Vanessa and I often get asked about armpit detoxing and what to expect when switching to a natural deodorant. In the below blog we will cover conventional deodorants, antiperspirants, detoxing, detoxing masks, and the benefits of sweating.
Fragrance (parfum), aluminium, phthalates, talc, BHT, and mineral oil and parabens, these ingredients have all been linked to health issues over the years, and yet we still happily slather them on our armpits when using most over the counter deodorants.
Artificial fragrances are one of the worst offenders, containing a cocktail of chemicals that frankly should not be applied to such a sensitive part of the body, on a daily basis (if at all).
Aluminium, the star ingredient in antiperspirants, is amazing at blocking pores, but... wait... hold on a minute, this stuff blocks up your pores and traps harmful toxins in your body.
We sweat for a reason – it’s part of your body’s natural detoxification process. Sweating is healthy and our built-in mechanism for temperature control and detoxification. One of the most effective ways we eliminate waste through the skin is by sweating.
The narrative around sweating needs to change, if your sweat is clean smelling, it should not be a problem.
That is where natural deodorant steps in.
Expect a transitional period, you may find that you get a reaction (itchy pits, a rash, strong BO), you might notice that you’re a little more stinky and a little more sweaty than usual. If you’ve been using conventional deodorant or antiperspirant for years, it could take up to 2-4 weeks to detox and unblock all the aluminium that’s been plugging up your pits!
One clever tip that helps shorten the detoxification is to apply a clay face mask to your pits! Clay face masks can do wonders for detoxing your pits faster. Yes, that’s right folks, apply a face mask to your underarms...
This draws out and removes the build-up of antiperspirant (aluminium). Look for a gentle detoxing facemask with bentonite clay or charcoal, slather on your pits, keep your arms up to let it dry for 10 minutes and then wash it off in the shower. This should help shorten any detox by at least several days and can be repeated if necessary.
The benefits of letting your body function normally, stay clean and safe and still smell nice is what natural deodorant is all about. Here’s to happy pits!
See you all next month,
Monica & Vanessa
