Yes! You Should Do a Pit Detox- Here’s How

 

A couple of years ago, I came up with a recipe for Almond Scented Deodorant. When I first tried it, I found I was so smelly. This was because I was not used to detoxing my under arms. With a deodorant, you are merely masking the scent of your body odor. And anti-antiperspirant works much differently and most ‘deodorants’ on the market are actually anti-antiperspirants. An anti-antiperspirant works with aluminum salts to dissolve the moisture on the skin. This forms a barrier on the surface as well. Some folks believe it can accumulate over time and cause cancer. I am still not sure about that, however there are some things in over the counter deodorants and anti-antiperspirants that make me question them.

Why Your Pits Need a Detox

Deodorants and anti-antiperspirants often contain these ingredients that do have studies that make me worry:

Phthalates- These are endocrine disruptors. An endocrine disruptor is something that gets in the way of the endocrine systems natural rhythm. This can lead to birth defects, chronic illness and even cancer. Phthalates are found in plastic and make it harder to break. It makes me nervous putting this acid on my skin.

Formaldahyde- This is found in embalming fluid. It is also found in cigarettes. I definitely don’t want to slather my skin with it. And i am not even sure how they can even use it since it is know to cause cancer.

There are other things found in deodorants and antiperspirants that make me leery, but these are my two big ones. But, what are you to do for odor control then? You can use a natural deodorant (either homemade or bought from a store. I will list some of my favorites at the end of this post.) One thing you will find when you switch to a natural deodorant is, you may get extra smelly for a while. This is your body detoxing itself and cleaning out the pores in the pits. It doesn’t last forever, but a pit detox can actually help speed up the process! That’s where this recipe comes in handy.

I should also note that some of the other benefits of a pit detox and making the switch to natural deodorant are:

-Less sweating in the first place. My husband did a pit detox a few weeks ago and after the first week or so, he noticed a lot less sweat in general.

- Less odor. I stopped shaving my armpits and did a pit detox at the same time. It might surprise you to know I have far less odor than I did before. This can be different for different people, however and sometimes it has to do with diet as well.

DIY Pit Detox Paste

1 1/2 Tbsp Coconut Oil (melted)

2 1/2 Tbsp Bentonite Clay (I recommend Redmond’s Bentonite Clay)

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Raw Honey

3 Tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

I capsule of Activated Charcoal

Instructions to make DIY Pit Detox Paste:

Pour the coconut oil into a small bowl. Add the bentonite clay, baking soda, and honey. Mix it up with a wooden spoon (Metal will react negatively with this) in a glass or bamboo bowl. It will be clumpy.

CAREFULLY open the capsule with the activated charcoal in it. (If you don’t have capsules, use a large pinch amount. It isn’t really a big deal if it isn’t accurate amount.) Add this to your mixture.

Being careful not to splash, add your apple cider vinegar. Mix well until you have a good paste consistency. Add a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar to your mixture if you need to.

How to do a Pit Detox

Take your mixture and use your fingers to apply a thick layer to your pits. In some people who have sensitive skin, this may cause some warmness in the area. The coconut oil should help this from happening, but it still sometimes does. It isn’t anything to worry about.

Let it sit on your pits for around 10-15 minutes then clean off with a wet cloth. You can do this as often as you want. I would do it several times a week when you first switch to a homemade or other natural deodorant.

Here I am doing a detox. Excuse the poor picture quality as this is a blown up cell picture. I suggest wearing an old bra if possible as it is a mud, essentially, and can stain.

My Favorite Natural Deodorant Brands

As promised, here are my favorite natural deodorant brands:

Primal Pit Paste- comes in amazing scents like Jacked Up Jasmine, Coconut Lime and Lavender. Available in sticks and pots.

Piperwai- Contains activated charcoal and good for sensitive skin.

 

North Coast Organics- This brand has some great scents for guys, but I love them as well. My favorite has been the Cedarwood and Sage.

21st Century Herbal Clear Aloe- I bought this for sensitive skin and it was great. The price was right, too as it is about the same as with conventional deodorants.