KOJA Blog
...and it’s got nothing to do with cold pressed juices, greens or even food!
Thankfully, the end of winter is in sight and the warmer weather is approaching. Hallelujah! We hear you. Now is the right time to detox your armpits, yes that’s right, your armpits.
We're here to talk about a deodorant detox. We're not writing this post because we like the thought of hundreds of strangers reading about armpits, bathing habits or the smell of sweat… however we're writing this post because it’s what we would’ve wanted to read 6 months ago. Before we did a deodorant detox and changed my armpits forever.
So bare with us, and we promise to try to mention sweat as little as possible!
If you’re like we were, you probably wake up most mornings and roll–on or spray your lovely armpits with antiperspirant; Dove, Rexona, Nivea, etc. Until a few months ago, this was a daily routine to fight the risk of any body odour during the day.
As advocates for natural health, we know that these products aren’t natural, in fact they’re some of the most chemically loaded products in the bathroom cupboard. (More on that soon) We also know that the whole concept of antiperspirant is pretty wrong, as it’s our bodies way of expelling toxins and we’re blocking our pores to keep all that inside.
Despite this knowledge, we’d previously tried natural deodorants but nothing kept us fresh. So we’d given up, accepted that body odour is uncomfortable, socially unacceptable, unattractive and just nasty!
Fast forward a few months and we're so pleased to share our relief that we found a natural solution. The trick is in a good “detox” and then using a natural deodorant, we’ve found Babs Bodycare.
How to detox your pits:
- Quit the antiperspirant.
- Use nothing on your armpits for about 3 to 6 days. The first couple of days, you will likely notice a decisively strong stench. Think of it as years of toxins finally clearing out of your body!
- Wash a few times per day and wear natural fabrics – wool or bamboo.
We won’t go into too much detail about the 5 day detox but basically just wash as much as possible and let your body do it’s thing. After a few days, your armpits will be changed forever. Then when you start using a natural deodorant, it actually works!
Most of all, we noticed that we honestly don’t sweat and don’t smell anywhere near as much as before. We do still use antiperspirants on the odd occasion, but most days just the Babs Natural Deodorant.
Just in case you’re still not convinced to Detox your pits, we asked our friend Andrea from Babs Bodycare to write about the ingredients in antiperspirants and conventional deodorants, so read on:
Andrea: Thanks. Babs Bodycare started in 2014 when my never ending search for an effective natural deodorant, that didn’t leave me smelling like a kebab, (from which I got the nickname ‘Babs’) got me making and experimenting with homemade deodorants. I was forever disappointed that companies could claim they were “natural” and “organic” and on closer inspection I would find a “safe” chemical or synthetic ingredient. So Babs Bodycare was created to provide 100% natural, cruelty free, affordable products to use safely on our bodies.
How antiperspirants work and why they can be bad for you:
As mentioned our bodies are designed to sweat, to cool us and to help rid our body of toxins. Many antiperspirants use toxic ingredients in low doses to stop us from sweating by clogging and blocking our pores. Our Babs deodorant works by neutralising the odour, while still allowing you to sweat.
Here are some harmful ingredients found in antiperspirants and conventional deodorants: (these are the ones to avoid!)
- Aluminum – Used in antiperspirants to block and clog pores to prevent sweating and releasing toxins. Aluminum was first recognised in 1886 as a neurotoxin, which causes damage to the nerves and nerve tissue. Whilst inconclusive, Aluminum has been linked with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer in breast tissue.
- Triclosan – a registered pesticide by the FDA, this chemical is used for its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. It is a hormone disruptor, skin and eye irritant, is toxic for aquatic life and can promote drug resistant bacteria. It is found in antibacterial soaps, body washes, toothpaste, deodorant and most products that claim to be “antibacterial”.
- Phthalates – Found in products like plastics, PVC and in fragrances to make scents last longer. Phthalates disrupt hormones linked to the reproductive system causing male infertility issues, birth defects in baby boys, allergies and thyroid dysfunction – found in nail polish, hair spray, deodorant, perfumes and any product that contains the ingredient Fragrance.
- Fragrance – Fragrance contains phthalates and can be a mix of synthetic and chemical ingredients to create a scent. Ingredients used are either known to be carcinogens or toxic. Found in almost all personal care products, anything that has a scent.
- Parabens – Synthetic preservatives which are very easily absorbed into the body via the skin and have been found in breast tissue and may be linked to disrupting the endocrine system.
- Propylene glycol – Petroleum based product is from non-renewable sources and has been connected with provoking skin irritations.
- Alcohol – Used in products to create a better feel and used in deodorants to kill bacteria. It can harm the skins’ own natural protective barrier, can cause dehydration and irritation.
This is NOT a sponsored post. We genuinely want to share the experience and hope that this post inspires you to stop lathering your lovely armpits in a chemical sh*t storm every day. We HIGHLY recommend ditching the antiperspirants from your daily routine and perhaps just using them for special occasions (think job interviews, 2 day music festivals, super hot days and first dates!) This deodorant detox experience honestly changed our personal hygiene forever, and we hope it does for you too.
Love from Team KOJA xo
Babs Natural Deodorant is available from Andrea's online store- head to babsbodycare.com.au for more info.
