Review: Comparison of Primal Pit Paste Regular, Strong and Stick Natural Deodorants

Recently I have been testing out many natural deodorants from several brands. I have tried three version of Primal Pit Paste which I will compare for you. Primal Pit Paste deodorants are well known as being a great performer in the natural deodorant world. They have a wide variety of scents as well as formulas. If you are new to natural deodorants, read my previous blog post on Switching to Natural Deodorant for some tips to get started!

Primal Pit Paste Thyme & Lemongrass Deodorant (Regular formula)
Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Aluminum Free Baking Soda and Essential Oils

Price: $8.95 for a 2 oz. jar (Primal Pit Paste sells trial size jars for $3.95)

Performance: I love the lemon scent which is strong. I personally love a strong scented deodorant that I can smell throughout the day so I know if it has worn off or not. This deodorant comes in a glass jar that you apply with your fingers which takes a little more effort than stick deodorants. The paste is not wet feeling so you do not need to wait for it to dry before dressing. I also have not had a problem with it leaving any residue on clothes.  As long as I apply the right amount to the entire pit, this deodorant will last all day. The scent of thyme and lemongrass lasts all day as well. You will still sweat with this deodorant because it is not an antiperspirant. However, other natural deodorants I have tried do leave me feeling a bit less sweaty than this one does. I really do love this deodorant and I know I do not have to worry about reapplying throughout the day to combat smelliness.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Primal Pit Paste Lavender Deodorant (Strong Formula)

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Aluminum Free Baking Soda and Essential Oils (contains more baking soda than the original for those who needer stronger defense against BO)

Price: $8.95 for a 2 oz jar

Performance: The scent of this deodorant is nice but is not as strongly scented as the lemongrass one. I do not smell the lavender scent at the end of the day but it is still working. The extra baking soda is not recommended for people with sensitive skin because it can cause irritation. I do find this to be a little irritating when rubbing it on, especially if I have just recently shaved. The extra baking soda does also help with keeping you more dry. So i sweat a bit less than I would with the regular formula.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Primal Pit Paste Stick in Orange Creamsicle

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Beeswax, Aluminum Free Bakins Soda, Essential Oils

Price: $10.95 for a 2 oz stick

Performance: I was the most excited about the scent of this product because I love orange creamsicles! But sadly, this one seems barely scented which might be because of the formulation. I also thought that this version would be super convenient since it is in a traditional stick form but it does not easily glide on. You have to let is warm up from the body heat in order to spread it on. So i usually end up rubbing it in the same way I do for the other jar versions. I do not feel that this one is as strong and does not last as long. It may be because I can't tell if I've applied enough. But i find myself needing to reapply only a couple hours into the day. I do not think that for me this version is worth $2 extra dollars, and I plan on trying the Orange Creamsicle scent in the jar formula for sure!

Rating: 6 or 7 out of 10

Petit Vour December 2014 Box & First Impression

I just signed up for a subscription for the Petit Vour beauty box comprised of luxury vegan skincare & makeup products which are also natural and nontoxic. I purchased a 6-month subscription for $90 ($15 a month if you sign up monthly). Here is a look at what was in the box and my first impression of this subscription.

What's in the December Box:

Blissoma Skincare  Sensitive Skin Soothing Complex

Everyday Minerals Matte Blush

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream

Trust Fund Nail Lacquer


First impression of Petit Vour's Subscription Box:

I am very impressed with the size of the samples especially for the price of $15 a box. I subscribe to Goodebox as well (on a bi-monthly basis) which costs $18 and their samples are generally smaller.
I really like the variety offered as well seeing that there is one makeup product, one nailcare, one bodycare and one skincare product. It's a nice box to introduce you to vegan. I had never heard of Trust Fund or Blissoma before I received these items but I was pretty familiar with Meow Meow Tweet which is bases in Brooklyn, and had been thinking about purchasing the deodorant so I'm very excited to have gotten this item. Overall, I'm pretty satisfied with this month's box. There's not one product I wouldn't use. I'm really looking forward to the next box already!

Switching to Natural Deodorant: Why you should & what you need to know

You may think that natural deodorants are for extreme hippies only, or maybe you don't think about deodorant at all. Maybe you have just been using the same deodorant & antiperspirant everyday because that's what you have always used since your first gym day at school.

This post is meant to encourage you to think about the ingredients in your deodorant, what they do and discover the potential harm of the products you put on your pits daily.

What's the harm?
There are many potentially harmful or toxic ingredients in the average drugstore deodorant/antiperspirant. Aluminum is used to block sweat but has been shown in studies to be linked to Alzheimer's and breast cancer. Aluminum compounds can also cause hormonal disruptions. My advice would be to look for an Aluminum-free deodorant but make sure to read the ingredient labels because there may still be other harmful ingredients in it's place. Check out my previous post Ingredients to Avoid in Skin and Body Care Products to educate yourself on some ingredients to look out for.

No Sweat, No Problem?
Actually, sweating is important for your body to perform many functions. Which means YOU SHOULD SWEAT. Sweating is a major way for your body to rid itself of toxins, regulate body temperature, and help your body rid itself of sickness. So if you have been using an antiperspirant your whole life, think about how much toxic build-up you may have. The most important thing to know about switching to natural deodorant is that you will sweat, and it does take some getting used to. There is a sort of pit detox you will go through as your body transitions to the use of the natural deodorants.

Suggestions & Tips
Here are a few suggestions & tips I have if you are thinking about making the switch to natural deodorant:

1. Give yourself time to adjust and really test out the product. Natural deodorants do not perform the same ways as the ones you are used to and you may want to give up on it right away if you are a little sweatier or smellier than usual. I suggest trying out a natural deodorant on the weekend to see how it works. Also, keep the deodorant in your bag or bring it with you to reapply throughout the day if needed. Some natural deodorants can work just as well as traditional deodorants but may wear off quicker. I like to keep trial/travel size deodorants in my purse just in case. You will need to experiment with how much to apply and how often.

2. Read reviews or ask friends for recommendations. If you are not familiar with natural brands that offer deodorants start by researching products and reading reviews. Or if you know someone who uses natural deodorant, ask them which ones they love or didn't love. ( I will be posting a review in the next week or two of several deodorants I've been testing out).

3. You are probably going to have to try out several natural deodorants to find one that works with your body. Even if a deodorant has good reviews, it does not necessarily mean that it's right for you. Start by buying trial sizes or purchase from stores who have a lenient return policy in case the product does not work for you.

4. Be open minded through the process of switching to natural deodorant. The ingredients, textures and scents are going to be different to what you are used to. For instance, some natural deodorants are in paste form in a jar which may be a bit weird but they do work! The scents are most likely to be more natural and subtle since they are essential oil scents as opposed to artificial fragrances.

5. Feel free to do some more research into toxic ingredients and natural deodorants. I have simplified the important facts and experiences I went through in my journey to switching to natural deodorants, but there is much more information to read! 

Benefits of Pure Macadamia Oil for Hair

Recently I purchased pure organic macadamia nut oil to use as a leave-in treatment for my hair. I had tried a few hair oils but they were too heavy for my thin hair and my hair always ended up looking greasy.  Macadamia oil is the best hair oil I have ever used. I purchased the Aura Cacia 1 fl oz pump bottle of Macadamia Oil which is pure and organic. Not to mention, it smells amazing! The product is marketed as a skincare oil, but there are many benefits to the hair.

I apply a pump or two of the oil onto the ends of my hair soften and moisturize. Macadamia oil also makes the hair shiny and manageable. The high Omega 7 in this oil makes the texture  similar to the hair's natural sebum which enables the oil to moisturize the hair and scalp. It also enables it to sink into the hair quickly without leaving any greasy residue or build-up and will not weigh down the hair. The benefits of Macadamia oil are similar to Argan oil however, I find that it absorbs much better into thin, fine hair.