Oh, I TOTALLY think your body adjusts! I was just thinking about this. My face used to be really oily (and then really dry after washing it) so I always used products for oily skin. Well, when I quit using products (I started using baking soda and occasionally honey for face washing...see, body care regimes can involve kitchen ingredients so they are very fitting for your blog!;-D) my face at first felt oily a lot and then *drastically* improved. Now I can basically wash my face with pure water and it's fine: no oil problems at all. I have recently gone shampoo free...again, adjustment period but now my hair does not need to be washed as often. I haven't tried a deodorant crystal but I should...because I will admit to something: after Jacinta was born my life got really chaotic and most days I was lucky to get cleaned up and dressed. I didn't crack open my bag that contains deodorant, lotion, anything. Surprisingly I found that I sweat less without deodorant than I do with it. Personally I also think my sweat changes depending on my diet...but, um, I suddenly feel gross and self conscious discussing my sweat on the internet.:-o ;-)

Ruth

Well... Interesting subject. I could go even further, but I won't. :-D I have not used deoderant in a couple of years. I have tried several other things, but right now I use hand sanitizer under my arms. I have not shaved in 15 years or more, so I don't have to worry about rashes or stings when using alcohol. The hand sanitizer kills the bacteria, so that pretty much eliminates the odor. It works about as well as your rock: shower every day, apply it every day, and it works very well. But, I have also adjusted to accepting the more natural state of things. People sweat (and that is good) and people have a very earthy fragrance. ;-) It's natural... Thanks for this post!

I agree about one's body adjusting. When I used "normal" deodorants, my underarms never smelled, but they did have bumps and irritations. I now use all natural deodorants and have much happier, healthier underarms. The same thing happened with my hair. It was always dry and frizzy and "needed" conditioning. When I switched to the Nature's Gate shampoo, my hair evened out and rarely needs any conditioning. It seems very often that less is more.

I've never tried the salt crystal kind, but now you've got me curious! I think I'll give it a go the next time I run out. I don't wear lots of deodorant, so I've been on the same one for a year. ;-)

What an interesting, and surprising, post. I would quite like to try this, but where can you buy this salt crystal?

Mama Lieveheersbeestje

Dear Tammy,
We are one of a kind.. I do not use deo anymore for about a half a year. I use only water too shower and a big scrub every other day and the other day I wash with a wascloth with a lot of water. Also my hair (it is long) I wash only with water. Your where right, it does take some time to adjust, but I love it now. It feels nice and naturaly fresh. I don't use a cristal, but coconutoil. After washing, just apply a little. That's it. You can also use it for your face, body, hair (be careful to use a little bit at the ends!) and it is even used for cooking, but I did not eat it jet. My husband uses it too, and it works great! But we don't use soap, to keep the sourgrade of our skin naturaly too. I never smell sweaty, although I do sweat, like it should be. Also my kids I keep clean in this routine. A few weeks ago, someone sat with one of my sons on her lap, and she told me that my children always smelled so nice like justborn babies. Ha! She didn't knew how confident she made me.. Als with this cheap coconutoil you can very easily masage the babie or todler. They enjoy it and becom all sleepy.. use this before bedtime. Please try it, the only thing that you miss is the nice smell of soap ! So I spray some perfume only on my clothes, not on my skin, when I go for a vissit or so. Believe me, this is a good an frugal solution.

mama lieveheersbeestje.

I read recently in "The People's Pharmacy" column in my newspaper that rubbing alcohol works as a deodorant. I shower at night, and I don't like to put deodorant/antiperspirant after my shower. I tried the rubbing alcohol thing, and it works wonderfully! It doesn't sting after shaving, either. I then usually use a little powder, too, then go to bed.

Admittedly, I still wear commercial deodorant/antiperspirant during the day, but at least it's no longer on all the time. Maybe I'll try weaning off of it, but I really don't like feeling moist during the day.

-Ewokgirl

Deodorants allow you to sweat, but hide any smell. Anti-perspirants suppress the sweating altogether.

In general, unless you are menstruating or stressed out, your underarm sweat will not stink. I haven't used any deodorants or antiperspirants for years, but I do use a salt crystal during menstruation.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't potassium alum salt contain aluminum? How is that better for you than the aluminum-based commercial deodorants? Does it not absorb into the skin for some reason?

Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees has no aluminum at all. A few others as well.

That natural deodorant with Potassium alum is thought to be safer because the aluminum is naturally ocurring, has bigger ions, and is not thought to be able to absorb into the skin as well. The other aluminum stuff in regular anti-perspirant deodorant is synthetic, and altered into smaller particles. I'm not sure about this claim, but I've researched it, and have read this same information in several places across the net. Here's one article at a sustainable living site which explains the difference.
http://lighterfootstep.com/make-the-switch-to-a-safer-deodorant.html

I use the crystal deo too -- usually right after I bath (which is at night), then I put on Tom's of Maine in the morning. I has worked well, but I have found something that totally stamped all stench and sweat out. I'm serious: BAKING SODA.

I now keep a little container of baking soda in the bathroom and wipe that on in the mornings. It keeps me dry and fresh-smelling all day long. Try it! It's great.

My sister had a BIG problem with B.O. that she never could seem to control. She uses baking soda now too in combination with her natural deo and is very pleased with the results.

And how inexpensive! Who doesn't have baking soda in the house??

Later,
a. borealis @ www.raingarden.blogspot.com

I never post, but I have to chime in this time!

I just started using the all natural crystal salt roll-on, and it works! My brother, who has been through all types, put me on to it. This will not keep you from sweating, but it will keep you from stinking.
The salt and minerals keep the bacteria (which make you smell) from growing. All you are doing is providing a saline envionment that is hostile to bacteria. Salting the earth. And we are made of salt and H2O! That simple, as it should be. The natural alum is too big to log into your cells, hence more natural.
All other commercial deoderants, even "all natural", just cover you in perfume, which wont last the day. Tom's of maine was the biggest waste of money for me.
Salt cystal basically provides 24 hr protection. I've slept on it and wake up to no odor. That is what sold it on me. Plus no scent, no itch, no stinging and no more rings on shirts!

Some tips:

It only works as well as you scrub under your arms before applying. Start with a squeaky clean slate.

Its all natural, double up until you know how much you need.

Use more on active days, hot days, day at the gym etc.

The sprays and roll ons aren't cheap. Use them to start.

I'm buying the crystal next.
(p.s Love your saite Tammy!)

Dry up ugly pimples!! I had a blind head on my chin, and make-up made it worse, I dabbed a lil peroxide on it, and voila! The next day it's pretty much dried up.

Which deodorant does your husband use that works for him but does not contain aluminum? Thanks!

I just "happened" across your blog by way of another blog - I can't remember who's though, LOL -

Anyhow - to try and put the "alum = aluminum" question at ease in your mind - true, alum is a direct dirivative of aluminum, but (1) not the same type found in conventional anti-perspirants (2) the molecule size, because of the inclusion with other minerals, inhibits the absorbtion into the skin because of it's size - meaning - it's perfectly safe.

An analogy to help clarify things - Imagine, if you will, chloride (bleach) will kill you if you drink it and sodium, directly on your skin, will burn you up, but when you combine the two - you get sodium-chloride (table salt) which is necessary and good for you (to ingest). Also - take into account hydrogen is a terribly explosive element and oxygen [by itself] in high concentrations will burn you because it is, directly, an oxydizer, but together they make water; a life sustaining substance. The same applies to the "Crystal" deoderant stick. Obviously not life sustaining or even GOOD for you, but point to be made - when two molecules join together it makes a completely different compound that does not resemble the individual molecules at all.

Hope this helps! By the way - am I over analyzing the math question thing? What is that all about?

I have been using the rock crystal too. I did drop mine. It broke. I took it to the blender. I made a bottle of salt water of it. I put a palm full in my hand in the morning and rub it under each armpit. That seems to really do the trick. I agree that there was a "adjustment" period. I am very pleased.

Recently I read that I was using conventional stick deodorants improperly--like everyone. ..That I should have applied the stick at night, wake, wash and not reapply, but trust it was "absorbed in my skin to work all day. While all that made me think of going back, the lack of deodorant stains on my shirts and Ts made me appreciate that salt method better.

I wonder if this would work with Epsom Salt just as well. Anyone have an idea?

Anyhow, thank you, Tammy, for starting this whole conversation. It was helpful.

that strawberry shortcake on the side looks so yummy....