Initial impression using mineral salt deodorant

Preparation, Preparedness & Prevention Fitness and Nutrition
1

I’ve been trying to get my family away from chemical anti-perspirant/deodorants using “natural” products such as “Toms of Maine” and a couple others, without much luck. I also used things like baby powder, corn starch, and baking soda. Every product I tried was either messy, a pain in the butt to use, or expensive, and by mid afternoon, I could tell the ‘deodorant’ factor had pretty much wore off and I’d be starting to get ‘funky’.

Then, I stumbled across this:

http://greenvirginproducts.com/deodorant-stone/mineral-salts-deodorant-stone-4-25-oz-120-grams/

I ordered several for myself, wife, and college age daughter. I asked them to give the product a try for 5 days and I’d do the same. So far, after 10 days, the results are excellent, and we are all very happy with these stones and plan to keep using them.

For $6, it is a very cheap, simple solution. Get out of the shower, wet the stone with water, rub the stone in your pits 8-12 times (you want the minerals to get on your skin), dry the stone, give your pits a few minutes to air dry, and press on. No stains, no visible residue, and thus far, they’ve kept me “funk free” until I go to bed on the days I don’t workout after work.

The stones work by providing a layer of salts and minerals that resists odor causing bacteria. It won’t ‘freshen up up’ if you already sweat and are in a funk, it only works on clean skin, but so far, it’s better than anything else I’ve ever used, chemical or natural.

2

I have been looking into this as well, partly because alum is a great skin toner after shaving. What you want is potassium alum; I forget what the other salt is but apparently it is not as good. In the meantime, I have been splashing a little bit of green rubbing alcohol under my arms after showering. This green kind has peppermint scent and a bit of glycerin in it, so it doesn’t dry the skin out like regular alcohol. It works basically the same as the salts- it stops the bacteria from propagating. I have noticed a definite positive effect in keeping the funk away- and so has my wife.

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3

I’ve used it in the past, but it doesn’t work as well for me as the sensitive-skin formulation of antiperspirants. Aluminum chlorhydrate makes my skin itch, but the sensitive skin version which uses a different formulation, does not.

4

The crystal deodorants are just that: deodorants. They won’t work as anti-perspirants. I stopped anti-perspirants for the same reason, but I never tried the sensitive skin formulation.

http://www.tomsofmaine.com/ingredients/overlay/potassium-alum

5

I understand that, but as one who sweats a fair bit, I found the mineral salts tended to last only a couple hours before they were no longer on the skin.

6

Gotcha. You might try the alcohol I mentioned. I think the difference is that it will kill bacteria on contact and remove moisture as it evaporates. And, even though it has peppermint scent, you won’t smell like a candy cane :smiley:

7

Hmm…the peppermint stuff sounds interesting. Where do you buy it?

8

It is in the same section as regular rubbing alcohol at the grocery and drug stores. All it really is is rubbing alcohol, dyed green, with glycerin added to prevent skin irritation and wintergreen so you don’t smell like alcohol(sorry, I confuse that and peppermint all the time). It’s not a perfect solution, but I definitely notice less funk as the day goes on. Before this, despite scrubbing in the shower, using deodorant and wearing clean stuff I still had the funk build up. Now, not nearly as bad.
For example:
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-isopropyl-alcohol-70-wintergreen/ID=prod6056578-product?SL_ClientGroup=1

9

Thanks. I will check it out.

10

OP, just to keep the thread going in the direction you started, here’s what I was talking about for shaving:
http://www.amazon.com/Bloc-Osma-Alum-Block-Ounce/dp/B004NEHR28
It’s the same stuff as styptic pencils, but not as concentrated. I don’t know about you, but there’s no way I would want to put something that’s touched under my arms on my face :stuck_out_tongue:
AFIK it’s exactly the same crystal as the mineral deodorant, so if the ladies in your family use the crystal after shaving under their arms it may sting a bit. As long as you use potassium alum you should be fine.

11

I received some of the mineral salt deodorant for Christmas and it doesn’t work at all for me. I’m half-Asian and don’t have much body odor as is, but the mineral salt stuff is like wearing no deodorant at all. I can get away without wearing deodorant during the winter but I live in Texas so I need something during the Summer. I don’t like the thought of smearing aluminum on my body but sometimes it’s a necessary evil. During the Summer I use regular deodorant as much as possible but if I’m going out on a hot night I will bust out the degree or Old Spice anti-perspirant. I only use it for emergencies though (IE - social events where BO is unacceptable and dating - yes, my woman goes on dates with women with me).

12

Thanks! I’ll check it out…

13

For me, I had to really apply the crystal thoroughly and evenly or I would have a little stink from one side or the other. With good application it’s only effective for one day. But still it does work.

14

:confused:

15

Would you say that the amount needed is more than a regular deodorant? Like 10-15 passes versus 3-5?
Also, I’m curious if using alcohol first and then following up with the crystal would work better for those guys having issues with crystal alone.

16

Another natural deodorant worth checking out is Schmidts. Before trying Schmidts my armpits stunk all the time even after getting out of the shower. The ingredients are shea butter, baking soda, arrowroot powder, cocoa seed butter, tocopherol, hop extract.

17

Yes at least 10-15 swipes or more. The wetter the better it covers.

18

Thanks for the update. I’ve been looking to minimize the size and number of items in my dopp kit since I travel so much. The alcohol I mentioned can serve as an after shave/skin conditioner as well as deodorant; the potassium alum will also serve the same two roles. Plus, fewer liquids is preferable for TSA reasons.

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19

Update…

Been a few weeks now and I’m totally happy with this product. Granted, we’ve not seen the 100+ degree days yet but spent most of the last weekend working in the yard and moving boxes and furniture, so I sweat a lot but still no funk!

I’m using 6-8 swipes under each arm, and wetting the stone prior to each pit…

YMMV…

20

Ok… I took the leap of faith and added a crystal stick to my dopp kit. I’m doubling up- still using the green alcohol and then using the crystal. Not counting swipes, just swiping for 20-30 secs each side, rewetting before switching arms. The first day wasn’t much different. Today (day 3) I think I can honestly say it is making a difference. After switching to alcohol for the past month or so the funk was almost eradicated; now it seems that it is just about gone.

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