Switching to natural deodorant offers a range of health and environmental benefits. One thing you should be prepared for, though, is the transitional phase. An effective way to reduce the issues associated with the transitional phase is to do an armpit detox.

In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of an armpit detox when switching to natural deodorant and going over how  to do an armpit detox. 

What is the Transitional Phase? 

When you stop using antiperspirant, your body needs time to adjust. As we’ve discussed previously, aluminum salts in antiperspirant essentially form a plug for your sweat glands. Removing this plug causes you to sweat more, as you’d expect. This, unfortunately, can lead to you being extra sweaty and smelling a bit funky. Of course, this isn’t the natural deodorant; it’s your body purging the built up sweat and the bacteria in your armpits that cause you to sweat more and smell.

 While natural deodorant contains odor neutralizing and moisture-absorbing ingredients, your body needs a period of adjustment. During this time, the bacteria in your armpits basically need to level out. Generally, this period can last between 2 and 4 weeks as your body releases all the aluminum built up in your pores and reaches a new equilibrium.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help this along, including an armpit detox. 

The Benefits of an Armpit Detox 

An armpit detox helps to speed up the transition process and will also reduce the side effects (looking at you, BO). It’s important to use the right ingredients to help draw out toxins and reduce bacteria levels. The main benefits of an armpit detox are as follows:

Removes sticky buildup

Regular use of standard deodorants and antiperspirants can lead to a sticky buildup in your armpits that’s difficult to tackle, even with a good wash. This is mainly thanks to our friends aluminum salts and parabens, which sit in your pores and on the skin. A detox will help to draw these chemicals out of your skin and facilitates easier removal during washing. The more regularly you do this, the quicker that sticky feeling will disappear. 

Eliminates odor 

There’s no point in denying it: your transitional phase will cause you to smell more. This is because the bacteria in your armpits have more to feed on as your body sweats more. An armpit detox mask contains ingredients with antibacterial properties, which helps to eliminate odor. During this time when you’ll be a bit stinkier, this can be a godsend. Bear in mind, though, it’s not permanent. Even so, you could get up to 3 days smell free from a single armpit detox. 

Eases your transition 

Regular use of antiperspirants can lead to a larger buildup of bad bacteria in your armpits. Along with this, stopping suddenly and switching to natural deodorant can lead to minor rashes, particularly if you have sensitive skin. Using an armpit detox mask helps to reduce the problems of excess bacteria and excess smell while also soothing your skin and drawing out impurities. Done properly, it can make the switch to natural deodorants much easier.

How to Use an Armpit Detox Mask

We at Good+Plenty have worked hard to create an armpit detox mask that’s easy to use and effective. Our Detox Mix contains everything you need to detox in the right way. There’s a jar of our armpit detox mask powder, a mixing dish, spoon, and applicator brush. 

The detox mix is where the magic happens and contains 2 important ingredients:

Bentonite clay

Bentonite clay has been used in health and beauty for thousands of years due to its toxin-absorbing properties. It’s ideal for treating oily skin and drawing impurities from the body. In fact, its role in removing toxins from the body is surprisingly well studied. Bentonite clay isn’t believed to contain anything harmful for human consumption. But if you plan on eating it, ensure you choose a type that’s safe for internal use. It’s always worth doing a skin test, too, just to be on the safe side.

Activated charcoal 

Activated charcoal is a specific kind of charcoal that’s fired at very high temperatures. Doing this changes its internal structure, resulting in bigger pores. In turn, this increases its absorption ability. 

This is why it’s so commonly used in detox products: it can trap and absorb toxins either inside or outside the body. You can find it in everything from facemasks and toothpaste to pills. Importantly, activated charcoal isn’t absorbed by the body, meaning it can draw out toxins and remove them completely. 

Armpit detox mask method

So, to create your armpit detox mask, mix the following: 

• 2-3 spoonfuls of the detox mix
• Water or apple cider vinegar (ideally raw and unrefined) or a 50/50 mix of both 

Simply mix them together into a thick paste and apply it to your armpits. Leave it until it dries, which should take about 20 minutes. After each session, wash it off with warm water. You’ll need to repeat this daily for the full effects of the armpit detox.

It can take anywhere between 1 and 4 weeks for your body to rid itself of antiperspirant buildup, but using a detox mask will speed things up. You might experience a bit of redness in your armpits after you wash it off, but this is normal. But if you experience anything worse, stop using and speak to a doctor. 

The Easy Way to do an Armpit Detox 

Using an armpit detox mask that contains both bentonite clay and activated charcoal is an effective way to draw toxins out of your skin. Our detox mix is super easy to use and will make the transition to natural deodorant that much easier.

So, don’t let the transition put you off making the switch to natural deodorant. If you manage to stick it out with the help of our detox powder, your body will thank you in the future!

Bonus

The detox mix can be applied as a face mask, which is great for those who have oily skin. The mix can also be used as a toothpaste to help clean and whiten teeth.