Hello Everyone,
First of all I must say I love this forum. Every question I’ve had has already been asked and answered in depth. Thanks to all of you. I hope someone out there can help me.

I wonder if anyone can recommend a natural deodorant. My preteen daughter is very self conscious about odor and it is now pretty hot & humid here. Tom’s of Maine broke both of us out in an itchy rash. We’ve both had bad reactions to regular antiperspirants and she doesn’t find the salt crystal I use effective.

Any recommendations?
Whimsy

Consider Nature's Gate Organics if you are looking for a fairly non-chemical alternative. "No propylene glycol, no parabens." I had no irritation with it, though it did not stop wetness.

I use some kind of solid crystal. I think I got it in L'occitane. I know some health stores sell it as well. It's absolutely great and it lasts forever.

Kat

Hello all -

I've been using Lavilin forever, and it absolutely works. I have used it for so long that I can go weeks inbetween applications without any oder at all. It works by killing surface bacteria using calendula oil and a few other botanicals.

Today I learned that my favorite health food store is no longer carrying it because it contains petroleum jelly.

A full list of ingredients folows: zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, talc, potato starch, calendula oil, arnica oil, vitamin E, ascorbyl palmitate, citric acid, natural fragrance.

I have never had any problems with this at all. Does anyone have any comments about the petroleum jelly??? or other ingredients?

Annette

Mix 1 t baking soda with just enough coconut oil to make a paste.
(Sorry couldn't remember the title of the book about natural personal care)

TIP: Experiment with an amount that is not so sticky. Apply just enough as not to leave a whitish gunk on skin.

It's effective for me up to moderate sweat. If working out, I still use Dove deo on top for insurance. I feel it protects my skin somewhat, because otherwise, I'd get rashes if I use the Dove deo by itself.

I am really into organics, but I don't buy the scare about petroleum products. First of all, the molecules are too big to enter the skin!

There is an argument that skin can't "breathe" with petroleum, that it blocks pores. It's true it's occlusive, but I don't know whether or not that is bad for the skin (although it may be why the deoderant works! )

I have never had a problem with petroleum. It's healed my lips many a time. I think it works BECAUSE it's occlusive and prevents water loss.

That said, another concern with it is that the refinement of petroleum into cosmetic and other products is bad for the environment. So that is another reason many people are opposed to them. But you need to understand that no one is drilling for oil for petroleum jelly. Obviously, we're drilling for gasoline and energy uses and all these other products are from byproducts of petroleum that has already been refined.

I'm not sure if the environment is endangered further when the byproducts are refined as I'm not up as to the exact mechanisms of all the ways in which the refining process hurts the environment.

I hope this is some help, anyway.

I've been using PitRok Natural Spray Deodorant (http://www.pitrok.co.uk). Works like a charm. I was very sceptical when I first tried it, but to my total astonishment it really does work. Even good for smelly feet.

Lois

Kathleen -

Thank you for your thoughts about petroleum products. I have never had a problem with the pores in my underarms becoming "plugged" by this product. I will continue to use it, as it has been so amazingly successful for me for so many years.

Annette

I am definitely going to look into this as well! You've been very helpful and I appreciate it.

I've wanted to avoid antiperspirants for a long time b/c of the aluminum to begin with. But I couldn't find anything else that works. Luckily, I don't sweat much (although, ironically, I learned this is often a symptom of low adrenal reserve!!)

Kathleen

Kathleen -

I don't sweat much either, but in part because I'm Danish and it seems to be the norm for us Nordics.

My main concern has been with eliminating body odor, and Lavilin excels at this. Continued use over many years means that I apply this product at most once a month! It is relatively expensive at about $15.00 for 12.5 gr (much cheaper on-line, as little as $8.50 for the same amount), but one little jar often lasts me the best part of a year, so it is, in fact, quite cost effective. Under all circumstances, it is more expensive to use a product that doesn't deliver!

Lavilan uses natural bacteriacides (calendula oil etc.) and therefore, it takes longer and longer for odor producing skin bacteria to reproduce. Simple and elegant, and NO aluminium or other harsh chemicals.

I have always looked for simple, wholesome solutions that have good science behind them. I am a lousy general consumer in that advertising doesn't (as a rule! :-)) make a dent - I want proof that a product works, not empty PR promises of eternal youth and sexual attractiveness if only I use brand X Y or Z.

I'm glad that you have found my suggestions helpful.

Annetta

I use Thursday Plantation's Teatree Sport deodorant. It's scentless (the other types are scented) and works like a charm for odor and even though I think it might say it's anti perspirant, it's not, so it's usable. It doesn't stop me from sweating.

Julie

If you're not Australian you can probably find it online at Thursday Plantation's website or other places online in Australia.

quote:

Originally posted by Annetta:
Hello all -

I've been using Lavilin forever, and it absolutely works. I have used it for so long that I can go weeks inbetween applications without any oder at all. It works by killing surface bacteria using calendula oil and a few other botanicals.

Today I learned that my favorite health food store is no longer carrying it because it contains petroleum jelly.

A full list of ingredients folows: zinc oxide, petroleum jelly, talc, potato starch, calendula oil, arnica oil, vitamin E, ascorbyl palmitate, citric acid, natural fragrance.

I have never had any problems with this at all. Does anyone have any comments about the petroleum jelly??? or other ingredients?

Annette

Actually, the way this product works is by drastically tightening the pores with the zinc, talc and starch. The calendula has nothing to do with it. I meen, soap and water kills bacteria, too, but nothing can continue to kill bacteria for a week. Especially considering you'd be washing it off every time you bathe.

I used it a couple times and stopped because it was downright painful. It's unbelievably drying (hence it's anti-perspirant quality), so much so that it even gave me a swollen lymph node under my arm once. I would always be suspicious of a product that keeps the skin from sweating for several days.

Whimsy - I personally don't trust any anti-perspirant. As far as I understand, they all work by tightening, cloging and paralyzing the pores, and are made of potentially toxic salts and metals, usually Alluminum which I'm sure you've heard some of the controversy over. Those silly "mineral rock" deoderants are essentially alluminum chloride crystalized with salts and other minerals, and are hardly any better for your health.

The Toms of Maine, while being a deodorant and not an anti-perspirent, still has very high concentrations of some pretty irritating essential oils among other weird ingredients that give it that bar form.

I have had good results using a little coconut oil (which is mildly antimicrobial and which I use as a moisturizer anyhow) with a touch of perfume over it. Most perfumes have alcohol in them which kill bacteria on contact (and which can be very irritating, which is where the oil layer helps. If it's too irritating, just skip it.) and the perfume smell intensifies whenever your body gets warmer and damper. The deoderants by Weleda work on the same principal and are made of SD alcohol and fragrant oils. I haven't tried those, but I've heard they're good. You could even make your own (if you and your daughter can tollerate the alcohol on your skin) by mixing some high grade hootch (Vodka) with perfume or essential oils in a spray bottle.

On hot days when I worry about getting prickly heat, a bit of powder can come in handy, too.

Best wishes!

Let me just emphasize about the Lavilin - It's REALLY high in zinc oxide. I mean REAAAAALLY high. like, totally stoked, man. REALY.



No, really.