As the warmer weather hits, many of us rely more heavily on deodorant. It’s one of the personal care products that even those who live an overall healthy lifestyle still can’t give up. Truthfully, I have been one of those people. Commercially purchased deodorants simply work more reliably and for a longer period of time—but at what cost?

Exposing such a delicate area of our bodies to metals and synthetic chemicals can’t be good for us, so for me, it was important to understand how to make natural deodorants work for me so that I can be a part of modern society without risking my well-being. Commercially available deodorants generally aim to perform two primary actions: prevent you from sweating (antiperspirant) and kill odor-causing bacteria.

Even when we get synthetic deodorants that are not antiperspirants, we are continuously clogging our “pits” with chemicals that our bodies don’t know how to handle. So how do we switch to natural deodorant more smoothly, and how can we continue to support the effectiveness of natural deodorants so we are more comfortable using them in the long term?

The answer is a deep cleansing clay armpit mask. Clay, black salt, apple cider vinegar, and essential oil applied under the arms do an incredibly good job of pulling and drawing out stubborn odors and accumulated “gunk” to help the body rebalance to its natural functioning. It’s incredibly easy to make and also has the added benefit of forcing me to slow down for 15 minutes.

Armpit Deodorizing Mask Recipe 

Makes 1 mask.  

Ingredients 

• 1 Tbsp. bentonite clay or fuller's earth clay
• 1 tsp. black lava salt (salt infused with activated charcoal)
• Apple cider vinegar (enough to make into a loose paste) 
• 2 drops organic Atlas cedarwood essential oil (or oil of choice)  

Directions 

1. Combine clay and salt in a small bowl. 
2. Pour a small amount of vinegar in the bowl and mix well until it reaches a loose paste.  
3. Add essential oil and mix well. 

To Use 

1. Apply to freshly cleaned skin. 
2. Let sit for 15 minutes and wipe off with a warm rag. 
3. Follow up with natural deodorant of choice or go au natural. 

Pro Tips

• This treatment is great for those transitioning from a synthetic to natural deodorant. If you’ve been wearing commercial deodorant day in and day out for a long period of time, it may be necessary to apply a few times in a week for the first week or two.   
• Once balanced, you can use this recipe once per week to keep your natural deodorant working well. 
• This recipe is best used fresh and should not be made ahead of time or stored for longer than a day.  
• Different clays vary in their absorption. I prefer bentonite for its strong absorbency and fuller's earth clay to help with lightening, but you can use your preferred clay. 
  
  
  

Looking for A DIY Natural Deodorant Recipe to Pair With this armpit mask?

Try this Liquid Roll-On Deodorant!

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2 DIY Natural Deodorant Spray Recipes
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