deodorant

Natural Hair and Skin Care Tutorial 2010-01-19 08:00:49
Hair

The Natural, Week 4: Adios, Antiperspirant

Hi! I'm just one week away from having been natural for a full month, and a ton has changed since I started.
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Hi! I'm just one week away from having been natural for a full month, and a ton has changed since I started. If you want to see what beauty recipes I'm using now and see how a cheek and lip stain made of cherries looks, just check out my mid-week post from a few days ago.

Since then, everybody's been on deck at Sugar HQ for all the award shows we've been covering. This week, I kept my goals simple: go antiperspirant-free for the first time ever. It's been an enlightening and sweaty experience, and if you're considering switching I've got  a few tips. I'm also getting ready to make a couple of new makeup recipes, and I'm really excited for them. To find out what I've done and what I'll be doing, just keep reading.

Pit Putty Review
deodorant

Found! Another Natural Deodorant That Works

I'm always on the lookout for a good natural deodorant — not antiperspirant.
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I'm always on the lookout for a good natural deodorant — not antiperspirant. (Antiperspirants keep you from sweating, while deodorants just keep you fresh.) Unfortunately, most I've tried are powerless against my armpits' ability to bring in da funk. After running out of Lavanila's version, I tried this Nature's Gate deo. It was the pits, har har.

On a whim, I ordered Pit Putty ($8.95) from Bubble and Bee. It's completely organic, cruelty-free, and vegan. And what do you know, it works. It has a lemon and clove scent that is really lovely, and it's kept my underarms nice and dry. Application is unusual in the sense that you must rub it into your skin, but that little step is worth it. Maybe I'm turning into a giant hippie, but if you can smell good organically, why wouldn't you want to? If you're considering switching to natural deodorant, Bubble and Bee's primer will help you make the transition. And if you do it, let me know how things go.

Do You Use Fancy Deodorant?
Poll

Do You Use Fancy Deodorant?

A few weeks ago I received a sample of Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant ($18), and I have to confess, since I'm so used to wearing your basic drugstore varieties, like Tom's of Maine or Secret, I have yet to try it out.
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A few weeks ago I received a sample of Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant ($18), and I have to confess, since I'm so used to wearing your basic drugstore varieties, like Tom's of Maine or Secret, I have yet to try it out. It's not like I'm opposed to the fragrance, it's more that I'm unaccustomed to it and the shiny packaging it brings to the table. If you wear deodorant, are you all for the inexpensive drugstore varieties, or do you like fancier department store options?

Do You Ever Use Other People's Deodorant?
Poll

Do You Ever Use Other People's Deodorant?

This week, and I'm not entirely sure why, I've got deodorant on the mind.
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This week, and I'm not entirely sure why, I've got deodorant on the mind. Perhaps you took my deodorant quiz? All this talk of the odor-fighting product got me to thinking. In a pinch, I've shared my deodorant with only my family and closest friends, and they've shared their deodorant with me in my times of need. Sharing a toothbrush may be one thing, and sharing a razor may be another, but when it comes to swapping deodorant, are you OK with giving and/or receiving, or do you think that's the pits?

What Do You Know About Deodorant?
deodorant

What Do You Know About Deodorant?

Back around the fifth or sixth grade, I distinctively remember our teacher declaring, "We all need to have a talk."
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Back around the fifth or sixth grade, I distinctively remember our teacher declaring, "We all need to have a talk." It wasn't the standard chat about monthly cycles or why boys sometimes don't want to leave their desks to go write at the chalkboard. It was a nun's version of personal hygiene. In her speech, we heard all about how often we should be bathing, washing our uniforms, and not offending others with our stanky pits.

Deodorant is not just a 20th-century convenience. In fact, various cultures have been using some form of odor-blocking for centuries. In modern times, it's estimated that upward of 95 percent of Americans wear deodorant. So, whether you choose antiperspirant over deodorant or you prefer a more natural approach for your underarms, see what you know about this odor-reducing product now.

Source: Flickr User lolaleeloo

Take the Quiz
Do You Wear Antiperspirant or Deodorant?
Poll

What's Your Underarm M.O.?

People have widely varying philosophies when it comes to covering their underarm stank.
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People have widely varying philosophies when it comes to covering their underarm stank. Some slather on the antiperspirant, some only use deodorant, and the bravest souls go totally without. Everyone has their reasons for feeling the way they do, and people tend to feel very strongly about their choice. Which group are you in, and why?

This Natural Deodorant Doesn't Stink
deodorant

This Natural Deodorant Doesn't Stink

Natural deodorants are great in theory, but sometimes just so-so in practice.
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Natural deodorants are great in theory, but sometimes just so-so in practice. (Tom's of Maine, I'm sorry, but you may want to rename your version Stanky Pits.) I'm always on the lookout for a natural deodorant that smells fresh and clean, and Lavanila the Healing Deodorant ($18) does the trick.

This all-natural deodorant has no parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthlates, or synthetic dyes. Instead, it uses lichen and tea tree oils to keep the funk at bay. I like the vanilla-lavender scent, which is strong enough to cover any BO without being overpowering. Because it's deodorant and not antiperspirant, you'll still sweat; this doesn't bother me, but if you have to stay completely dry, you might want to take a pass. However, if you like your green deodorant more luxurious than jam-band groupie, this is worth the splurge.

Nylons Breathe New Life Into Crumbling Deodorant
Tips

Nylons Breathe New Life Into Crumbling Deodorant

Before this breakthrough, when my favorite solid deodorants crumbled, I used to shout, "That stinks!"
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Before this breakthrough, when my favorite solid deodorants crumbled, I used to shout, "That stinks!" in my head. Since I don't want to smell my own stank (or waste products), I had to battle that inevitable crumble with a makeshift solution: Using extra hose from holding broken soap to create a makeshift cap.


To make like me, grab those small pieces of deodorant and shove them back on top of the stick. Instead of reaching up an underarm with resulting bits all over clothes and the floor, I first slip a cutoff stocking foot over the top, twist it tight, and secure with a rubber band. This way the deodorant's still handy, the cover still fits — and you can keep a handle on your purse strings and your hand on the bus strap, too.

Source

How to Keep Deodorant From Streaking
Tips

How-To: Keep Deodorant on You, Not Your Clothes

No matter how careful I am (OK, sometimes I'm not all that careful), I still get those annoying white "zebra stripes" on my shirts caused by a morning application of deodorant.
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No matter how careful I am (OK, sometimes I'm not all that careful), I still get those annoying white "zebra stripes" on my shirts caused by a morning application of deodorant. While animal prints can be done tastefully, unintentional ones are just the pits. (Sorry.)

To keep your deodorant on you, and not your new blouse, I've gathered together some tips on remaining streak free. Check them out when you read more

Doing Drugstore

Doing Drugstore: Almay Clear Gel

While deodorant's perhaps not the most exciting bath and body product out there, it's definitely a necessity.
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Almay at ShopStyle

While deodorant's perhaps not the most exciting bath and body product out there, it's definitely a necessity. My pal PetSugar was raving about this brand so I pulled up her review to share:

I don't care if it says sheer, clear, invisible, or any other synonym, but it seems like nearly every solid deodorant I picked up left a white mark on my brown skin. After trying numerous products, I was fairly happy with Lady Mitchum Clear Gel except that sometimes it leaves subtle flakes on any dark clothing. One lucky day, I picked up this Almay antiperspirant on a whim and now I'm hooked.

Find out why she loves this sleeveless-friendly deodorant when you read more