We usually want to just forget about our underarms. We don’t want them to smell, sweat, or stain our clothes.
How we care for them is actually critical to our health.
There are many options out there for natural deodorant.
Ingredients to avoid:
ALUMINUM : Aluminum stays in the body and consequently will accumulate over time. Recent evidence has linked breast cancer with aluminium-based antiperspirants.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL : Propylene glycol was originally developed an an anti-freeze! Enough said…
PARABENS : Parabens are used as preservative in a wide range of cosmetics and food products. They are suspects to be endocrine system disruptors.
TRICLOSAN : Triclosan has been associated with increased hay fever and allergy development. It’s considered a probable carcinogen.
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Cleanse Daily and Exfoliate 1-2 times per week
Gently wash your underarms daily with a mild soap to reduce the growth of smelly bacteria. Exfoliant 1-2 times a week. You can use a gentle one designed for face.
After cleansing, dry underarms thoroughly. Apply a toner with cotton pad ( one with witch hazel is perfect). It will encourage pore construction and lead to less sweating. YAY!
Change your blade after 5 uses. Shaving creates micro-tears in the delicate underarm skin. This can lead to infection. Store your razor outside of the shower where it can completely dry.
One thing to keep in mind is that many conventional deodorants are also antiperspirants. They include various forms of aluminium salts which completely block your sweat ducts and pores to eliminate sweating. Over time, trapped sweat builds up in the ducts and causes bumps, painful inflammation and (here’s the kicker) bad odour — meaning you need even more deodorant. That’s not to mention the yellow stains on your clothing caused by the acidity of the aluminum