Deodorants and antiperspirants are filled with chemicals we can’t pronounce and would rather not put on our bodies. Aluminum-free deodorants currently on the market don’t work very well. And although there have been no conclusive studies to date linking certain health issues and the use of antiperspirants/deodorants containing aluminum and parabens, there has been a great deal of speculation about a connection. I think it’s better to avoid these chemicals in your deodorant until more research is done.
The product
I make Fantabulous deodorant, an all-natural, aluminum-free, paraben-free deodorant that actually works! It contains only natural ingredients—coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda, arrowroot flour, candelilla wax, and some essential oils for a mild scent. There is nothing you don’t need and no harsh chemicals.
Fantabulous has been put to the test by runners, karate black belts, crossfitters, yoga instructors, and many others. They’ve all been blown away by how well it works. It continues to work even after sweating.
I’ve checked all the ingredients on Environmental Working Group’s website and on the toxicology websites and they are all safe. Coconut oil and shea butter offer many benefits and provide skin nourishing and smooth consistency in this deodorant. Arrowroot flour absorbs sweat. Candelilla wax helps to solidify the deodorant. Candelilla wax comes from a desert plant and is a vegan alternative to beeswax. I chose to avoid beeswax, partly for humane reasons, but also because beeswax is an allergen to about 20% of the population. The baking soda deodorizes. Baking soda is not classified as a skin irritant on the material safety data sheet, but it can cause skin irritation in some people. I offer a sensitive skin version which contains Himalayan sea salt instead of baking soda and does not have any essential oils.
Background
I started making deodorant when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March of last year. I have always lived a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and good diet, but a diagnosis like cancer makes you look at everything differently. It got me thinking about all products, what they contain, and the chemicals we’re exposed to each day. A couple of years ago I had tried switching to non-aluminum deodorant because I was aware of the speculation of a connection between breast cancer and aluminum in antiperspirant. But they just didn’t work. This time I put the aluminum deodorant aside for good, and after running around for a couple of weeks apologizing to my friends for my stinky armpits, one of my friends found me a recipe to make my own all-natural liquid deodorant. It worked great, but I preferred a solid. After a lot of testing and having lots of people try the samples, I finally hit on a solid that I was happy with. And the best part? It works. And not just ok. It works better than the commercial stuff.
We would like to give a special thanks to Amy Anstead, you can purchase her deodorant at www.Fantabulous-Deodorant.com
