So you’ve switched most of your 'not-so-green' body care products over to natural and organic products, but there is one lingering item that you just can't seem to get rid of because you can’t find an alternative that actually works. Your deodorant. Sound familiar? You are not alone.
When it comes the figuring out what the best organic or natural deodorant is, one that contains ingredients that are healthier for you, there is no clear answer because the answer is not the same for everyone. It’s not a simple task to find a natural or organic deodorant that will work for you, and it may take a lot of trial and error. Since there is no aluminum (the active ingredient in conventional antiperspirants that most people looking for a natural deodorant would like to avoid) in an organic and most natural deodorants*, our personal body chemistry determines whether or not the deodorant will work for us or not—so what works for you, may not work for someone else.
Over the years, I have tried numerous organic and natural deodorants and have unfortunately been disappointed many times with the results. Natural or organic deodorants tend to be pricier than their mainstream counterparts because they are made with high-quality ingredients in small batches, by hand by smaller companies. Luckily, I was determined, so I’ve found a few what work extremely well for me, maybe they will work for you too.
A few weeks ago, I came across this small company based in Toronto. I was curious about their deodorant, so I bought their Lavender Tangerine Deodorant and I am so happy that I did. This deodorant works like a charm and smells great. It comes in a tube and you rub it on like a lotion. The best part is that I don’t have to reapply. One application in the morning does the trick for the entire day. Leaves of Trees also make a Eucalyptus Mint version.
Bonus: Leaves of Trees has signed the Just Beautiful Pledge which means all of their products—not just the deodorants—are free from a long list of no-no ingredients. Read more about that here.
Urban Forest’s Natural Deodorants also work extremely well. The scents are nice, my favourite is the coconut! The round, solid bar softens when it comes into contact with your skin, so it applies nicely.
Urban Forest is based in Ontario and it is also a small Canadian business that takes special care in choosing all of their product ingredients. All of their products are made by hand and in small batches.
I first learned of Toronto-based Crawford Street Skin Care’s Lemon Deodorant Cream from Gillian Deacon's excellent book "There's Lead In Your Lipstick." She explained a scenario where she had to run through an airport to catch a flight. When she got onto the plane, she did a "sniff test," fully expecting to learn that her deodorant had failed her, but she was amazed that it hadn't. After reading that, I had to try it and I am glad I did because it also works for me! It's scented lightly with lemon essential oil and rubs in like a lotion. Crawford Street Skin Care products are also handmade in small batches.
I love Bubble & Bee's Geranium Lime Pit Putty. It smells amazing and every single ingredient in it is USDA certified organic. It must be rubbed in really well and is a little crumbly, but I overlook that because it works amazingly well. The great thing about Bubble & Bee is that they swear by their product and actually guarantees that their deodorants will work for you. If it doesn’t, you can exchange for a different deodorant until you find one that works for you.
Bubble & Bee is an American company and their products are not available in Canada so you must order directly from their US based website.
Check out Bubble & Bee's Deodorant Tips page for more info on how to successfully make the switch to an organic deodorant.
Some things to know about organic and natural deodorants:
Finding one that will work for you can take time, maybe the first one you buy will be the one, maybe it will be the 10th one. It just requires lots of determination. Stick with it, and you will find one that works for you!
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Learn how you can make your own body butter using just one kitchen ingredient and learn why artificial fragrances are not good for us.
After entertaining a crowd—whether it’s a BBQ, birthday party, holiday gathering, or a baby shower>—the cleanup can be daunting...especially when it comes to the dishes. Cleaning dishes are not my favourite thing to spend time cleaning—and I know it isn’t a favourite of yours either. So for convenience, some of us lean towards disposable utensils, cups, plates, and napkins. I don’t have to tell you that your run-of-the-mill disposables create a lot of waste, some are not healthy for us, and a lot of them never break down when thrown out. So what are some greener options? Here are a few to get you started:
Green Planet Parties carries a great line of wooden cutlery. Yes—wooden! Not only will they be a conversation piece at your gathering, they are also compostable and biodegradable.
Greener options when it comes to cups are pretty easy to find nowadays. I love these printed cups by Susty Parties. These cups are great for hot or cold drinks, they are biodegradable, non-toxic (elemental chlorine free, no plastics), renewable (sustainably harvested paper and plant-based lining), and made in North America.
Green Planet Parties also carries plates made from compostable, biodegradable, and heat tolerant palm leaves. No pesticides, colours, waxes are added during manufacturing. If you are looking for something a little more fancy, check out the heart-shaped palm plates.
I learned of MYdrap napkins this past holiday season and I love them. MYdrap cloth-like napkins are made of 100% cotton fibres and are biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, and can be reused up to six times. They come in many different colours, patterns, and sizes. Just throw them in with the laundry after they have been used and they are good as new for your next get-together.
Take a look at this short video to learn more about MYdrap:
I’ve only touched on a few options when it comes to eco-friendly party tableware. The great news is that there are SO MANY great choices out there, so they are pretty easy to find, which was not the case just a few short years ago.
For more eco-friendly ideas, check out "How to Choose An Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Detergent" and "10 Ways to Make Your Car Eco-Friendly."
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