Letting Our Underarms Detoxify
February 9, 2010
Somewhere I wouldn't mind going back to- Bora Bora. You can sweat all you want, then just jump off your porch into the water!
Hi Guys, hope all is well! I know there is a lot of snow back home on the East Coast, but I must say it feels a million miles away here in LA. Yes, one perk that my beloved New York has not! It has been sunny, though today there was a huge blast of rain.
Speaking of LA…Last night I went to the premiere of Valentine’s Day, starring 22 actors! The director Gary Marshall came out to announce the movie, and called out all 22 stars to stand up one at a time. Except Taylor Swift and Queen Latifah, all the others actors were present, and were all sitting within several feet of each other in the one-floor theatre. Julia Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Shirley Maclain, Jamie Fox, etc. At the afterparty I spoke to my two favorites, who are so sweet and I love so much: Jessica Biel and Anne Hathaway. They are fantastic in the film! 
I also saw Anne tonight at the Inglorious Basterds Audi party. I thought Valentine’s Day was super fun, and sweet, and I totally recommend it! I also love Inglorious Basterds, I thought it was fantastic.
So anyways, I was in a spa Saturday on my birthday and I noticed they had aerosol Secret deodorant/antiperspirant sprays next to disposable razors. It made me cringe!! Many of us women tend to shave our armpits in our morning shower, only to put on deodorant/antiperspirant moments later. When you shave, you can be sure our skin pores open in the armpit area, and when we apply those products, chemicals go right into our bodies. The chemical I am mostly concerned with is aluminum. None of us should be using any underarm products containing aluminum! When we put it on, the aluminum has a direct portal into our lymph gland, and the breast. Look at the products out there- most all of them contain aluminum as an active ingredient!
Aluminum has been linked to many health complications, and some even believe that it is a contributing factor in today’s tremendous rise in breast cancer (high levels of chlorine and daily use of underwire bras may be other factors). It is toxic, and is found in abundance in the brain tissue of Alzheimer patients.
We do have to be very careful of the personal products we use, and this is one that I believe can be the most harmful. Here’s what we can do:
1. Shave your armpits at night, when you are not going to be putting on any deodorant on afterwards.
2. Be sure to use deodorant that does not contain any aluminum. There are many natural brands available, including Tom’s of Maine, which is available at even Trader Joe’s. I really like that brand, and I find it works really well. The other one that works well is the Jason brand.
3. Stop using antiperspirants immediately. Sometimes as a society, we use products because they are used in a mass, mainstream way, and we never stop to question their validity…or their purpose. Such is the case with antiperspirants. Why do we want to STOP our body from perspiring?? Our skin is our largest organ, and it detoxifies waste daily. If we STOP the sweat glands from working, we are holding the toxins in, not allowing them to flow out of the body. We do not want to hinder detoxification like this, and especially not on a daily basis. And on top of that we push chemicals in! Double uggh.
If you are concerned about this, remember that you can still use a deodorant, so you won’t stink! You can wear looser shirts to start so your body has more room to air out, and over time you may find that since your body doesn’t have to “fight” working against the products which are blocking your sweat glands, your sweat in that area may reduce. And of course, as your diet improves and you cut back on your consumption of animal foods, you will not have so many toxins to push out in the first place! I have noticed a huge difference in my sweating patterns from changing my diet, and I’ve been antiperspirant-free for years now. I don’t even think about it!
Don’t forget to throw out all the toxin-loaded antiperspirants today! And restock with the natural stuff. Remember that toxicity enters the body in multiple ways.
Lots of love, Kimberly
My question is, why bother to shave at all? You remove 20% of the outer skin surface by doing so, allowing all sorts of nasty things in. I see more and more women opting not to shave and I think it’s a healthy trend. Perhaps trimming is an option instead. Hair is supposed to be there folks!
Hi There,
I noticed that you had talked about Toms of Maine and Jason as a natural alternative to antiperspirant, the main ingredient in both is propelyn glycol which has shown to be harmful to the body. A great alternative (and much cheaper) is a mixture of baking soda, cornstarch and essential oils. I’ve been using it for quite some time and it works wonderfully. A great resource I use when shopping for any body care products is the organicconsumers.org (http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_9039.cfm. Has alot of eye openers about what we put on our skin everyday.
Great blog!
Hi Maureen,
Great, thanks! Yes Tom’s of Maine do have propylene glycol which I think I mention in one of my underarm posts…Not the best but very convenient. Thanks for the baking soda tip. So many of you wrote that to me and I will have to try it!
A compelling article.
*sets half of house ablaze and runs for cover*
(It’s OK, it’s the half which contains all the chemicals.)
Esop
Hi Kimberly, I discovered your blog and really loving all the info on being more natural using better products. I am going to buy an aluminum free deodorant asap!
i say to hell with deoderant and go au natural!)
You go girl!!!!!!
I do often myself, especially when I’m traveling. 
Hi Kimberly! I love your blog!
This question is semi-related to this post. I’ve been wondering about laser hair removal. Would you recommend them? I would love a razor-free life, but am concerned that this might have some repercussion on the lymph glands and breasts?
Hi Ani, I’m definitely not a laser hair removal expert, and I don’t have any experience with it myself. I would check with a reputable doctor, since we must be so careful in that area. They are developing some amazing laser technology though.
Hi Kimberly!
It was so nice to run into you at the Inglorious Basterds party last night! Hope you enjoy the rest of your time here in LA!
Hi Megan! I’m so happy I ran into you also- what a nice surprise.
I use Healthy deodorant by Lavanila. Do you know anything about that? I’m obsessed with your blog by the way! I am also curious if you know any good organic makeup brands.
HI Katie! I’m so glad to hear you like.
Is your deo brand aluminum-free? Where do you buy it? I actually really like the Organic Physcian’s Formula for mineral makeup, as I find it not so cakey as the normal go-to of Bare Essentials. Love, Kimberly
**rushes to her cabinet to scan ingredients for Aluminum**
Ha!!!!!!!! Detox the cabinet!!!!!!
I’ve tried both the Desert Essence’s Tea Tree Oil deodorant mentioned above in the comments and also a bunch of Tom’s of Maine deodorants (lemon sage, lavender, lemongrass, calendula, unscented, etc.) All of them work wonderfully, don’t contain aluminum, and smell great, too!
Another suggestion for deodorant that is really excellent is from the brand, Erbaviva. A very wholesome line.
Thanks for sharing, I will check out that brand!
Hi Kimberly,
I also use crystal stone and it definetely works for me.
I have a couple of unrelated questions… I suppose you do your yoga practice in the morning? I wonder if you drink the lemon water, take the probiotic supplement etc. before or after the practice? At least the Green Smoothie after the workout?
Thank you for your answer & your blog!
Laura
Hi Laura! I actually practice in the evening most days, because that is how my schedule works. So I eat dinner after my practice. If I did practice in the morning, I would have the lemon water first but the smoothie after.
oh
happy belated birthday wishing you a good one my husband’s birthday was on Saturday also
thanks for letting me know about that
i use a crystal deodorant once i heard of how aluminum can cause some health issues and that it is in our brain that really concerns me
Hi Kimberly! I have been using a deodorant crystal stone for several years. Do you approve of them?
No! See my latest post.
Sounds like you are having an amazing time!
Happy Birthday, again!
I’ve been only using natural deodorants for years now, got most of my family on bored as well! I like the salt ones best!
I personally love Desert Essence’s Tea Tree Oil Deodorant (the stick). It smells great and works well compared to others that I have tried.
Kimberly, on another note I have been meaning to ask you about makeup. I never wear it, except occasionally on special occasions I put on organic mascara. I may have the need to start wearing more soon. Could you recommend an organic brand that you like/use. I prefer a mineral powder for foundation – I really dislike the liquid stuff. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
xoxo
Montana
Here here! I use an aluminum-free 100% salt crystal, and the same product has lasted me years! I only need it during the summer when the stink factor is higher and one application works for the entire day. We need to work with our bodies, not against them!