I am addicted to antiperspirant. I put it on at least twice a day. I keep an extra one in my car in case I forget to put enough on at home.
And my antiperspirant is maximum strength. That means that 20% of the ingredients are aluminum. Aluminum clogs sweat pores to keep you from perspiring. But aluminum is kind of nasty stuff and I feel really guilty about applying it to my skin (sometimes broken skin, post shaving) daily. Aluminum has been found in breast tumors. We don’t know for sure if it causes diseases like breast cancer, but the fact that it can be found in the breast tissue makes me feel really really bad. I breastfed both my children. I’m still breastfeeding my 9 month old. Am I adding aluminum to his diet because of my antiperspirant use?
Over the past three years, I have slowly and steadily replaced every traditional body and household product I use with a more natural, health-friendly, and environmentally-friendly products. I have replaced all my household cleaning products, from window cleaner to toilet cleaner to dish detergent to laundry detergent. I have replaced all my personal care products from shampoo to lotion to sunblock to toothpaste to chapstick. I have kicked my artificially sweetened gum habit. I have stopped painting my toenails and have cut way back on the makeup I use (which wasn’t really much to begin with, but now is even less). I have almost entirely switched to natural products with one, big, glaring exception–my antiperspirant.
As this blog nears its one year anniversary, I’ve been thinking of things I could do to celebrate it. I have decided that it’s finally time to start weaning myself from my underarm addiction. I have about half a bottle of Lady Mitchum Gel left. I have bought myself a container of plain deoderant made without aluminum or parabens (preservatives that are estrogen-mimicers). It’s not the most natural deodorant, as it contains triclosan (antibacterial) and fragrance (synthetic fragrance contains phthalates, also estrogen mimicers). But it’s a start. It’s made with baking soda, which I’ve been told is a great, natural way to contain stinky sweat. I hear that when one stops using antiperspirant, there is a period of extra sweatiness and stinkiness as your sweat glands adjust to not being blocked. This is why I have chosen to do this as fall approaches and the heat of summer is fading.
So keep checking back for updates on my goal to wean myself off of antiperspirant and adjust to using just plain deoderant instead. Wish me luck!!!
