The Skin You're In

You're making great improvements. You're exercising daily and paying attention to what goes in your body. Have you thought about what goes ON your body, too?

Chemical ingredients in cosmetics and toiletries may be harmful to your body. Ingredients like parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, SD alcohol, petroleum-derived ingredients, artificial colors and fragrances can all be found in many everyday products that we put on our skin. Many of these chemicals can be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream. As a matter of fact, about 60% of anything you put on your skin gets absorbed!

The skin is the largest organ of the human body. It has many functions:

It is the first line of defense against pathogens.

It facilitates sensation of temperature, pressure and touch via nerve endings

It provides thermoregulation utilizing sweat glands, blood vessel dilation and tiny erector pili muscles (goosebumps).

It acts as a storage center for lipids and water.

It provides a barrier to reduce fluid loss.

It absorbs oxygen and aids in the synthesis of Vitamin D from sunlight.

One of the first products I ditched when decided to ditch the chemicals was anti-perspirant. First of all, sweating is how the body thermoregulates when it gets too warm. Sweating also helps to eliminate toxins through the skin. Sweating is not something we should inhibit, especially when we are exercising. Odor is not caused by the sweat, per se. It is caused by the byproducts of bacteria which multiply in a warm and dark environment (a sweaty armpit) and to some extent, by certain foods or pharmaceuticals that were ingested. So, we can still let the body do it's detoxing and cooling things but manage the odor that might be less than pleasing. Here's a recipe for a simple and inexpensive alternative to deodorant that is free of chemicals that many people wish to avoid:

Mix together ¼ cup each melted coconut oil, baking soda and corn starch or arrowroot powder and 10 drops of essential oil of your choice. (a blend of tea tree and lavender works well). Pour into a glass jar and cover. It will solidify when it cools. Apply to your armpits with your fingers. The baking soda absorbs odor, the starch absorbs wetness and coconut oil is an anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and moisturizer. (Some people find the baking soda is a bit abrasive or irritating, so you can leave it out if you experience redness.)

Since coconut oil melts at 76 degrees, you may want a firmer deodorant that you can pour into a push -up tube (just clean out your old deodorant tube and reuse it!) Since I live in a warm climate, this is what I use:

• 3 Tbls coconut oil
• 2 Tbls beeswax
• 2 Tbls baking soda
• 2 Tbls arrowroot
• 1/8 tsp tea tree essential oil
• 1/8 tsp lavender

Just melt the oil and beeswax in a double boiler over low heat. Whisk in the powders, remove from heat, then add the oils. Pour into your empty deodorant container and let cool completely before capping.

Let me know if you make one of these deodorant recipes. I swear they work, and you won't have to worry about clogging up any sweat glands or absorbing any toxins.