A healthy lifestyle, clean foods, nontoxic personal care products. These are all high on our list of must haves. Soaking wet pits are not. How to not sweat when making the switch to natural deodorants?

You use organic cosmetics, nontoxic shampoo, natural body lotion. Have yet to make the change to natural deodorant? This is a trouble spot for many.

Personal preference definitely comes into play when choosing deodorant. But there is one thing all of us can agree on. A deodorant must work. In other words, it has to keep you odor-free and as dry as possible.

Yes, natural deodorant is known for allowing swamp pit to happen. Old school natch deods contain no perspiration prohibiting ingredients and allow the body to sweat naturally. This type of deodorant works to control odor that occurs when sweat sits on skin and forms bacteria. And many do a good job of keeping stink at bay.

The selling point of natural deodorants, other than the obvious avoidance of chemical exposure, used to be the sweat factor. That your body is supposed to sweat to eliminate toxins is a fact. But sweat stains are socially unacceptable, not to mention uncomfortable and gross, so this argument fell flat with most consumers.

Here’s the deal: It no longer has to be this way. You can use chemical-free deodorant without making several shirt changes a day. Natural deodorants without perspiration control are so 2000-yuck. Let’s hop into the now and use nontoxic armpit protection that keeps you fresh as a daisy and provides some dampness defense.

Of course, the natural ingredients used to ward off sweat are not as effective as chemical antiperspirants. Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex, the ingredient used in conventional deodorant/antiperspirants to stop sweat, blocks pores and prevents perspiration from coming to the surface of the skin. The ingredient may be good at its job, but what about the health issues?

Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex is a known skin irritant and has potential to cause DNA damage in humans. Studies have also linked the ingredient to Alzheimer’s disease, citing that aluminum may cause the formation of plaques in the human brain contributing to dementia. And the list of harmful effects on the human body due to aluminum goes on.

Aluminum isn’t the only toxin rolling around in mainstream antiperspirants. Petro-chems, parabens, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrance are the usual nasty suspects found in most of these products.

Disheartened? Hang on. There are several high quality nontoxic deodorants to choose from and measures you can take to make them most effective.

How to Not Sweat: 5 Tips to Staying Dry With Natural Deodorant (Plus Product Picks!)

1 Stay the Course // Not gonna lie, things get worse before they get better once the switch has been made. It’s common to experience some extra wetness when first using an aluminum-free product. Right before a public speaking event or first date are not ideal occasions to try natural for the first time. Have faith. As your body acclimates to your new products, things will get drier.

2 Stock Up // Yes, I said products. Plural. One of the best ways to make sure your deodorant stays effective, rotate amongst a few. Having three or four options in your dry pit arsenal, and alternating them out each week or two, seems to be key in staving off odor and wetness. I am not sure of the science behind this method, but it works.

3 A Chill Diet // Foods hot in temperature obviously warm you up and cause perspiration. Onions, garlic, coffee, and alcohol are also foods said to get sweat stirred up. Go easy on these when you want to stay dry.

4 Dress for Success // Wear light breathable fabrics and clothes that aren’t too tight to prevent underarms from getting damp. Layering also helps to ward off heat waves and sopped pits.

5 Powder Room // A puff of powder helps to absorb wetness and freshen up underarms. Burt’s Bees Dusting Powder is a talc-free option.

Ok, so which products are best? All of the following natural deodorants are free from harmful ingredients. They also contain sweat absorbing ingredients, like cornstarch, bamboo fibers, baking soda, or arrowroot powder.

Soapwalla Deodorant Cream

Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant

Bubble & Bee Organic Pit Putty Cream

Blissoma Scentless Stick

Related on EcoSalon

PurelyGreat Natural Deodorant for Men, Women and Teens

DIY: Go Eco (and Healthy) with Your Deodorant

Old Spice Fresher Collection Not a Walk in the Park

Image of woman with sweat mark via Shutterstock

The post How to Not Sweat (or Stink) With Natural Deodorant appeared first on EcoSalon.

Old Spice has come out with a new men’s body care line said to rival nature. Yes, actual nature.

Old Spice is at it again. Getting our attention by using something most of us can relate to, even when associated with personal care products: Humor.

Remember “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” commercials? Even those of us who would never put a conventional deodorant on our pits, or our man’s, loved those ads.

This time, though, Old Spice has taken the direction of countless brands before them and gone natural. Well, sort of.

The latest line up from this decades old men’s care brand has come out with a new line called the Fresher Collection. The body washes, sprays, and deodorants are inspired by nature, and come with monikers like Timber, Amber, and Citron.

The collection was launched with a campaign that includes Twitter updates and more of the brand’s signature offbeat videos. Old Spice is tweeting funny facts to go along with these videos using #NatureFacts.

The videos are pretty hilarious and the campaign does an effective job of linking Old Spice with nature. Or their version of nature, anyway. If a bird vomiting Froot Loops and rocks that microwave pizza bagels are your idea of natural, you will probably love the new line. But if natural to you means healthy, nontoxic ingredients, you’ll be passing on these products.

So are the Fresher Collection products natural in name only? While it almost seems that Old Spice is doing the whole nature thing almost in jest, the press release says otherwise. Once again Old Spice has put a spin on things, this time even doing greenwashing its way. Rather than the typical claims of “our products are natural”, the Fresher Collection is said to “give guys that same great, relaxing feeling that they get from smelling nature”. And there is science to back it up?

So, the press release cites studies that show nature and her natural scents produce calming effects on mind and body. Ok, with them so far. Old Spice also did its own study with Innerscope Research, a “leading neuroscience research firm.” Apparently results show “Old Spice Fresher Collection has the transformational powers to take your brain to the great outdoors, eliciting a more positive response than smelling nature itself.”

For real?

Ok, here’s the deal: My son bought a deodorant from this new collection because it is called Sweat Defense and claims to “give sweat a beat down.” Again with the fabulous marketing. What teenaged guy wouldn’t want this stuff? My son also loves Froot Loops and pizza bagels. Target market, maybe? But does the scent transport me to a place better than nature? Um, no. Smells good, yes, but certainly not better than a walk in the park.

I would wager the thing about these antiperspirants that makes guys feel so uber fantastic is the sweat control. These babies contain 19 percent Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex, a chemical antiperspirant ingredient. They also tout odor fighting technology, called sweat donuts (yes, really), which trap odor and release fresh scent.

Aluminum used in antiperspirants has been linked to Alzheimer’s Disease and breast cancer. Petro-chemicals, parabens, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrance are more reasons not to use conventional antiperspirant/deodorant products.

So what’s a guy who doesn’t want to be stinky to do? My husband uses only natural deodorants and has a few that he likes. My trick to keeping your natural deodorant working is to switch them up regularly. Keep a few different brands on hand and trade them out week to week.

Truly Natural Deodorants for Men That Work

Purely Great Citrus

Schmidt’s Natural Dedorant Cedarwood + Juniper

ROCK Deodorant Stick

What do you say? Shall we start a #TrulyNaturalFacts campaign?

Related on EcoSalon

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Image of man smelling nature via Shutterstock

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This week’s Link Love: We hear from Russell Brand on the tragic loss of Robin Williams’, the best way to do dishes and how to make your own natural deodorant, as well as big news for Tesla lovers and 3D printed shoes?!

If you haven’t read it yet, Russell Brand’s commentary on Robin Williams’ death is outstanding. [via the Guardian]

Are you doing dishes the right way to conserve water? [via Eat Drink Better]

5 DIY natural deodorant recipes for healthy pits that don’t stink. [via Organic Authority]

What say you, Mr. Musk? Tesla may make green technology, but California might give it a pass on building green factories. [via Grist]

Why yes, these are 3D printed shoes. [via Ecouterre]

Related on EcoSalon

Link Love: Whole Foods Delivers + Vinegar Cleaning Without the Smell + Why You’re Always Late

Link Love: The Best Supermodel Street Style + Juicing at Home + PETA and Detroit

Link Love: Is Almond Milk Wrong? + Eco Designers on E! + Why Men Suck at Oral Sex

Image via the Guardian

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In the golden age of mass-produced everything, you’ll be happy to know the apothecary is making its return in the form of small-batch, local, handmade, natural beauty products.

It used to always be this way. Hand-poured soaps and perfumes, creams and lotions. But you don’t need me to explain how the Beauty Industry changed all that–how Walmart and Target shelves are now lined full of exceptionally cheap (even if they’re expensive) and often highly toxic products that we’re encouraged to slather onto our bodies and our hair.

We’re trained to spend less money more often on products that don’t really even work and may be doing more harm than good. But if we were to invest that same amount of money in small batch apothecary-style handmade natural beauty products often made in our very own community, how would that change our beauty regimen? Would our skin and hair look better?

Apothecary-inspired brands offer just that: high quality, small batch produced beauty care products that are sure to inspire you to feel more beautiful about your investment in looking more beautiful, naturally.

Meow Meow Tweet is a Brooklyn-based beauty care line embodying the apothecary style of production. “Besides the soap, lip balm and the deodorant, which we make weekly, if you order something from our website, we make it to order,” says co-founder, Tara Pelletier. Inspired by Tara’s restaurant experience with cooking whole foods, the brand wanted products that reflected that sensibility. “For us, apothecary is like a small-town pharmacy from the 19th century with a garden out back that the pharmacist harvests from to hand-make lozenges, salves and tinctures according to the needs of the people in the town. We see a direct correlation with modern day apothecaries and the slow food movement. People want to know where their skin care is coming from, who is making it and what’s in it. It’s like community-based skin care.”

I’ve been loving the MMT face and body oils. They just feel right on my skin. So simple and pure. (Sample sent courtesy of MMT but opinions are all my own.) And I’ve been using the deodorant which actually works. Like, all day. I cannot say that about most other “natural” deodorants available. “Deodorant is a tricky thing; one person’s body chemistry might love our deodorant and for another person, it may not be as effective,” explains Tara. And for customers who have special needs, Meow Meow Tweet will work with you: “We make bespoke recipes for folks based on their sensitivities. We recently met a customer with allergies who was desperate to try our deodorant but couldn’t use the shea butter and coconut oil. We made her a dusting powder that she loved. Perhaps, that’s the difference between us and one of the big guys, we’re small enough that we’re still able to go into the kitchen and cook you up something special.”

How adorable is the company name, too? In case you’re wondering (of course you are) it was inspired by their two cats and co-founder Jeff Kurosaki’s cockatiel (back in his home state of Hawaii).

Want to discover more apothecary style beauty care brands? Here are a few others we adore:

Golden Path Alchemy

King’s Road Apothecary

Moon Valley Organics

Zoe Organics

Are handmade beauty products being produced near you? What are your favorites?

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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Images courtesy of Meow Meow Tweet

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Don’t choose between toxic products and stinky pits. EcoSalon reviews a natural deodorant that actually works!

Body odor isn’t something people like to talk about, but it happens to all of us. Terrified of being the source of any stink, we slather deodorants and antiperspirants into our armpits–an extremely sensitive part of our bodies. It was only recently that we learned many conventional deodorants are made with toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer.

Some years ago, I decided I was done with deodorant and antiperspirants. I’d rather stink than bombard myself with yet another chemical. And for a while, it was OK. As long as I showered frequently the smell never got too bad. But on days when I couldn’t, or when the temperature soared into triple-digits, things got a little, uh, unpleasant.

So I asked around for natural deodorant options that I could use with less risk. I tried Crystal, a natural deodorant that uses mineral salt instead of fragrance and aluminum. It literally looked like a big salt crystal. It too worked for a minute, but had to be applied often, and only on completely clean skin. Not convenient for mid-day touch ups.

I also tried this Long Lasting natural deodorant made by Tom’s of Maine. But then a friend who was also using Tom’s did some research into their ingredient list, and found that all was not as eco-friendly as we first thought. So I quit it except for special occasions, and succumbed to the regular stink. Frustrating.

That’s why I was excited when PurelyGreat, a natural deodorant company out of Canada, contacted me about reviewing their products for women. This wasn’t a weird salt stick or conventional wannabe, these products were made with just three ingredients–all of which I could pronounce–and they had stellar customer testimonials.

They sent me two different natural deodorants to try: the Women’s Citrus Cream Deodorant and Women’s Lavender Cream Deodorant. Both were packaged in small, blue glass jars. A welcome relief to the excessive plastic packaging of most deodorants (did you know those plastic sticks are only about 1/16 full of product?!).

Like all PurelyGreat products, each natural deodorant is made with three base ingredients: Natural baking soda (OMRI Listed and approved for use in organic production), non-gmo corn starch, and organic vegetable glycerin. Then, essential oils are added depending on what fragrance was desired, or whether the product was intended for a man or woman. However, they also produce a completely unscented version for those with sensitive skin or scent allergies.

The directions indicated that the products would work best when applied to clean skin, so I waited until fresh from the shower to apply. The natural deodorant had the look and feel of a high quality lotion, and I only needed a fingertip-worth. I applied it by hand in the center of my armpit. Although it left kind of a weird sticky feeling on my finger, which I assume was from the corn starch, there was no such feeling or residue in my armpit. It was completely invisible with only a trace of light scent.

I waited a full 24 hours. The stink didn’t return and my underarm skin was dry and smooth. After my next application, I pushed the envelope: I waited 48 hours to shower and included a trip to the gym. Still no stink! Although there was some sweat accumulation. But of course sweating is natural and PurelyGreat never claimed to be an antiperspirant.

“PurelyGreat natural deodorant will last 2-3 months of daily usage, explains company rep Philip Pellat. “The shelf life is at least a year – but it will require a good stirring if it sits around for a length of time. The product will not grow any mold as the Natural Soda provides a PH level that prohibits bacterial growth.”

In short, I’m really excited to have found this product! Not only am I confident in the ingredient list, I’m also confident that it works! No more sneaking conventional deodorant when I’ve got an event where stinky sweat would be an embarrassment. Plus, the jars are small enough to travel with and easy to recycle when the product’s gone. Which won’t be for a while.

Related on Ecosalon

Best Organic Deodorants That Actually Work

7 Natural Beauty Products To Take To A Desert Island

DIY: Go Eco and Healthy With Your Deodorant

Images via PurelyGreat and Beth Buczynski

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Welcome to the fifth installment of our seven-part Eco Salon Eco-Beauty Approved Guide: Personal Care & Hygiene Products. Coming up next is:

SCENT
SUN

We’ve worked really hard to gather this list from professionals in the field, including Kristen Arnett, Paige Padgett, Jessa Blades, Greta Eagan, Sophie Uliano, Todra Payne, Renee Loux, Starre Vartan and others, along with our very own editors and writers. We’ve looked at ingredients, brand missions and philosophies, considered skin and hair types, all types of concerns and tested several products in each line. We’ve broken it down by category, with multiple options in each, so get ready for lots of options.

We’ve also considered price and tried very hard to include a broad range from luxury to affordable for just about any budget. Even though we’ve listed just one or two product recommendations per brand, it’s hard to go wrong with these companies, so experiment until you find your new must have products! Without further ado, please read on for the 2013 EcoSalon Approved Eco-Beauty Guide!

1. Blossom Organics 

Founder Melissa Jochim’s mission is to create naturally pure, effective and healthy alternatives in all personal care categories. In pursuit of healthy well being, beautiful intimacy and blissful pleasure, Blossom Organics creates safe, naturally pure intimate care products.

Product Picks:

Natural Moisturizer Lubricant (made to mimic a woman’s chemistry)

Pure Pleasure Arousal Gel  (nothing kinky, just a little added warmth and blood flow)

2. Erbaviva

Erbaviva was created to offer mommies-to-be and babies upscale products completely free from all harsh detergents, chemical fragrances, and other unhealthy additives. Today they offer a wide range of products for the entire family with bath, body and true aromatherapy.

Product Pick:

Deodorant (for everyone, an alcohol based spray when you prefer something light)

3. Preserve 

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Those are the principles that have driven Preserve since 1996 and that motivate them to encourage more households to choose our 100% recycled and recyclable products over conventional products.

Product Picks:

Toothbrush (for everyone, it’s recycled and recyclable)

Triple Razor (for everyone, it’s recycled and recyclable)

4. Quantum Health

Natural, over the counter products to help your body function more effectively – supporting bodily systems safely and naturally.

Product Pick:

Buzz Away (DEET free and it actually works, though reapply every few hours)

5. Seventh Generation

The nation’s leading brand of household and personal care products that help protect human health and the environment. Providing healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home–and for the community and environment outside of it, they want their products to make a difference—from their development through to their production, purchase, use, and disposal.

Product Picks:

Organic Cotton No Applicator Tampons (available in a variety of absorbencies, the shape is better than most)

Chlorine Free Panty Liners (for light days and added protection)

6. Sir Richard’s Condoms

They believe the power of business can help bring health and pleasure to the global community.  Their mission is to bring pleasure and health to the global community while stimulating social discourse and evolving attitudes towards contraception. For every vegan, toxin free Sir Richard’s condom you purchase, you contribute one to a developing country.

Product Pick:

Pleasure Dots

7. Soapwalla 

Soapwalla founder, Rachel Winard pulls knowledge from her study of Ayurvedic medicine, botanicals, aromatherapy and whole-body nutrition. Every product is made by hand in small batches to ensure quality, freshness and the utmost attention to detail.

Product Pick:

Deodorant Cream (for everyone, it actually keeps stink at bay and helps with wetness)

8. Vitacare 

VITACARE is a natural oral care system of vitamin-infused whitening toothpaste, alcohol-free mouthwash, whitening chewing gum and eco-friendly toothbrushes.  VITACARE’s products are infused with a powerful Vita-Boost Complex, which delivers a potent blend of essential vitamins A, C, D, E and Calcium to work in synergy to support overall gum, tooth and mouth health.

Product Pick:

Mint + Acai Toothpaste (for everyone, it’s cleansing, whitening and refreshing without being overpowering)

Read Eco Salon’s 2013 Eco Beauty Approved Guide Part 1: 19 Bath & Body Products here.

Part 2: 41 Facial Care Products.

Part 3: 11 Hair Care Products.

Part 4: 17 Makeup & Color Products.

Looking to try healthy beauty products before you buy?  Goodebox delivers 6-7 personalized samples per month to take the guess work out of cleaning up your beauty routine. Try Goodebox today.

The post EcoSalon’s 2013 Eco-Beauty Approved Guide Part 5: 8 Personal Care & Hygiene Products appeared first on EcoSalon.

Not too long ago, I wrote about my favorite natural deodorants. I was lucky enough to test out the best of the natural and/or organic sprays, the roll-ons, and the sticks that the world has to offer. Some deodorants worked harder than an actress pretending she hasn’t injected her 40-something face with so many fillers that she looks like she’s about to float away. (Don’t speak Hollywood? In other words – badly and without success.) Other deodorants worked great – as long as you remained motionless into a climate-controlled environment, only daring to move your eyeballs. And the purveyor of some not-so-great deodorants? They came from the old toothpaste-standby: Tom’s of Maine.

Don’t get me wrong. Tom’s of Maine is a fantastic company, with certifications ranging from Peta-approval to an endorsement from the American Dental Association. They have a vigilant company-wide policy of recycling and they are 100 percent transparent. But their deodorant? It’s never worked for me. Nor for friends. Nor for my mail carrier – I suppose, if I were to ask her.

But my lack of luck with Tom’s of Maine changed one warm winter’s day in southern California. I was attending a natural products expo when one of TOMs reps handed me a sample of their latest deodorant, Crystal Confidence. This product promised to rid its wearer of an unfortunate body smell while remaining natural and less toxic than other brands.

The TOMs rep even winked that Crystal Confidence would stop wetness, something no organic or natural deodorant I know of has ever been able to do. And for good reason: anti-perspirants contain aluminum zirconium, which some link to Alzheimer’s Disease. And when it is not possibly messing with your brain, it prevents you from sweating – something you’re supposed to do. While I’m not a fan of the sticky underarms, it is hard to argue with evolution. No truly natural or organic product would contain aluminum zirconium. I was skeptical – what next, lasting organic lipstick? But I decided to try it out for myself.

Crystal Confidence had a nice, citrus smell that was pleasant enough. And it does work. Does it cure wetness? No, not at all. However, I was unable to find any evidence that it claims to do so on their web site, so perhaps I imagined this declaration from the TOMs rep. However, I did remain stinky free. And this is fairly significant in the world of natural deodorants.

Tom’s of Maine has a lot to say about Crystal Confidence. According to TOMs, “the antimicrobial actions of potassium alum and zinc citrate mineral salts fight odor.” (Check!) “It is long-lasting 100 percent natural and organic fragrances.” (Seems so!) “Goes on clear with no white residue” (Yes, it does!) Further, it “contains natural benzoic acid preservative. No parabens, phenoxyethanol, or propylene glycol.” (I am taking your word for it, TOMs.) To which I say – well done, Tom’s of Maine! You are finally out of the stink zone.

Finally, want to make your own deodorant? Here’s a cool recipe which will help you do just that.

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