Keepin' the B.O. at bay is not the most glamorous of subjects, but there's nothing like solid underarm protection to make you feel like a lady (or gent). 

While mainstream deodorant can promise extra strength protection against sweat and B.O., it does this with the use of harmful ingredients--check out Dying to Look Good for more info on the scary details.  This leaves us with a safer, but often less effective option: all natural deodorant found at your local co-op or hippy grocery store.  Safe?  Yes.  But if you're active like me all day, it does little to keep you feeling fresh as a daisy.  Worse still, some "natural" products even contain harmful ingredients as well.

So I went in search of another option: DIY deodorant.  It sounds crazy, but it totally works!  Not only are the ingredients cheap household staples for the most part, but the final product works better than anything I've tried before.  The recipe I have here has been adapted from ones by Wellness Mama and Crunchy Betty.  The baking soda absorbs odor and, I've found, actually makes you sweat less over time.  The coconut oil is anti-bacterial, while the arrowroot absorbs moisture.  If you use essential oils, opt for tea tree oil or lavender oil, both of which are antibacterial.  Always go for organic ingredients because they are gentler on your skin.  

Ingredients:

1/4 c baking soda

1/4 c arrowroot powder

1/4 c coconut oil

3-5 drops essential oils (optional)

Mix dry ingredients together in a small bowl then slowly work in room temp coconut oil until all ingredients are combined.  Then stir in essential oils if desired.  Store in a small mason jar.  Makes about 1/2 cup.  Enjoy!