All-Natural Activated Charcoal Deodorant Recipe
Are you thinking about switching to an all-natural deodorant but still not sure? Well, we’d say you’re on the right track.
You might already be using certain natural skincare products to ditch the exposure to synthetic chemicals. So, why not opt for a healthier deodorant too?
But the next big question is, where can you find a suitable option? While some deodorant brands out there have come up with natural formulations, you can’t completely rule out the use of synthetic additives in those options as well.
That’s why you should consider making your own natural deodorant at home. Trust us; it’s no uphill task — you’ll just need to gather some activated charcoal and a few other simple ingredients.
And to take you through the entire recipe and the other essential know-how, we’ve brought you this simplified guide. Go ahead and give it a read.
All-Natural Activated Charcoal Deodorant Recipe
Before you learn some all-natural deodorant recipes, you must clearly understand certain fundamental aspects of using deodorants. So, let’s begin.
How Does A Deodorant Help?
In simple words, deodorants solely work to prevent armpit odor. But to know how they do that, you’ll need to learn the slightly repelling reason behind body odors.
During a warm climate, the underarms often become a breeding ground for bacteria that basically feed on the moisture generated from perspiration. And the waste formed from the process creates an odor that is often associated with sweating.
When you apply deodorant, it turns the skin acidic, thereby eliminating bacterial growth. Note that deodorants also commonly come with added fragrances to mask the odor.
While this is how deodorants should work, the ones available on the market actually do more harm than good. Curious? Then read on!
What’s In The Deodorants On The Market?
Ever thought of checking the product label on your deodorant? Well, if you do so, you’ll most probably find the names of several complex chemicals instead of the natural floral essence that the brands claim to use.
There are also some standard deodorants that don’t come with many ingredients. But of course, that can’t be an assurance of their safety.
Let’s briefly look at the common ingredient categories utilized for all these deodorants and their probable reaction to your body.
1. Parabens
Parabens are added for preservative purposes and are used in 75-90% of body care and cosmetic products. The common parabens[1] utilized in such formulations include butylparaben, methylparaben, and ethylparaben.
Concerning as it might sound, these chemicals can alter the structure of hormones in your body, especially estrogen. Note that some studies[2] have proven the presence of parabens in breast tumors. As such, it’s best that you totally avoid deodorants coming with such injurious chemicals.
2. Aluminum
The majority of deodorants on the market use aluminum-based[3] compounds as an active ingredient, and they’re probably the most dangerous for your health.
Aluminum is an antiperspirant, which implies it can block the sweat glands to prevent the elimination of natural waste from the body. Moreover, aluminum can alter the functioning of estrogen receptors, so it can aggravate the risk of breast tumors.
In contrast, naturally occurring salts like Potassium Alum are safer alternatives as their large molecules can’t invade your bloodstream. That’s why they are popular ingredients for all-natural deodorants.
3. Synthetic Fragrances
The synthetic fragrances[4] infused into deodorants are, in effect, a combination of allergy-causing chemicals that can even damage your lungs in the long term. Not only that, but these toxins can bring forth effects such as reduced focus, exhaustion, mood swings, and appetite loss.
4. Triclosan
You should also be alert about the presence of this pesticide that’s utilized in many body care products, including deodorants as an anti-bacterial and preservative ingredient.
Well, it does serve that purpose, but at a heavy cost. Labeled by the EPA as a possible carcinogen, Triclosan[5] can enhance the toxic buildup in your body and degrade the environment, especially aquatic ecosystems.
Due to the presence of such chemicals in today’s deodorants, layering them into the armpits would lead to the absorption of harmful chemicals that prevent the body’s natural detoxification.
But an all-natural alternative like activated charcoal can be used to create a much healthier and truly effective deodorant. To understand its various benefits in this regard, move on to the next section.
Why Is An Activated Charcoal Deodorant Better?
As all-natural beauty and body care solutions gain more prominence on the market, activated charcoal has emerged as a primary ingredient utilized by the industry.
This is due to its non-toxic nature and subtle yet effective benefits range. As such, it won’t be surprising if you find activated charcoal in an all-natural shampoo, toothpaste, or soap at home.
But what does the term activated charcoal refer to? At this point, let’s bust a myth — it isn’t the one used at barbecues. Activated charcoal is, in effect, carbon that’s treated with oxygen and activated by extreme heat.
Also used in different medications, this substance[6] absorbs toxins quickly and eliminates several contaminants and impurities. This is perhaps the reason why it’s also applied in several water purification methods.
Speaking of its applicability to all-natural deodorants, activated charcoal can effectively absorb the toxins and bacteria in sweat as it’s highly porous. As a result, the smelly bacterial acids that contribute to BO are removed.
And as we mentioned earlier, the use of standard deodorants promotes the accumulation of such toxins. Thus, by switching to a DIY natural deodorant containing activated charcoal, you can aid the natural detoxification process to a great extent. This is how the backed-up parabens, aluminum, and other toxins can be removed over time.
Now, it’s time you learned the most hassle-free DIY procedure of creating a deodorant with this “superhero ingredient.”
Making Your Own Deodorant With Activated Charcoal
While there are lots of DIY deodorant recipes with activated charcoal out there, not all of them might provide the desired results. Plus, some of them require a plethora of ingredients and are also more complicated to make.
That’s why we’ve picked the two easiest recipes for you and personalized them slightly based on some in-depth research and a few experiments.
Method 1
The combination of essential oils, arrowroot powder, and activated charcoal works wonderfully to eliminate odors and doesn’t need frequent reapplication as well. Moreover, it will emit a pleasant fragrance of essential oils that any user will find refreshing.
Ingredients List (With Measurements):
- Kitchen scale
- Double boiler
- 4oz tin or jar
- Shea butter (20 g)
- Coconut oil (30 g)
- Arrowroot powder (15 g)
- Organic beeswax (10 g)
- Jojoba or almond (10 g)
- Activated charcoal (10 g)
- Diatomaceous earth (DE) (food-grade- 10 g)
- 15 to 25 drops of essential oils ( like orange, rosemary, or lemon)
- Vitamin E (5 drops)
Preparation Method
Step 1
Begin by measuring the shea butter, beeswax, and the essential oils in the upper portion of the double-boiler. You may also opt for a glass bowl instead of the boiler.
Step 2
Next, put these ingredients on mild heat above the lower part of the boiler till all of them have melted completely. Then turn off the heat and let it cool for some time.
Step 3
Once the mixture has cooled, add activated charcoal powder, arrowroot, DE, Vitamin E, and the essential oils. Then whisk the mixture vigorously so that all ingredients blend to provide the perfect consistency.
Step 5
At this point, pour the mixture into the container and keep it in a safe place so that it solidifies and cools properly. The cooling process won’t take much time, and your DIY deodorant will be ready for use!
On a side note, maintaining the desired consistency in the deodorant mixture is crucial. Make it just as soft or firm as you want by adjusting the amounts of oil accordingly.
Method 2
This natural deodorant recipe involves the use of tea-tree oil, an essential oil that has strong anti-bacterial properties. If you combine this with activated charcoal and magnesium chloride, the recipe will be just as effective as the previous variant.
Ingredients
- Coconut oil (32.5 g)
- Magnesium chloride (9 g)
- Shea butter (7 g)
- Activated charcoal (4 g)
- Corn starch (7.5 g)
- Tea-tree oil (10 to 40 drops)
- Baking soda (15 g)
Preparation Method
Just as in the previous recipe, you’ll first have to melt coconut oil and shea butter together in a double boiler.
You may also put them in a jar and place them in a bowl full of hot water. Once they’ve melted, turn off the heat and add the other ingredients. From then on, you’ll have to mix the ingredients by stirring the blend occasionally while it cools down. And once it has turned into a semi-solid mass, you’ll know that it’s ready for use.
Some Other Essentials
To make sure the performance of the DIY deodorant meets your expectations, here are some additional points you must keep in mind about the procedures:
- Kitchen scales are easier and more accurate for measurement in comparison with tablespoons.
- To make more deodorant units out of these recipes, you’ll just have to multiply the ingredients as per the need.
- These DIY deodorants are equally suitable for people with sensitive skin.
- Make sure to wear a face mask so that you don’t breathe in the powders utilized for the recipe.
Using Your Charcoal Deodorant
The inclusion of charcoal makes this DIY deodorant black in color, so be careful to use it in a small amount to prevent stains on your clothes. For each use, you should ideally take a dime or pea-sized amount with your middle and index finger, and rub it onto the armpit effectively.
Note that the color of the deodorant should turn light gray upon application. Now, just wait for a few minutes for it to dry before you get dressed. When applied this way, this all-natural alternative can provide complete coverage for three days without the need for extra deodorants or perfumes.
FAQs
Q1. How are antiperspirants different from deodorants?
Antiperspirants function to eliminate or reduce sweat, while deodorants are capable of killing odor-causing bacteria without affecting perspiration.
That said, the market is nowadays flooded with antiperspirant-deodorant combos that can alter the skin’s ecosystem by killing beneficial bacteria. This is why it’s best to go for natural alternatives that won’t halt sweat and will instead work on minimizing odor.
Q2. By when can you expect bacterial levels to subside after switching to a natural deodorant?
On average, it takes around a month for the body to re-balance and stop the overproduction of odor-causing bacteria. This implies any odor issues are likely to decrease by that time. On a side note, you shouldn’t use any other standard deodorant or antiperspirant during this period.
Q3. Does switching to a natural deodorant come with any major side effects?
Generally, no significant side effects are associated with natural deodorants. But for some users, switching to a natural alternative might cause skin irritation initially. That’s actually a better sign, as it ensures the body can breathe again and is no longer subjected to synthetic chemicals like triclosan and aluminum-based compounds.
Final Words
While using a DIY natural deodorant adds to your savings, it also shields you from the adverse long-term effects of using standard commercial varieties.
And as all the ingredients are easy to procure, you can get hold of them anytime and start with the suitable recipe right away. So, don’t delay adopting this all-natural solution for steering clear of body odors — you’ll notice the difference soon after.
But before wrapping up our guide, we’d like to share another tip with you. If you’re making more of the deodorant at once, the best way to maintain its effectiveness is to store it in an air-tight container. This way, you can use homemade deodorant for up to 2 years.
References
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12975767/
2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25047802/
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5651828/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7867324/
