My Favorite…Deodorant. Yes.
One of my favorite things since I went vegan (aside from delicious food, my favorite lip balm, and the feeling of aligning more closely with my ideals), has been my deodorant.
Odd thing to say, but there it is.
If you check labels on conventional deodorants, they’re full of questionable things. Experts are quick to assure us that aluminum doesn’t cause cancer, that there is no risk with parabens, and that propylene glycol is safe. So there’s really no hard evidence from the scientific community (aside from the problems with perfumes), but I disagree. Where there is smoke, there is likely fire.
And if you’re going vegan, you’re going to want to avoid ingredients like non-vegetable glycerine and gelatin. When my friend first went vegan, she tried a whole shelf of products to find one which worked for her.
When I went vegan, I didn’t have that kind of time. Ever since I was a teenager, my body odor had been…problematic. I had to switch between deodorants every eight months as my body adjusted to them. I had to throw away tops which had collected BO to the point where it would not wash out. I had rejoiced when the whole “clinical strength” thing hit the stores. There was NO WAY I could test out vegan deodorant and merely hope to find something which worked.
So I held on to my precious clinical strength, non-vegan deodorant while I whipped up a batch of my own.
And I never went back.
Partly it’s because being vegan radically altered my body odor for the positive. But partly…was because my new deodorant WORKED.
My favorite deodorant recipe:
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup coconut oila few drops of essential oil (lavender, ylang ylang, etc)
Melt the coconut oil and stir the cornstarch and baking soda into it. Once they’re combined (add another spoonful of coconut oil if needed), stir in the essential oil. It should be fairly loose, like a thick pancake dough, until the coconut oil solidifies.
To use, pinch a pea-sized amount (more or less depending on your needs) and apply with your fingers.
Some suggestions for sensitive skin include trading arrowroot powder for cornstarch, upping the starch-to-baking powder ratio, and substituting diatomaceous earth for baking soda. For some people, it may take a few weeks for your body to get used to the difference from your old chemical deodorant.
It may sound like a lot of work when you can just go to the store and buy it, but it takes less time to make than it does to run an errand. It’s also pretty damn cheap. Chances are you already have the primary ingredients in your kitchen (and if you don’t have coconut oil as a pantry staple, fix that right now!).
Any deodorant success stories? Favorite natural store brands?
My Start With Earthing
My latest favorite thing (I have so many favorites!) is earthing.
In short, earthing is supposed to provide grounding and recharging by connecting us to the vast processes happening naturally in our planet, and from which we are systemically separated.
We are separated by our houses, cars, asphalt, shoes…all the things we build up around us as “civilization”. Getting back in contact, actual skin contact, with the earth provides that grounding.
Some people say it cures insomnia, relieves pain, and balances our bodies to combat major illnesses. It is said to improve vitality and bring more energy.
I haven’t noticed anything radical in my health since I started, but I have recently attained (through multiple sources) access to my own Calm. Earthing, I feel, helps me keep that pathway open.
Since beginning earthing a few weeks ago, I’ve visited with a curious finch, a beautiful hummingbird, a bored neighbor cat, an inquisitive slug, and several busy spiders. I’ve had time to listen to the traffic rhythms around our house. I’ve felt raindrops from approaching and receding storms. I’ve sipped tea in silence. I’ve greeted neighbors I would otherwise never even see.
I take time to breathe.
Right now, I’m managing about 10 minutes a day during the workweek. I’ll take my breakfast outside with me, wearing leather-soled slippers if it’s too cold and wet to go barefoot.
Taking time, even if I’m too distracted to meditate or visualize or set an intention, is beautifully peaceful.
Have you tried earthing? Would you be willing to try it? Share your stories!
So, The Vegan Thing
A lot of people think it’s hard to go vegan.
It can be. I won’t sugarcoat it. Any change to habits and routine can be a challenge. Add in the emotional connection we have to familiar food and it gets harder.
But going vegan can also be AWESOME! My food choices exploded overnight, and before I knew it was was coming up with my own fantastic and delicious dishes. A lot of comfort foods can be veganized as well.
You never have to feel deprived as a vegan.
One of my favorite things is to share my favorite vegan food with omnivores and watch their faces light up. I can’t tell you how many times my dishes have been requested by friends, family and coworkers for gatherings.
People (me included) are SO FREAKING BUSY these days that making everything from scratch seems impossible…and buying pre-made vegan food is pretty expensive. I plan to post some easy vegan dishes which are inexpensive to make along with tips to lighten your cooking load, and eventually I’d like to create a mailing list with menus and shopping lists for each month. So hold on for that!
Love of Color (Nail Polish Edition)
My first, randomly-selected area of improvement: nail polish.
I know, it’s such a First World Problem. Painting my nails is something I have time to do, energy to do, money to do, and a lifestyle which allows them to stay nice. (My toes, anyway. My fingernails don’t last more than three days before getting horrendous. I call this “actively living my life” instead of “being too lazy to use gloves”.)
But painting my toes gives me a very big mood lift. I love seeing a pop of color when I go barefoot in the winter. I love coordinating my color with clothes and sandals in the summer.
But chemicals…
Like most people, I didn’t give a thought to what my nail polish was made of. If it’s sold in a store, it’s probably safe, right?
A lot of our beauty products have chemicals shown to cause cancer or disrupt our endocrine systems. Some may have links to Autism.
Right now, nail polish is not something I’m ready to give up entirely. But I am ready to be safer and smarter.
This is my box of out-going products:
So many pretty colors which have been cheery companions…
And rebuilding my polish collection with new, safer products will take a while. Toxic is cheap. Safe is expensive.
I got these from Pacifica earlier this summer when they first debuted their line of “7 Free” nail polish.
I put in another order today for a clear base/top coat and a red (because a girl needs red for the holidays!). It’ll take a while to get some variety, but I’m going to be patient. My goal is to set aside funds for one new color each month.
For now: blue toenails!
Other resources:
Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database (they also have a free app)
Care2 has a list of 12 nail polish brands
Who Wants Fewer Chemicals?
I’ve been saying for a while now that I need to get rid of the chemicals in my life and find more eco-friendly, sustainable sources. It’s soooo hard to change my habits…and so hard to find people to do it with me! I thought, if I find some shortcuts, why not share those with other busy people? Here begins my year of cleaning out my life in favor of non-toxic, earth-friendly, socially-responsible living. Please chime in!