Natural DIY Deodorant Alternatives

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Baking Soda Deodorant

To make a gentle baking soda deodorant at home, mix 1/8 of a teaspoon of baking soda with a little bit of water. Without dissolving the baking soda in the water, rub the mixture onto your armpits. Cornstarch is another natural sweat-absorbing ingredient.4 Use both for double the absorption power by mixing one part baking soda with six parts cornstarch—no water—and dusting a little on your underarms.

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Lemon Juice

While it won't necessarily soak up your sweat, lemon juice is rich in citric acid that kills bacteria. The bacterial processes in sweat are what causes body odor in the first place. Some swear by swiping a plain old sliced lemon under their arms every morning. And a lemon fresh from the fridge?  Do not apply lemon juice to just-shaven skin or before exposing underarms to sun. Lemons are phototoxic, making skin more susceptible to burning when exposed to UV light.

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Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is another inexpensive and easy deodorant that kills the bacteria causing unfavorable fragrance. Simply fill a spray bottle with alcohol and spritz your underarms with it. You can even add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to give it a scent. Lavender and eucalyptus are common deodorant fragrances. Adding tea tree oil, on the other hand, could give the spray fighting power against odor-causing bacteria.

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Coconut Oil Deodorant

If you're attached to the creaminess of traditional deodorants, you can replicate that feeling with coconut oil, a mild antibacterial.  The only problem is that coconut oil melts into a liquid when heated above 80 degrees (cooler than skin). The solution: Mix it with cornstarch and baking soda.

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Cocoa Butter Deodorant

Another way to replicate the creaminess of conventional deodorants is with shea and cocoa butter. They smoothen skin with high concentrations of vitamins and fatty acids, especially when mixed with the powerhouse nutrient vitamin E. First, melt all the ingredients except the vitamin E oil and stir. Once melted, add in the oil and essential oils of your choice to improve the smell. Pour the mixture into a container and place in the fridge to set.

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DIY Solid Deodorant

Candelilla wax also helps dilute some of the stronger ingredients so as not to overwhelm your skin. Mix jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda. Using a double boiler or similar setup, melt the candelilla wax.  Pour in the jojoba oil, arrowroot powder, and baking soda mixture. Once everything is liquified, stir in the shea butter. Allow the mixture to cool, pouring into deodorant tubes before it's fully set.

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Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a multitasking ingredient commonly used in natural skincare. It's anti-inflammatory, rich in exfoliating acids, pH-restoring, antibacterial, and antifungal.Its antibacterial properties are especially helpful in staving off body odor. Simply soak a cloth in apple cider vinegar and swipe it on your armpits for a natural deodorant. It will have a strong vinegar smell at first, but it's virtually odorless once it's dry.

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Bentonite Clay Deodorant

To make bentonite clay deodorant, first combine both clays with arrowroot powder. Using a double boiler, heat the candelilla wax, stirring in the coconut oil when it's almost melted. Gradually add in the clay and arrowroot powder mixture, constantly stirring to get rid of clumps, and continue to stir while removing from heat and allowing to cool.  Add in your essential oils before it's set, then transfer to an airtight container and wait an hour before using.

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