Itchy armpits: baking soda-free deodorants

Are you one of those people who, after a few weeks/months of use, can no longer stand their natural baking soda-based deodorant? Does it give you the worst itching? You're not alone, even though most people won't experience any problems, even after several years of use. Is it the fault of the overly alkaline pH? Or the friction of the baking soda particles on the skin (since baking soda is insoluble in oil)? Possibly a bit of both. Have you tried replacing baking soda with clay and zinc oxide, but the result isn't as effective for you? Have you also tried our liquid deodorant recipe in which the baking soda is dissolved (to eliminate the risk of friction), but it still doesn't work? We won't let you down! After several months of trying all kinds of baking soda-free recipes, I was won over by two alternatives that I am offering you here.

Slice of Life

Baking soda deodorants are by far the most effective and widespread in the world of natural cosmetics and DIY. When I discovered them, my life changed. Do you remember when I told you that before, I had to change deodorants regularly because my body always ended up getting used to every natural product I bought and it stopped working after 2-3 weeks? It was awful.

This deodorant dance ended the day I tried our homemade recipe! No more odor, no more build-up tolerance. It worked like a charm for over a year. Until the day my skin started to freak out: unbearable itching, redness, pimples, and bumps... Since I refused to go back to my old product rotation, I went on a hunt for homemade alternatives that could bring me as much satisfaction as my sweet baking soda homemade deodorant.

IMPORTANT

The first thing to do if your skin has a reaction to your deodorant containing baking soda is to stop using it immediately. Continuing to use it will only make things worse and, honestly, no one likes having their armpits on fire. The best thing is to apply nothing at all for a few days, until your skin calms down. We really want to get back to normal skin before trying other homemade recipes.

Why baking soda?

The reason baking soda is so effective against odors is twofold.

• First, baking soda is in itself a powerful odor neutralizer. It's not for nothing that we put it on our rugs, in our shoes, and in our cats' litter boxes.
• Next, its alkalinity makes the environment (our armpits) inhospitable for the bacteria that cause sweat odor.

The second point is very important, because it implies that changing the pH of our armpits (either by making it more alkaline or more acidic) will drive away the bacteria that cause bad odor. Interesting!

Baking soda-free solutions

1. Magnesium milk

2. Lemon… juice

A second alternative that pleasantly surprised me is lemon juice! Honestly, it works as well as any effective deodorant! I apply it in the morning, I do hot yoga in the evening without reapplying it, and you know what? I DON'T STINK. Not even a little bit... You have to do it, right now!

The acidity of lemon juice also changes the skin's pH and prevents the proliferation of bacteria that cause odors. However, since lemon is quite expensive (not to mention that it is photosensitizing!), I avoid using it long-term. I rather use it to get by when I run out of deodorant and when I feel that my regular deodorant is becoming less effective over time. After a little lemon juice "treatment" for a few days, I go back to my deodorant and it works like a charm. It's like it gives a little reset! Warning: since lemon juice can cause pigment spots in the sun, avoid using lemon juice in the summer if you expose your skin to the sun.

Ingredient

• lemon slice
• … that's it!

Instructions

1. Cut a thin slice of lemon.
2. Squeeze the flesh to get out a little juice.
3. Rub the lemon slice under the armpits.
4. Let dry before getting dressed.

Warning: do not use on freshly shaved armpits. OUCH. And there you go! I hope my two alternatives will help you make peace with your out of control armpits and chase away bad odors, haha!