an ingredient that probably should be avoided, especially in antiperspirants.   “Aluminum compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause changes in estrogen receptors of breast cells. Because estrogen can promote the growth of both cancer and non-cancer breast cells, some scientists have suggested that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. ”

Aluminum may also be connected to the development of Alzheimer’s disease.  Further research is being done on this subject.  But, if two of the worst diseases known can even remotely be linked to using aluminum, perhaps you healthy senior women (and men) might want to consider making your own homemade deodorant.  It will be gentler on your bodies as well as on your pocketbooks!

A great recipe using a tip from Hollywood celebrity gossiper, Joan Rivers, who says this is an old Broadway trick, is to use vodka!  This awesome fashionista told Page Six – “I always spray my costumes with vodka and water. It’s an old Broadway trick — two-thirds water and one-third vodka, spray your armpits and you’ll never smell again.”

Ingredients:
¼ cup 80 proof vodka
¼ cup distilled water
25 drops bergamot essential oil
10 drops lavender essential oil

Mix the water and vodka in a jar, add the oils and shake (gently please). Pour 1/8 cup into a spray bottle for immediate use. Cap off the balance  of your deodorant and store in a cool dark place until you need more.