See those chubby cheeks? That’s why I care what’s in my personal care products.
During this season of thankfulness, I think about how grateful I am for my family. My husband and our three children mean the world to me.
More than anything, I want them to live a healthy and fulfilled life. And I want to be around to support and guide them as they grow and to see them develop into adults and start families of their own. Although it is a bit of a cliche, “If you don’t have your health, you don’t have anything.”
In the last few years, I’ve noticed a lot of attention focused on the toxic chemicals that seem to be everywhere in our environment–our houses, our water supply, the kids’ toys, even our food. There is so much conflicting information that it is next to impossible for a layperson, even a very educated one, to sort through all the studies and conclusions.
Especially as a family with a child with a heart defect, the cause of which is unknown, I am very careful to keep our diets, our household products, and our personal care products as natural as possible.
While we cannot say with any degree of certainty if a definite amount of any one specific chemical directly causes birth defects, cancers, or other conditions, I am worried about the toxicity of the world I am leaving to my children.
There are many things in life I cannot control and I do not want to raise my children in a bubble. However, I can use my influence as a consumer and a citizen to encourage healthy options. I can choose to buy food and personal hygiene products that are more healthy.
Crystal Deodorant asked me to try their Roll-On and I headed right off to Walmart to buy some. I was curious to see if an unscented, natural deodorant could keep me fresh.
Remember those big crystal rocks of deodorant from back in the 1980s? Did you use those? They are natural and very cool-looking but hard to pack in the overnight bag!
Crystal Deodorant still makes the big solid crystals but they have also created easier to bring along sticks and roll-ons.
There are just three ingredients listed on the back of the Crystal Deodorant Roll-On: Purified Water, Mineral Salts (Potassium Alum), Cellulose. According to the website, the mineral salts work by creating a “thin barrier” that prevents bacteria from forming.
Few people realize that it is the bacteria, not the sweat, that makes a person (you know, other people…not me…or you, of course) stink.
More important than what is in the deodorant is what is not in it. There are none of those “chemicals of concern”: no Aluminum Chlorohydrate, Aluminum Zirconium, Parabens, or Phthalates. In fact, the Environmental Working Group gives the Crystal Body Deodorant Roll-On its highest score of “0” on the scale of concern on its Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
For the last few days, I replaced its neighbor on the shelf (Tom’s) with Crystal Deodorant.
Using the Crystal Deodorant during my normal routine, which usually involves several miles of walking while wearing a 20 pound infant, it has worked as promised. Most of my clothing is a post-baby body-flattering black and I notice no staining. The roll-on dries almost instantly and does not feel sticky at all. In fact, once it is on, I do not notice it at all.
Although the weather has been unseasonably warm for New York in the late fall, I would still love to try the deodorant in the summer before declaring a total victory over unpleasant body odor.
As a person who is very sensitive to scents, I appreciate the availability of a fragrance-free option. Besides, a vague listing of “fragrance” often indicates the presence of phthalates in personal care products. For those who are sensitive to fragrance, have a child who is sensitive, or just do not want to compete with their perfume, the fragrance-free is the way to go. However, since I do not use perfumes regularly, I do like to have a light, natural fragrance in my deodorant. I noticed on the Crystal website that they do have three natural fragrances available and I plan to try the lavender.
Seeing an increase in the number of more natural consumer options available at reasonable prices reassures me.
As a mom who has spent the last six years either pregnant, breastfeeding, or both, I prefer products that are free of chemicals of concern. What goes in or on my body may end up in their growing systems. When my little nursling “Eats at Mom’s”, I want him to have a clean booth.
—
WANT IT: Find Crystal Deodorant at your local Walmart.
DISCLOSURE: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias Check out my slideshow for more information about my shopping trip.
