I am so excited it’s 2012! We’re now halfway through January and by now I’m sure some of you have already made a list of New Year’s intentions. Is one of them taking better care of your body? Less junk in your body this year I hope? Well, we’re here to help you make that transition with ease.

One of my changes was to switch from commercial deodorants to homemade deodorants. The aluminum ingredient is known to cause numerous health issues. I’ve been looking for an alternative deodorant that did not have it & all the other paraben crap in it. I’ve tested numerous “natural” commercial deodorants out there and I just could not find anything that deodorized.

Was I suprised to find how simple it was to make natural deodorant at home. When I came across this simple recipe for homemade deodorant I was a bit skeptical but intrigued. So of course I made it and I’ve been wearing this homemade deodorant every day for about over a week now. It’s been a huge success so far. I was so happy with it that I made one for my boyfriend. So far so good!!!! What surprises me even more is how simple the recipe is. There are just three main simple ingredients….that’s it! Only three ingredients! And you’ll most likely have all of them in your kitchen already and if not, they are very easy to obtain. So are you ready? Drumroll please……

Here’s the recipe!

DIY deodorant

• 1/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup organic cornstarch
• 2 tbsp organic & virgin coconut oil (melted)
• empty deodorant bottle
• 1-5 drops of essential oil (optional, don’t use any that can cause skin irritations, do your research)

Mix the baking soda and the cornstarch in a small bowl. Then add the melted coconut oil. With a fork, mix thoroughly & continuously until the mixture turns into a paste/gel like consistency. (Feel the mixture if it seems too oily add 1/4 tsp of cornstarch.) When the mixture is done, then gently fill the empty deodorant bottle with the mixture. Put the bottle in the fridge for 2-3 hours so it will set. Then remove and let it sit in room temperature for another hour. When it’s done, you may use it. 1-2 applications per underarm works great.

Simple right? I was amazed at how simple it was. Baking soda neutralizes the odor. Cornstarch absorbs some moisture. Coconut oil is great for it’s anti-bacterial properties. Note that this is not totally anti-perspirant, just a deodorizer. It’s also possible that you can get irritated by the baking soda, so if you do just add more cornstarch to the mixture and less baking soda. Also remember it’s “baking soda” and NOT “baking powder”. Those are two different things. If you don’t have virgin coconut oil you can get it at your local grocery store. It comes solid in a jar. Virgin coconut oil is great because it has the nutrients still intact. Overall, this is a great non-toxic deodorant!