Hippie Living

Since moving to Oregon, I've certainly embraced a lot more "natural" ways of living. I didn't really realize how many adjustments I've made until I had a friend visiting recently and she was telling me all about her "hippie" friend who makes her own deodorant and grows her own food and uses homemade cleaning products, etc. I started thinking, "Hey, I do that also!"

I joined a Facebook group for "Crunchy Mamas" in our area when I became pregnant so I could learn more from these gals. This group has certainly shown me that I'm a long way from being a true Oregon hippie (and I'm totally ok with that!), but I have learned a lot and thought I would share some of the changes I've made.

Discovering coconut oil has been the major catalyst in helping me embrace homemade bath and body products. Tropical Traditions is my favorite brand, but I haven't really come across any coconut oil that I didn't like. I'll share several things I use my coconut oil for, but first up is deodorant.

For a while, I just stopped wearing deodorant altogether. I just didn't really sweat or stink at all and it seemed like I was getting more deodorant on my clothes than body odor. It helps that it was winter time and that it doesn't get 100 degrees for months on end here...I know, NM and Texas residents, it's hard to imagine a world like that. I'm truly sorry for your summer heat waves, but Oregon is great in the summer. Come visit! :) Anyhow, back to deodorant. Once I got pregnant, I realized that I was getting hotter most days and the weather was also heating back up, so I decided to start making my own deodorant again. I'd done it once before but then I ran out and never made another batch. 

My friend, Cristina, is the first one to introduce me to the idea of making your own deodorant.  Here's the recipe she uses:

Cherry Family Deodorant Recipe

4 tablespoons cornstarch

2 tablespoons baking soda

2 tablespoons coconut oil

(you can add a bit more coconut oil if you'd like your deodorant to be softer)

Warm just enough to get the ingredients to mix. Do not warm too much or it may not solidify properly. When it turns into a paste-like texture, spoon into travel size deodorant containers. Tap container on counter to get air bubbles to rise to the top. Place in refrigerator until solid. Keep out of really warm temps, or it will get soft again. I don't recommend using this recipe in the full-size containers. We like our more solid, which could break the twist mechanism. That's why I picked up the travel size ones and emptied them to use. Maybe it's wasteful to throw out the stuff that was in it, but the health of my family and NOT smearing aluminum on one of the most porous surfaces on our bodies is worth it times a million in my book!

Now, when you're lazy like me, your recipe might look a little different. 

Mandy's Improvised Deodorant Recipe

Some coconut oil

Some baking soda

A few drops of orange oil

Take some coconut oil and spoon it into a little tupperware container (base your coconut oil portion on how the size of your tupperware). Pour some baking soda in with the oil and mix it up until it seems mixed well. Add a few drops of orange oil, used for its wonderful scent as well as its antibacterial properties. Use your finger to scoop out a finger-tip sized amount and rub it on your underarms each day. Enjoy the citrus goodness and feel good about the fact that you're getting coconut oil into your body through your underarm pores. 

The real benefit here is that it is super cheap. I have no idea what the cost breakdown is, but it's natural, cheaper than store bought deodorant, and I think it smells really nice also. 

I'll share more in my next post about some of my other favorite uses for coconut oil. Do any of you make your own deodorant? Would you ever consider trying it or are you loyal to your store-bought product?