Deodorant

I have very sensitive skin and therefore I have to be careful as to what deodorants I choose so they do not irritate my skin and cause a rash.  I used to use Dove deodorant for sensitive skin but when I began my search for a more natural product without aluminum it would either not work or it would end up giving me a rash.  I used a Crystal rock deodorant for about a year and I loved it.  It worked really well, it had no residue that got on my clothes and the stuff lasts forever.  But after I gave birth to my second son, for some reason it just stopped working for me.  Maybe it was the change in my hormones but by half way through the day, I would smell.  So I began my search again.  I tried Tom's of Maine for sensitive skin and while I didn't break out, it wasn't keeping me fresh either.  I then decided to go to one of my favorite Etsy shops, Gudonya Too,  for body products that makes their stuff from scratch without all the nasty parabens and aluminum and such.  I highly recommend their products.  They smell great and they work.  I really liked the deodorant that they made for me in my own custom scent, but a I mentioned before, I have very sensitive skin.  Unfortunately they sometimes use artificial fragrances in their products and I think this is what caused me to break out.
So, after having three epic fails in the deodorant department, and sick of smelling and breaking out, I resorted back to my good ol' Dove Sensitive deodorant until I could find a solution.  I started looking online about how to make my own deodorant.  I found that I could concoct something with everyday household items.  I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot, so I mixed up a few ingredients and found the best deodorant ever!

Here is the recipe....

1/4 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup Arrowroot Powder (you can get this at your health food store or sub with cornstarch)
4 Tablespoons Coconut Oil (this oil is a solid and comes in a mayonnaise type jar)
10 Drops Essential Oil (I used chamomile because of my sensitive skin...it also acts as a preservative)

So all you have to do is mix together the baking soda and arrowroot powder.  Then add the coconut and essential oils and blend with a fork.  It will be a thick pasty consistency.  Add more or less coconut oil if you prefer a different texture.  You then place this in an airtight container.  Place in fridge if you want it to harden up a little bit. You can then scoop out a chickpea sized amount with your finger to apply under your arms.  Rub it in good and you are all set!  The coconut oil will melt at body temperature.  It will feel slightly oily at first but it absorbs into the skin quickly.

After a while I was not a fan of scooping it out of the jar with my finger because it got stuck under my nails, so I emptied the stick of Tom's of Maine deodorant, washed the container and packed in my new homemade stuff.  Its perfect now and I dont need to get it stuck under my nails.

That's it.  It is really simple, really cheap, and works really well.