How are you all today? I'm doing fine. We were supposed to have some rain yesterday, but all we got were some sprinkles. Maybe it will come later this week. We could really use the rain, even here on the coast with the ocean nearby :) :)
In my effort to lead a healthier lifestyle, I am also learning how to make more beauty/healthcare products at home. Why? It saves money. I know exactly what goes into the product. It is less toxic for my skin and body. Also, since I'm still "in between" jobs, this really helps to stretch my dollar a long way.
So one of the things I've made in the past is deodorant with coconut oil. There are quite a few websites with excellent recipes on how to make this for yourself. I followed the recipe that Amy blogged about over at Homestead Revival. Click here to visit the post. She's a really nice lady who is really doing a lot to be more self-sufficient at home. Plus, her blog is a delight to visit and you'll be glad that you did. Oh, and if you're on Facebook, you can visit her here. Either way, let her know that I sent you over :) :) :)
You will need the following three ingredients to make this homemade deodorant:
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What proportions of each of the three ingredients do you need to measure out:
Baking soda - 1/4 cup
Corn starch - 1/4 cup (you can also use arrowroot if you prefer)
Coconut oil - 5 to 6 Tablespoons ( or up to 8 Tablespoons. It depends on how thick you want to make this. I also use unrefined virgin coconut oil. There's no reason for that, other than I really like it and it smells FABULOUS.)
First, I measured out 6 Tablespoons of coconut oil. At room temperature it is a bit hard, so my measurements weren't totally exact, but for this project, it's okay. I haven't noticed any issues with the quality of the deodorant when it's finished. Now the last time I made this, it was really hard to mix the coconut oil and the other two ingredients together. So this time, I put the 6 Tablespoons of coconut oil in a glass measuring cup. Then I placed that measuring cup in a warm bowl of water. The gentle heat from the water will help to soften the coconut oil. That's okay, but when you're done it will solidify back to it's former state.
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WHILE YOU ARE LETTING THE COCONUT OIL SOFTEN UP A BIT, I MIXED THE BAKING SODA AND CORN START TOGETHER.
While the coconut oil is getting softer (and easier to mix later), I mixed together 1/4 cup of baking soda and a 1/4 cup of corn starch together in a plastic container. Now plastic is what I have on hand. However, when I find a good deal on a Mason jar or glass storage container at the thrift shop, then I'll buy that. This is what it looks like when you mix the two powders together. Real exciting..not..but for being so simple, this work FABULOUS:
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Now it's time to mix the coconut oil together with the corn starch and baking soda. I use a fork to mix everything together really well. Once it's all well-mixed together, it kind of has the consistency of vanilla frosting from a can. This is what mine looked like:
This makes up under a cup of homemade coconut oil deodorant. You can store it in a small glass Mason jar or other container of your choice. I did put the lid on mine and placed it in the refrigerator. That helps to firm it up again. I took it out this morning and let it sit at room temperature. That's how I'll store it, too. It'll be easier to use that way.
This morning I took my shower. After I was finished, I applied some of the homemade coconut oil deodorant. I take a very small amount and apply it with my hands. I let it sit against the skin for a few seconds to let it melt. It will start to melt with your body heat. Then I rub it around to cover my underarm area very well. That's it.. It works great. It smells fantastic and it's better than anything I've ever purchased in a store.
The baking soda cost me less than $1. The corn starch was just over $1. The coconut oil cost me about $9.99 at Whole Foods. However, coconut oil has MANY uses, so it's worth the cost. You don't need much for this deodorant. It's also good as a moisturizer on the skin. It's also fantastic to use in cooking, as an alternative to butter.
If you make this, let me know how it turns out. This stuff smells nice and does the job very well.
That's the news from the ocean shores of California today. Love and hugs, Heather
