DIY Underarm Deodorant with Shea Butter

Steer clear of store-bought deodorants!

I can’t remember the last time I used a store-bought deodorant – it’s been YEARS! Considering that I’m a pretty active person, it’s a wonder that I’ve been surviving without using those toxin-laden, CANCER-CAUSING commercial deodorants that are so aggressively marketed to us!

If only people knew what kind of harmful, hormone-altering chemicals are found in store-bought deodorants! Deodorant companies would run out of business that’s for sure. If you need a reminder, here are some of the harmful ingredients found in commercial deodorants that you need to be aware of:

• Parabens – Linked to breast cancer and cause hormonal disruption
• Aluminium – Absorbed into skin and mimic estrogen hormone, contributing to cancer
• Talc – A known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance)
• Propylene glycol – A deadly neurotoxin
• Silica – Skin Irritant

Make your own DIY underarm deodorant with shea butter!

On ilovesheabutter.com, we are CRAZY about shea butter so it’s only natural that we make our own DIY underarm deodorant recipe with shea butter! Ever since I started making my own chemical-free, clean, natural and homemade deodorants, I’ve used coconut oil as my base. It’s only recently that I decided to experiment and use shea butter instead, and OH. MY. GOD! This is possibly the BEST deodorant recipe I’ve ever come across, and I’m not even kidding!

Shea butter makes this deodorant so creamy, silky and smooth. Not only that, shea butter is ultra moisturizing for sensitive under arm skin, rich in vitamin E so it helps prevent dark armpit skin; and its rich in anti-inflammatory elements, which are a lifesaver for ingrown hairs, newly shaved pits or bumpy underarm skin!

How to make this DIY underarm deodorant

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp shea butter Nilotica (where to get it)
• 5 tbsp corn starch (where to get it)
• 1 tbsp and 1 tsp baking soda (where to get it)
• 20 drops lemongrass essential oil (where to get it)

How does each ingredient above work?

✓ Baking Soda – Is a natural odor buster. Not only will it neutralize any sweaty odor, but baking soda will also naturally prevent excessive sweating, unlike commercial anti-perspirant deodorants, which try to block your ducts and end up causing excess sweat instead.

✓ Cornstarch – A completely natural ingredient made of good ol’ corn flour, cornstarch acts like talc, only without the harmful nastiness, by absorbing moisture and sweat, keeping your pits dry and comfy.

✓ Shea Butter – The golden nut butter from Mother Africa, rich in a multitude of vitamins and healing properties, keeps your armpit skin nourished, supple and healthy.

✓ Lemongrass Oil – Has got a fresh and energizing scent that makes a strong and lasting deodorant, has relaxing and mood-boosting properties as well as anti-inflammatory properties.

Method

1. In a double boiler, gently heat the shea butter until it all becomes liquid. Make your own double boiler by placing a small pot over a bigger pot and in the small pot, place your shea butter and the big pot, add in 1/4 cup of water (the water shouldn’t touch the small pot). Heat it over a medium-low flame until the shea butter melts.
2. Now switch off the flame and add the cornstarch and baking soda and gently stir with a wooden spoon.
3. Once thoroughly combined, let it cool for a few minutes and then add in the lemongrass essential oil.
4. Now stir the mixture once again with a disposable chopstick that you can throw away (because if you use any cutlery or cooking spoon, the essential oil will get into it and transfer into any food that you use it in. Essential oils are potent so please be careful when handling them).
5. Finally transfer your deodorant into a container, preferably glass and let it stay overnight in your refrigerator to set.
6. Wow! Your own homemade deodorant is now ready! You whole house must be smelling wonderful with the grassy, penetrating and refreshing scent of lemongrass!

How to put on this shea butter deodorant

Using clean fingers, dip into the shea butter deodorant and directly apply onto your cleaned underarms. You only need a pea-sized amount, or even less! This DIY underarm deodorant is so potent that I manage to use just a touch of it and the above recipe lasts me a good 3 months!

Notes

• Feel free to use any other essential oil in place of lemongrass oil in the above recipe. My recommendations for a long lasting deodorant are eucalyptus, citriodora (lemon eucalyptus), geranium and peppermint.
• You can transfer this deodorant to an empty deodorant stick – it works just fine! Doesn’t melt and stays sturdy!
• In the above deodorant recipe, I used East African shea butter (Shea Butter Nilotica), which is known to have a more neutral scent compared to West African shea butter. If you decide to use West African shea butter, please do comment on how it worked out. Did you have to use more essential oil? Was the consistency harder? I’d love to hear from you!