DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Deodorant

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Deodorant

So I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day. My cart full of organic produce and meat for a party I was going to throw. I was channeling my inner earth mama that day as well. Long flowy cotton shirt and slacks and a pair of comfy but really ugly sandals. I noticed the lady standing behind me eyeing my cart and myself. There was some serious judgement going on. Then she takes a step or two closer and takes a long audible sniff. A look of surprise came over her face and she took another sniff. At this point I turned fully around and smiled at her and said “Who knew living a healthy lifestyle meant you don’t have to spend your days smelling like you rolled around in a barn?” Her face turned about 6 shades of red and she avoided eye contact.

Okay, I know maybe that was a little mean to call her out, but she was rude first (and now I sound like a 5 year old). I get so frustrated with people who equate organic food and naturally living with someone who doesn’t shower or care about personal hygiene. I’ve had people tell me they wished they could live a more natural lifestyle but couldn’t live with just one shower every few weeks. Ummmm, excuse me? Where does it say that in order to live naturally one must not bathe, or wear makeup, or put on bras, or put on deodorant? Sometimes I just have to laugh at people and their silly questions and preconceived notions. If I were to adhere to all their expectations I would be a bra burning, pot smoking, patchouli wearing (okay I maybe I am this one), dirty, smelly, hippy. Yeah, that is soooooo not me.

Now as you know most deodorants contain harmful ingredients like PEG, DIMETHICONE, CYCLOPENTASILOXANE, ALUMINUM, ALCOHOL DENATURED, and more. If you want to check out what is in the deodorant you are using and what these ingredients do check out ewg.org.

Now a lot of DIY versions of deodorant contain baking soda like this one. It is a great deodorant and works wonderfully, but for a few people, like myself, the baking soda really irritates the skin and turns it red and itchy and unhappy. So I have been experimenting with a number of different things and had a brilliant idea one day while using my vinegar based Pet Mess and Odor Spray. If ACV can cleanup after cats and get rid of the smell why can’t it do the same to my underarm?

Within a week of using my DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Deodorant I had virtually no smell in the underarm region, which is something that not even store bought, chemical laden deodorant could do. So without further ado here is the recipe!

DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Deodorant

• 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar (I like raw, unfiltered ACV, with the mother, like this one here)
• 1/4 cup filtered or distilled water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2-4 drops essential oil of choice (I personally like to use lavender and mint, guys might like pine or spruce)

Directions

1. Add the ACV and water into a 6 oz jar. (I like to use these jars with flip top lids) or into a glass spray bottle (like this one).
2. Take the salt and drop your essential oils onto it.
3. Stir essential oil and salt mixture into jar with water and ACV. Salt acts as a dispersal agent for the essential oils so they do not just gather on top.
4. Now you are ready to use it!

Before using I like to give mine a little shake to make sure all the ingredients are well combined.

Take a cotton pad or ball, dip into mixture and apply to your underarms. I like to use this in the morning and at night before I go to bed.

Please note that this is NOT an antiperspirant. If you are really concerned about sweat I like to swipe on a bit of organic deodorant containing arrowroot powder to help absorb some of the sweat. I like the Nourish Organics brand.

Original article and pictures take 2momsnaturalskincare.com site