Beauty Blog

In this age of eco-friendly, I’m sure you all have seen an all natural deodorant out there when browsing the personal care product aisle. Maybe you haven’t, but either way…they’re out there. They being the natural deodorants. I’ve seen crystals, rocks, sprays, solids. All kinds of “all natural” deodorants. The crystals and rocks do not interest me in the least. I know my underarms, and I know a rock that you splash some water on just isn’t going to do it for me. I could be very wrong, I usually am. If you see a post pop up in a few weeks claiming how wonderful and miraculous crystal deodorants are, don’t be surprised. Then there’s Tom’s of Maine deodorants. I bought the gel solid with a lavender scent to it. There’s all sorts including peach too! Didn’t work. In fact, it made the moisture under my arms worse and the lavender didn’t mask a thing. So now I’m back to my good old Soft & Dri with conditioning silk, and even that gives out mid-day. I have not tried spray deodorants. These I am curious about. Weleda makes a sage spray deodorant, and my girlfriend uses this. Never heard a complaint from her, but then again she looks like the kind of gal that doesn’t get very sweaty. I like the idea of a spray though. It looks refreshing. Sephora seems to be up on the natural and organic trend and it was on their website that I found this…

Lavanila Laboratories The Heathy Deodorant in Vanilla Lavender $18

Apparently this stick is 100% natural, but uses a beta-glucan technology. Don’t ask me what this is. The good news is it does not contain aluminum or mineral oils. These ingredients can clog the sweat glands. It’s also paraben, sulfate free and all that other good stuff–Sephora is slapping their natural seal on it. Lavanila comes in a few different scents that sound better than the tired old baby powder scent I’ve been using for years: Vanilla, Vanilla Coconut, Vanilla Lavender, and Vanilla Grapefruit. It’s no mystery why the company is called Lavanila. But $18 bucks? Really? I’m sure it will last long and there will be no irritation under the arms, so it’s probably worth it. Besides I would rather smell like yummy vanilla and know that my underarms are safe from harmful chemicals, trying this would be a fun experiment.

Shop though a variety of deodorant at Smarter.com.

For the longest time, I’ve been trying to break away from antiperspirant because of my concerns about absorbing aluminum and it’s possible links to Alzheimer’s Disease. I know, I know, we absorb aluminum in a million different ways, but I don’t want to feed it to my bloodstream via my underarms. My pits, my choice.

Anyway, I’ve been experimenting with natural deodorant for awhile now, and I haven’t had the best results, which results in me having to warn people before they get a whiff of me au natural. Until now. I’ve tried Tom’s of Maine before, but this new and improved formula really is. I read on the company’s website that the new mix include hops (Humulus lupulus–whatever that means), which inhibit the growth of bacteria (nice) and reduce the possibility of irritation. And, no, I’m not in cahoots with T o’ M people, I’m just amazed by how well it works even under the most stringent of tests:

Test #1: Trying on clothes–it worked! I walked around for about four hours, going in and out of shops and dressing rooms. Trying on clothes can be a sweaty experience, but to my amazement, I didn’t get stinky. Not at all.

Test #2: The gym– After 45 minutes of running on the treadmill, I was sweaty but not smelly.

Test #3: Synthetic material–I have this acrylic blouse that I refer to as the “stinky shirt” because it always makes me stink. However, I continue to wear it, victimizing those around me, because it’s super cute. But Tom’s of Maine. absorbed the odor.
Synopsis: Tom’s of Maine Long Lasting Deodorant in Lavender scent ($6.16 at Foods of Nature) is my new best friend. I’m now free from antiperspirants. It’s a brand new, stink-free, aluminum-free day.

Read more about the company on their official website.