Wondering if baking soda makes a good deodorant? Read on to find out all about baking soda deodorant side effects and how to make it!
Fun fact. Sweat isn’t the source of body odor. Sweat is odorless. What you smell is due to the byproduct of bacteria that feed on it. There are two kinds of perspiration your body produces: eccrine and apocrine. Apocrine sweating is fat-rich perspiration that also has proteins that bacteria love to feed on. These bacteria then produce waste which stinks. So you don’t have smelly sweat, it’s just mother nature working its miracles. That’s why regular bathing is so essential to personal hygiene. A natural way to keep the smell away is to use homemade baking soda. But there are some baking soda deodorant side effects which we’ve listed in this article.
Deodorants and Antiperspirants
These are two very different methods of dealing with this problem of body odor. Deodorants work to minimize and mask the smell caused by body-odor causing bacteria, and antiperspirants block out pores and keep them cool, so you sweat less, thereby leading to lower body odor.
Both work as they claim to, but most commercially sold deodorants and antiperspirants use Aluminum to block your pores and prevent sweat formation. This is counterproductive to healthy living. Because they block out sweat glands, your body fails to eradicate unhealthy toxins by way of sweating. You also sweat out excess salt and calcium that are locked in by conventional deodorants and antiperspirants.
Baking Soda Deodorants
Many naturalists swear by baking soda deodorant as an alternative. It’s free of chemicals and additives they put in conventional, commercial deodorants. Baking soda effectively neutralizes the smell of body odor and detoxifies the acidic levels in your body, all without the toxic chemicals present in commercial deodorants. Read on to find out an easy way to make a homemade deodorant with baking soda at home!
Homemade Deodorant with Baking Soda
What You Need
- 90ml Coconut Oil
- 60 grams Baking Soda
- 60 grams Cornstarch
- Essential Oils of your Choice
Procedure
- First, mix in the baking soda and cornstarch in a bowl.
- Add coconut oil and blend well. Mash with the back of a spoon until the solution mixes well.
- Add essential oils of your choice until you get the fragrance that you want.
- Finally, store in a mason jar or a deodorant container and refrigerate.
Application
After the mix hardens, use just like you would a standard deodorant. Apply on areas from where you sweat, and enjoy a body-odor-free day! Inexpensive and home-made.
Baking Soda Deodorant Side Effects
Baking soda is alkaline in nature. Similarly, your skin is naturally slightly acidic at a pH balance of around 5.5. This is to protect you from viral and bacterial infections. Since the top layer of your skin acts as a moisture barrier that naturally moisturizes your skin, using baking soda (with a pH level of 8.3) results in the balance tipping over to the alkaline side. Consequently, this results in the acidic mantle dissolving. While baking soda is suitable for infrequent use, prolonged use might expose you to viruses and bacteria that wouldn’t harm you otherwise.
Other Side Effects
Prolonged use of baking soda deodorants might cause symptoms like:
Dryness
If the skin looks white or feels flaky to the touch, baking soda might be absorbing too much moisture from it. You might want to look into other natural alternatives to baking soda as a deodorant.
Redness
If the skin is itchy or looks red, baking soda might be irritating your skin. Consult a dermatologist at once.
Inflammation
Baking soda might also cause your skin to look inflamed or swollen – ensure you’re taking care of hygiene by regular bathing.
Breakouts
Baking soda might not suit everybody, and you might start to see pimples or acne pop out from excessive use of baking soda deodorants.
Dull Complexion
Your skin naturally keeps moist by eliminating toxins via sweat and oil, and that is the reason it shines. Prolonged use of baking soda might stop your skin from looking as fresh as it once did.
Conclusion
If you want to save a bunch of money, or otherwise are just looking for natural alternatives to the chemical-laden deodorants available in the market, Baking Soda deodorants might be for you. But be warned, an excess of anything is wrong, and if you notice the symptoms listed above, stop using Baking Soda deodorants. If the symptoms worsen, consult a doctor. However, if it works for you, keep using it!