It’s the Pits! – Underarm Detox

*This was supposed to be posted yesterday, but work had me drained. Sorry for the delay!*

During the summer, we all tend to make some changes to our health/beauty routines. Lighter makeup application here. More use of waterproof/sweat-proof products there. Speaking of sweat, it usually comes on pretty strong for me during this time of year. By some random encounter via Twitter, I found out about how one user tried an underarm detox to help lessen “that funk” before starting their use of natural deodorant. I was intrigued by how easy the process was. Basically, a clay mask was applied to the underarms, and left for a few minutes in order to rid the body of any toxins and residual that made their current deodorant less effective. Being a target of constant perspiration on my pits, I decided to give this a whirl.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 2 teaspoons of bentonite clay. (I purchased a 16 oz bag of it from Amazon, which will more than likely last me a few months)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1-2 teaspoons water

Mix all ingredients in a non-metal bowl with a non-metal spoon. Add an additional 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of water if needed to reach desired clay mask consistency. The original recipe called for a tablespoon of the clay, but the mixture was too dry, thus the need to add more water. Plus there was way too much leftover.

This is the bentonite clay I used for this mask.

All ingredients prior to mixing. This is with just 2 teaspoons of the clay. Now you know why I tweaked up the measurements a bit.

Apply an even layer over underarm areas and allow to sit for 5-20 minutes. I started at just under 10 at first in case I had any sensitivity, which I didn’t. After a few times, I was able to leave it on for as long as 10-12 minutes. I recommend trying not to move your arms around while it’s on. Clay masks will dry up and get crumbly!

Once your desired time is reached, rinse off with warm water and a washcloth. I normally use this mask prior to showering. This can be repeated daily or as needed. I used this twice a week prior to my SD trip and it did minimize odor. Unfortunately, it didn’t stop me from sweating altogether. What was most noticeable was that I didn’t have that “waxy” feeling on my underarms anymore. The mask managed to get rid of any residual from the deodorant that I regularly use. Definite thumbs up for that.

In one of the many blog tags I participated in, I had asked readers if they have tried any bizarre beauty regimens. This would be my answer to that question. Bizarre indeed, yet beneficial.