Just kidding! I still love to pamper and take good care of my skin. However, a lot of the time when people think about skincare they think only about their face.
Your skin is your largest organ, and take care of all of it! Not only the part that people look at most! In college I was teased because I noticed how dry my friend's elbows were. Who bothers with elbows, they'd remark, as I sheepishly admit to lotioning up my own. Several years ago and even to this day my friend tells me "touch my elbows!" as she has proudly stopped forsaking them and lotions them up. They no longer are the scaly sandpapered ends I used to once know. She is as proud as I am that she started to care and has seen a difference.
However, today's skincare is not about elbows, but about PITS--my armpit journey. Your armpits have sensitive skin and needs to be cared for as well. That's why I have been experimenting with all different kinds of natural deodorants over the last few years.
YEARS. I am not kidding you. These things take YEARS to understand, and sometimes it's a journey that never quite ends. The body is continually changing--so why aren't you adjusting to it?
My pits, for many many years, were a hated and hidden thing. In high school I took ballet several times a week and shaved the morning of. Even then I would get five o'clock shadow and hated the poppyseed look of my armpits.
This all started to change in 2013 when I discovered laser hair removal. Granted, laser hair removal is another skin journey I am still going through now, another day, another post.
Laser hair removal changed my life. No longer did I see those poppyseed hairs come out like aggressively by the end of the day. It took several years (and several different clinics) to get to where I wanted to go. Now I never worry about hiding my pits, shaving them only when I think I kind of remember I should probably maybe shave them...that sort of deal. It's a crazy amount of money I have invested, but I show off my pits proudly. In getting to show off my pits I wanted to get away from the crazy strong chemicals in my body and decided to get off antiperspirant.
In college I wore the clinical strength they sell at Target, via Dove, Secret, or whatever. Secret would put hard gooey pitstains in my t-shirts (I would only wear t-shirts because they consistently hid my armpits and I never had to feel self conscious on if I shaved that day or not. Secret was out. Then there was Dove clinical strength and why did I put myself through that? I have no idea. Then Degree, or Teen Spirit, or Lady Speed Stick. My mom never wore deodorant and I blame my Caucasian genes for making me sweat and stink. My last antiperspirant was a rare scent from Axe in the men's section. It was called Island, was a white tube, and well, smelled like coconuts with a hint of musk. I was in love with this slightly mannish scent--I still have a stick in my closet. But I knew it wasn't good for me and it was time to move beyond these pore plugging chemicals.
Just as my armpit hair was thinning from laser hair removal (2015, I believe), my sister was going through her hippie stage of quitting antiperspirant as well. TJ Maxx surprisingly has a lot of choices to offer in the department of natural deodorants and I found myself collecting different scents, companies and brands for both her and I to try. Mostly for me to try and then when I didn't like it, give to her to finish using.
Schmidt's was the first thing I tried. It was lavender and came in a pot. First thing, I hate touching the stuff, especially since you have to warm it up to spread with your hands? Gross. Also, I could feel the product even after I washed my hands. Gross because I need to put my contacts in and do not want armpit residue to go into my eyes. Secondly, I was allergic. My pits are too sensitive for Schmidt's, as are my sister's. Trust me, I tried three different scents (so badly wanted the Rose Vanilla to work out) and each time I ended up with pink patches that hurt. My sister did to and we promptly got rid of all varieties of Schmidt's in the house.
To counteract this reaction I would go full skincare crisis on my pits. Cleanse them with a gentle face cleanser, put on light toner, like a watery one made from job's tears. Moisturize them with the same stuff I put on my face, applied a sleeping mask to my pits as well. If you treat all your skin like your face in crisis mode, it does well.
Tried Alaffia's charcoal deodorant, which I liked so much I started rationing it between other deodorants, like small samples off I bought of Esty (clay based, but too small and annoying to use), Stinkbug Organics (loved the smell, but misplaced it somewhere in my traveling bags), gave my sister the Herban Cowgirl I've been eying but didn't end up using myself. Tried Green Goo's Apricot for a while but it left me feeling a little sticky so I only apply it before bed or when my armpits are having a reaction.
My tried, tested, and several sticks of go-to natural deodorant has to be Native. Damnit! I got sucked in through a Facebook ad for their Pumpkin Spice seasonal scent, and love love loved it. Then I invested in their fall scent pack and then again in a spring scent. I have two sticks left and currently using two other scents in tandem, so I really shouldn't. It's a great purchase though and I usually wait until they have a discount code. A three-pack of seasonal scents goes for $30, which is $10 a piece, and even less if you get a coupon code. Yes, I know it's expensive, but I really like it. Sometimes it gets chunky, but it's a softer consistency that gets sticky if too warm. Glides on easily, smells great, and THERE ARE SO MANY SCENTS that I love and want to try each time! Once in a blue moon I'll get a pink irritated armpit, but it's been pretty good for the three sticks I have completely finished, the two I am in between, and the still in my closet.
Pumpkin Spice Latte BASIC AND FIRST LOVE
Fig and HONEY LOVE
Lilac and White Tea COMFORTING LOVE
Lychee and Goji Berry SWEET but I like it!!
Gardenia and Orchid SOFT FLORAL LOVE
I have two remaining unused scents: Orange & Honeysuckle and Lemon Zest & Pomegranate (least appealing scent that came in the sets, but I wanted the other two G&O/O&H so bad it was worth it. I am loving ALL THESE SMELLS.
I actually wanted the seasonal Fall 2017 box of Pear & Lavender, Honeycrisp Apple & Cinnamon, and Almond & Vanilla, but didn't get it because I already had too many sticks to go through. I haven't looked in a while and their Spring 2019 scents are just amazing. The next box is Spring 2019's Vanilla & Rose, Aloe & Eucalyptus, and Yuzu & Orange Blossom. I WANT THEM ALLLLLLL. Maybe when it goes on sale? I was into Native as Facebook sucked me into it a long time ago. That was before they were sold by places like Target or Walmart. I remembering entering their Instagram giveaway and there were only three other people that hashtagged them. What a long time ago that was.
I also have a stick of A La Maison Honeysuckle in my closet...my sister has the Sea Salt one that I got her and she loved it so much she told me if I see it again I should get it for her...and I did! Thank you TJ Maxx for being an excellent supplier of quality products at a discount.
Though Native is as expensive as I go at ~$10 a stick, I am seriously considering several other more expensive brands. Myro is eco-friendly in that it's a reusable plastic outside with replaceable pods. At $10 and they give you the case for free.... I really can't complain. Their marketing seems great. I like the very Coachella vibe names of their scents. I would probably get Big Dipper or Pillow Talk.
Then there is the expensive $22 Takesumi charcoal deodorant that I saw at Detox Market (where I actually wanted to check out Piper Wai for $17 and Meow Meow Tweet $14). Also now finding out about and considering $22 Corpus's Cedar Flora which is currently out of stock. Glad to have a brick and mortar store to check out the natural deodorants at Detox Market. Did not care for the consistency of Meow Meow Tweet, even though I like the eco-friendly cardboard applicator and packaging. Found Piper Wai to have too much of a baking soda smell which scared me off, and instead I found Takesumi which is pretty neat with some ok smells. I actually really like the sensitive version of Agent Nateur's Holi(Stick), but at $28 I can't seem to justify it.
After a bit of researching for this post, I am also intrigued by Type-A $10, which seems more like a soft consistency deodorant, activated by sweat.
The thing about natural deodorants is.... you're going to sweat, and you're going to smell. It's just a matter of how long and if reapplication is needed. It's not a one stop fix, there is no one stop fix. However, get used to and learn to love your own body odor, as it's yours and going to be with you forever. I noticed that I actually sweat more on my back now after laser hair removal in my armpits, but it's only my pits that have that curdled milk, sour vinegar sort of smell. It is distinct and it is your own. Get used to it and try not to sweat in your coats that you don't want to send out to the dry cleaners.
Even after all the afterwork sniffing and body odor smelling, I wouldn't stop my natural deodorant journey, not even a single step. Not once have I even thought of going back to regular antiperspirant. Not. Once.
Going natural feels better for me, doesn't stain my clothes or leave pit stains that are chemically bounded to the material, and just is BETTER.
Take care of the skin in your armpits--it is just as sensitive as the skin on your face.
