**In this post we’re making an all natural deodorant.**

*This formulation features 8 ingredients, is baking soda free & actually works!*

Natural Deodorant Formulation

This post may contain links but they are not affiliate links. I am not in any sort of affiliate program at this time. They are links to things I actually use

When I first started on my journey of learning how to make my own body care products deodorant was one that I struggled with. I found most homemade deodorants to not only not really work, but they left me with some undesired side effects while not really providing me with what I was looking for in a deodorant.

The main issue I had with many of those formulations was the inclusion of baking soda.

I am not one to say that a certain ingredient is “good” or “bad” as the poison is found in the dose. But this is one ingredient that in my opinion should be left in the kitchen & out of our personal care products.

The reason for this simply comes down to pH as the pH of skin sits around 5.5 meaning that skin is slightly acidic. The top & most protective layer of skin is referred to as the acid mantle which is a film that serves as a protective barrier against external pathogens.

The pH of baking soda sits around 8.3 meaning that is alkaline

When we put an alkaline product on acidic skin a chemical reaction occurs & it's this chemical reaction that can damage the skin's natural acid mantle AKA the Stratum Corneum which is located in the outermost layer of the epidermis.

The Stratum Corneum helps protect the tissues from infection, dehydration, chemical & mechanical stress. It consists primarily of dead cells that help maintain hydration & serve as a protective barrier.

Side effects of using baking soda in deodorant:

Skin irritation

Rashes
Dryness
Inflammation
Redness
Breakouts
Skin discoloration
Soreness

These side effects are nothing to play around with. I was using a deodorant last summer that I had purchased that I didn’t realize contained baking soda & am still dealing with some of these side effects today.

While not everyone may experience these side effects, they are ones that can easily be avoided by not damaging the skin's acid mantle

Once the acid mantle becomes damaged you may experience transdermal water loss as water seeps out of our pores & reduced skin elasticity as the barrier dies out contributing to dry skin.

This can lead to cellular vulnerability meaning the cells become filled with bacteria, fungus, dirt & damage from UV rays which can cause skin irritation, inflammation & infection

Signs of a damaged skin barrier:

Acne
Dry, Cracked skin
Itchiness
Redness
Bumpy Skin
Skin Inflammation
Dehydrated or Dull Skin
Rough or Scaly Patches
Hyperpigmentation
Skin Infection
Eczema Flare-ups
Rosacea or Psoriasis Symptoms
Wrinkles, Fine Lines or Textured Skin
Delayed Wound Healing

If you are experiencing any of these things due to a damaged skin barrier here are some ideas you may want to consider

Ways to repair a damaged skin barrier:

Moisturize & Hydrate consistently by adding humectants to your routine
Regular exfoliation on intact skin
Focus On Fighting Inflammation
Restore With Antioxidants
Use sunscreen & avoid direct sun exposure when possible
Practice Self-Care & Build Healthy Habits including lowering stress levels

So enough about that, let’s get to talking about the ingredients we’re going to be using for this formulation.

Instead of baking soda our formulation features arrowroot powder & diatomaceous earth. Both are gentle, light weight & breathable on the skin. They work by gently absorbing sweat & neutralizing odor.

Did you know that it’s actually bacteria on the skin that lends to body odor not sweat itself? Sweat itself does not have an odor & is comprised of ammonia, urea, salts & sugar.

Diatomaceous earth also has the ability to bind to toxins, helping to detoxify the skin & the pores.

Sweat, although it can seem annoying & hindering at times, is actually both a natural & essential bodily function that helps to regulate body temperature, hydrating the skin & protecting against external pathogens.

When our internal body temperature rises, the sweat gland releases a fluid called sweat. As this fluid evaporated it helps to cool the skin as well as the blood beneath the skin

As we like to do on this blog, let’s talk about an herbal ally that can help address sweating, especially excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis. However you don’t need to be experiencing excessive sweating to tap into her medicine but it can certainly help

Sage is a natural astringent with antibacterial, antifungal & antihidrotic effects.

Antihidrotic is a substance that counteracts excessive sweating or hidrosis.
The astringent properties help to constrict the sweat glands thereby reducing perspiration
The antifungal properties help to inhibit the growth of bacteria on the surface of the skin thereby reducing body odor

Sage holds some inflammation modulating effects & can prevent inflamed sweat glands

One of the interesting things I’ve found with Sage is if you are experiencing extreme sweating or are wanting to see immediate results take sage internally. With this being said Sage might be your new best friend if you are experiencing menopause symptoms such as hot flashes & night sweats.

Natural Deodorant Formulation

Before it’s time to make the deodorant let’s talk about storage container options.

You could use a cardboard tube like THIS

You could use a pot container like THIS. See notes & substitutions section for instructions on how to use this form of packaging

You could use a plastic tube like THIS or THIS

If you are using a plastic tube be sure to pay attention if you purchased a bottom or top filling tube.

If they are bottom filing:

Turn the tube upside down, being sure to leave the inner pieces alone
Remove the bottom piece & set aside
Carefully pour the liquid into the tube, being sure to not over full the container
Snap the bottom on
Allow the products to completely cool for 24 hours before turning right side up

This formulation is written in percentages so you can easily upscale or downscale to meet your needs.

As always all formulations are formulated for personal use only, not for resale.

Equipment:

Digital scale
Hot plate
1 heat proof container or melting pot
1 bowl
1 small bowl or weigh boat
Whisks
Spatula
Storage container

Ingredients:

Phase A

29.55% Coconut Oil

20% Shea Butter

10% Carrier oil of your choice

10% Beeswax

Phase B

15% Arrowroot Powder

15% Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth

Phase C

0.30% Sage Essential Oil

0.15% Vitamin E MT-50

Instructions:

Weigh phase A & put it into a heatproof beaker or bowl
Weigh phase B into a bowl. Stir the phase thoroughly
Weigh phase C into a small beaker or weigh boat
Put phase A onto a heat source & melt until everything is combined
Once everything is melted & combined remove from the heat
Add phase B & stir until fully incorporated. Work quickly as it will start to set up quickly once it is off the heat
Add phase C & stir until combined
Pour into containers & allow to cool in the fridge. If you allow it to cool on the counter the shea butter may become grainy

Substitutions & recommendations:

If omitting the vitamin E, add the amount back into the coconut oil
If adding another essential oil follow the IFRA recommendations & minus the amount from the coconut oil portion. Add all essential oils to phase C
Use any carrier oil that you like. An infused oil is another good way to introduce more plant botanicals into the formulation
This deodorant can be used on any part of the body that you are finding can be a bit sweaty.
If you are wanting to use this in a pot type container, lower the amount of beeswax by 1% & add that percentage back to the coconut oil portion. When made as is I personally find it a bit too hard & would prefer a slightly softer product if I’m applying it by my fingertips.

Comment down below & let me know what other body products are you interested in learning how to make?