Okay, before you freak out, yes there is such a thing. I discovered this recipe in a blog (passionatehomemaking.com) that has natural homemade stuff for cleaning the house and some stuff that you can use on your body. She has recipes for homemade toothpaste, shampoo, etc., but the ingredients were a little intimidating (where the hell can I get Dr. Bronners castile liquid soap here in Manila?), so I decided to give the simplest recipe a try: Homemade Natural Deodorant. It only has 3 ingredients: 1/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup arrowroot powder or corn starch, and 5-6 tbsp of organic cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. I went to a drugstore and looked at all the VCO brands out there, and I only found one that actually says “cold-pressed”, so I went for that even if I’m sure the others were cold-pressed too (whatever that means). I just wanted to be sure. I’m supposed to mix the 2 powders, then ease in the VCO until I get a solid mass, similar to the consistency of a deodorant stick. Then, I’m supposed to coat my armpits with that concoction and the blogger swears by it!
Of course, I always flunked work ed back in grade school. Anything that remotely resembles work education, arts and crafts, home economics, practical arts, I suck at major. I sucked at macrame, basket-weaving, necklace-making, candle-making, sculpture, painting, and the list goes on. So what makes me think I can actually make this hipster organic stuff and not make an absolute fool of myself? What’s the worse that could happen? Worst case scenario is that my pits will smell like macaroons the whole day. Or at the end of the day I’ll have a crusty coconut-flavored muffin under each pit. If it doesn’t work then I’ll try to look for that castile soap and try to make homemade shampoo next.
One simple experiment is plain VCO. The blogger said it’s good to use as moisturizer as is. It’s supposed to be absorbed quickly by the skin, so you don’t feel too greasy. It can also be used as conditioner. Put a pea-sized amount on wet hair, she says better too little than too much, and if you put just the right amount, your hair will look great without being too greasy. So if you see me and you get a whiff of a coconut-y aroma, then you know the experiment is afoot. Forgive me in advance if I reek of niyog. And imagine if I use VCO to moisturize my loin area, it’s a deadly combination: niyog + itlog na maalat = bibingka!
Seriously, I promise to post an update on this blog. I’ll try to take a photo of the final product, but don’t expect any armpit shots (I’ll leave that to Delle). And I promise to give you an honest evaluation of whether the recipe works or not. Wish me luck!
a toothpaste is just salt baking soda, clay and a drop of peppermint.
Hi, Chico.
I like putting together my own stuff too. I like the lip salve I make http://www.flickr.com/photos/magnifique_f8h/4505318105/ better than what I’ve bought from stores, so far. I’ve tried using VCO, as is, as a moisturizer when I ran out of Burt’s Bees Body Oil http://global.burtsbees.com/natural-products/body-bath/vitamin-e-body-and-bath-oil.html for my Chinese chicken skin. ;p Just use a few drops, and it does absorb quickly and doesn’t feel too greasy.
I’ve also tried a few drops of olive oil in my hair, left on for 2 to 3 minutes before shampooing. Felt like my hair had a good application of conditioner. To make a facial and body scrub, I used some used coffee grounds (or granulated sugar, I’ve tried both. you might want to use a mortar and pestle first if you feel the bigger sugar granules are too rough on your skin), olive oil, honey and the contents of one vitamin E gel capsule. Use the scrub *after* you’ve already taken a bath and patted yourself dry. Put a little effort into it so it really does exfoliate (when my sister tried it, she said she didn’t feel any difference. turned out she was too timid applying it), but don’t rub too hard either. Leave on for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse off with just water. Pat skin dry. My skin so soft and smooth. No need to spend money sa spa. :p
Isn’t Tawas the original home made anti-perspirant/deodorant? It’s not really home made because you buy it from the store … but looking at the recipe – those ingredients mentioned also need to be bought from the store.
A friend has hyper-hydrosis and he was prescribed this deodorant whose active ingredient is alum — I told him just to use Tawas — it’s a lot cheaper.
bibingka ftw!
) nice chico, good luck!
i wish you luck and i will wait for the evaluation. . . will wait also for the picture of your armpit.
cool! i love DIY, too! i’d love to hear if the experiment went well.
You can find dr. bronners castille soap in healthy options.
cant wait for the update chico! love the bibingka! cute!
That’s quite adventurous. Let me share my natural regimen. I grew up using kalamansi as deodorant. I never used any commercial antiperspirant nor deodorizer. As much as possible I go for natural, at the least, hypo-allergenic products.
Anyway, This minutes before taking a bath. I take 1 kalamansi, cut it in half, squeeze & rub the juice out of the 1/2 kalamansi on 1 of my armpit. I do the same for the other. Let them dry for at least 5, better 10 minutes, then take a bath, wash armpits with soap & water. As what we usually do when taking a bath.
Depends on how hard you perspire. When I was still there in the Philippines, it’s my daily regimen. Now that I’m where it is so hard to perspire, 2x a week. At times I do the same for my neck, under the chin & shoulders.
However you go with this, I hope that you’ll get the results you want.
gawd, im laughing my head off reading this post. Im having images, images! Del must be warned, u might give her bibingka soon! Harharhar
if i intend to stay home for the day, i use VCO (the same brand as the one in the pic) as moisturizer. i apply it all over after a shower, before toweling off. i like it more than the commercial lotions. if only i don’t mind smelling like latik, i’d use it even if i’m heading out.
I don’t think I’ll be eating bibingka anytime soon
Seriously, VCO is definitely effective. Ipahid o inumin–it simply works wonders on you.
Try nyo din i-mix yung honey and milk tapos apply din sa skin; after 5-10 min rinse.
Hahaha! I can’t believe you’re really trying this! Oh well, good luck! And do let us know of the results. =) I used to try a lot of homemade stuff myself when I was writing web content for a skin care website. It’s fun, I tell ‘ya! Enjoy! =)
my brother knows about this. he even tried that to his kili-kili and guess what? it worked. it’s so bango…
omigosh, now im really excited to try it!
chico, chico, chico!!!!
weird ka talaga!
well, i hope it turned out, pretty good!
can’t wait to see the results pati na rin ang comment ni del ! =)
we want to see beyonce and shakiraaaaa!
hahaha no way!!! they’re camera shy…
Hey, I enjoyed your article it is very informative. I gained 5 pounds just looking at the picture.
chico….update please?? i want to try it too! thanks!
yes, by next week, i promise to post the update!
Hi Chico, been a silent rusher for awhile and this will be my first time posting on your site. Im actually quite curious as to how this turns out. Hope you keep us posted, more power to you
Please please update us…I need it for my 9 year old daughter who needs to start using one. Maasim na, hindi na beybi ;o) I don’t want her to use the commercial ones, I’m not also sure if the tawas I make her put is also safe. Thanks!
haha i haven’t done it yet! i promise, i’ll formulate it by this week!
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Just read your follow up post. As an fyi, Dr Brommers stuff mentioned above can be found in any Healthy Options. Not affiliated with them at all, but just sayin’
I just posted about trying homemade deodorant, and guess what? It works great!!! I use coconut oil instead (thicker consistency). I know this sounds gross, but I didn’t wash my armpits for almost 3 days as a test, and I still don’t stink! (Don’t worry, I was not at work without washing, was at home.)
http://ecoconvert.wordpress.com/2011/03/02/skeptic-turned-believer-homemade-deodorant/
Oh I swear never to buy deodorants after learning this recipe months ago. There are lots of videos on YouTube and it really works, and after a while, it loses that coconut smell. I have a jar full of this and scoop a bit out with a popsicle stick. FYI tawas and commercial deodorants have aluminum and carcinogens – CANCER! You will sweat just a bit but it minimizes it. I read some people get a reaction to baking soda, so it’s best to lower the amount you put in then slowly build up and see what works for you. I’ve also tried mixing a bit of cocoa butter so you smell yummy like chocolate. I got a tub from Shopwise. Cheers. Hope you try it soon.