Have you ever tried to make the swap to natural deodorant? Only to find yourself suuuper smelly and dealing with lots of sweat? When I first was trying to minimize the toxins that I used in my home and personal products, natural deodorant was one of the first swaps I made. I feel like it is a great first option because it is more affordable, you can get into the habit of knowing what ingredients to watch out for, and there is substantial evidence that it is better for your health!

So how can you improve your success when making the swap?! All natural armpit detox masks. 

Not only with these easy masks help to minimize armpit odor, but it is a great way to help support your lymph nodes and sweat ducts by removing any build-up from years of using conventional deodorants!

What is the problem with conventional deodorant anyway?

Before we dive in-- I am not a chemical purist. I do not believe that we need to live in fear of every ingredient that is "not natural" or something isn't organic. But I do think we have to be conscious consumers and advocates for our own health. In a single day we are exposed to large quantities of chemicals, many that we do not yet know the long term effects of at a high dose. 

I am also not in fear based messaging that a lot of holistic advocates use. I think we just need to be educated and aware of potential risk with products, and then make our best decision from there!

Conventional deodorant is known to have several ingredients that can be potentially harmful- artificial fragrance, aluminum, parabens, butane, and diethanolamine to name a few. (If you are interested in reading more about WHY these ingredients are harmful to the human body, check out this post that dives more into the nitty gritty!)

With that out of the way, here are some of the reasons I think ditching conventional deodorant is a smart idea:

• every day product- for most people, deodorant is something they use every. single. day. That means exposing yourself to these ingredients regularly, and sometimes even multiple times a day.

• lymph node health - you have major lymph nodes right in your armpits, and those lymph nodes carry waste throughout your whole body

• affordable options- rather than spending hundreds of dollars to buy a new all-natural mattress, or air purifier, deodorant is a swap that will fit into your budget a bit easier! Sometimes the natural alternative is a few dollars more expensive than the conventional option, and other times they are fairly comparable in price. (this post shares some of my favorite natural deodorant options)
  

​What to expect when transitioning from conventional to natural deodorant?

So if natural deodorant is so great, why do people struggle with the transition? Well, the answer is two-fold. 

1. Traditional antiperspirants or aluminum-based deodorant literally blocks the sweat from coming out of your sweat glands. So when you move to an aluminum-free deodorant your sweat can actually come out! So your underarms will feel damp from the sweat, and those warm and wet places can cause odor-causing bacteria to increase. (temporarily- don't worry!)

But remember, sweat is a natural process that our body uses to detox and cool us down- so having a little bit of sweat is a good thing! It will just take a little bit for that bacteria to balance out and get used to the new normal.

2. The second piece of the puzzle is very similar to the first- it all has to do with the bacteria on your skin, or your microbiome. When you use a new deodorant there will be a transition period as with any new product. It just takes the bacteria a little bit of time to get used to different ingredients.

Good news! That transition period can be helped a bit with these armpit detoxing methods!

3. Another reason people have irritation when “going clean” for deodorant is that many brands use baking soda. Long term, baking soda is an irritant to your armpit skin and will cause redness and inflammation. That is why my favorite brand of all natural deodorant is baking soda free!

All-Natural Armpit Detoxes

Now that you know about the questionable ingredients in regular deodorants, how do you get all those ingredients and junk out?!  Detox masks are your answer. There are many different recipes online, but I have found the most affordable and effective one for me can be made with just a few natural products. 

DIY Armpit Detox Mask

- bentonite clay

- apple cider vinegar 

- warm water

Now, once you have the ingredients, you simply mix them up into a glass bowl into a thick paste. I would recommend starting out with about a tablespoon bentonite clay and then adding the amount of liquid to get to that thick paste-like consistency. 

Heads up! If your armpits are already really irritated (maybe you have been using a natural deodorant with baking soda, or you have skin irritation from aluminum deodorant) it is a good idea to be extra gentle with your underarm area. I would recommend just using warm water and skipping the apple cider vinegar until your armpit area isn't so irritated. 

Once you have your paste made, simply apply to your underarm area! Get comfy on the couch with your arms above your head for 5-15 minutes, or until the clay begins to harden. It will go from a dark green/gray color when it is wet, to looking a lot lighter and not as shiny. 

You will notice that as the clay dries, it becomes tighter and you may notice a slight burning sensation. Some people also describe it as a "pulsing" sensation. This is because of the powerful ingredients and why these diy masks work so effectively!

Then use a warm washcloth to wash the dried clay off of your underarms and you're all set! 

These detoxing masks can help to give your underarm area a clean slate and help the transition period after starting a new deodorant. 

How the Mask Works

You might be familiar with bentonite clays as recommended beauty products for a diy clay face mask. The idea is that clay is a compound known for its absorptive properties- and that it can help absorb or bind to toxins in the skin. Clay masks are known to be drying to the skin as they absorb excess oils and help to remove dead skin cells. That is why I would recommend to wait a couple of days in between doing a diy armpit mask. If you don't notice any excessive drying or irritation, you can do it 2-3 times within a week. 

Other Ways to Detox Effectively

When you hear the term "detox", especially on social media, you are hit with crazy fasts and juice cleanses. No thank you. Not only can this do crazy things to your blood sugar and stress hormones, but our bodies are built with self-detoxing systems! Sometimes these systems just need to be gently supported in order to function optimally. Here are a few ways you can support your body naturally:

• drinking filtered water

• eating enough nutrients

• dry brushing

• castor oil packs

• minimizing toxins in household products, foods, and environment as much as possible- as i mentioned before, our bodies are incredibly protective and adaptive and when healthy, can "detox" independently. But when we are inundated with toxins and chemicals from every direction (poor air quality, unfiltered drinking water, conventionally raised food, tons of processed foods, hormone disruptors, etc.) our body's natural methods of removing toxins become inundated and backed up.

Signs Your Body is Struggling to Naturally Detox

If you are curious about whether your body is detoxing effectively, here are some signs to look out for

• excessive body odor

• constipation or infrequent bowel movements

• acne

• rashes and skin irritation

• hormonal issues

• headaches

Paying attention to some of these symptoms can notify you when your body is overwhelmed and in need of extra support! One of the best ways you can do this is always just getting back to the basics- whole, nourishing foods, clean water, gentle movement, and stress mitigation. 

These are the core components I work with my coaching clients on to help them achieve better holistic health- without all the confusion or complication that can be seen on social media or the wellness space in general. We are all about finding simple, effective solutions for health that are sustainable and supportive for the entirety of your life 👏 the only quick- fix detox you'll find around here is for your armpits 😉

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