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Summary: Traditional (chemical) deodorants and anti-perspirants work by killing off the bacteria in your armpit, using Aluminium to block sweat glands, and adding perfume. But as the bacteria is indiscriminately killed, the underarm microbiome is disturbed and opportunistic bacteria can take hold, or even worse, the populations of the very worst offenders for creating body odour can sky-rocket (because there is less competition), making the problem even worse. What if there was a way to naturally control, rather than indiscriminately kill the bacteria? It turns out there is : by applying highly resistant beneficial bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacteria to the skin, they crowd out the other, unpleasant smell-creating bacteria, limiting their proliferation, and leaving you smelling fresh.
This recipe for a homemade probiotic spray deodorant makes enough to fill a 100ml bottle. Use a multi-strain probiotic that is stable at room temperature.
Avoid plastic and reuse a spray glass bottle. Weleda spray deodorants come in the perfect glass spray bottles for this purpose. Buy one and reuse for ever.
Also, one might fear the sugar might make the deodorant sticky, absolutely not, 100ml of water is enough dilution, plus, the probiotics actually do eat the sugar, so ultimately there is actually hardly any sugar left.
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Summary: What is wrong with traditional deodorants ? Should you be making your own deodorant ? Traditional deodorants work by combining 2 main actions : 1. Killing all bacteria on the underarm skin, disrupting the skin microbiome. And 2. Using Aluminium salts to stop perspiration by blocking sweat ducts, keeping odour causing bacteria in check, as they need a moist environment to multiply. Both actions are very un-natural, and not only using traditional deodorants can make the problem worse, Aluminium is absorbed through the skin and has been found in cancerous breast tissue, so the general advice is now to avoid it. In addition to the potential health risk, making your own deodorant and storing it in a reusable glass jar will contribute to reducing the amount of waste, plastic and otherwise, that you produce. Our natural gentle cream deodorant is a great alternative to chemical deodorants. It is antibacterial thanks to the coconut oil, skin softening thanks to the cocoa and shea butter, the Sodium Bicarbonate gently balances the skin pH, the arrowroot or clay absorb humidity, the probiotics help balance the skin microbiome, and finally the essential oils provide natural scent. Lavender and patchouli is a lovely, gender neutral combination.
You could use only coconut oil, but substituting some of the coconut oil with cocoa butter and shea butter will really soften the skin, especially if you have dry or sensitive underarm skin or if you shave your underarms.
By adding the probiotics, you increase the odour protection, as the beneficial bacteria limits the development of the odour creating bacteria. Choose probiotics that are stable at room temperature, as this way you will be able to keep your deodorant in the bathroom rather than in the fridge.
The recipe makes enough to fill a 60ml jar.
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