CHICOLOGICAL GUEST POST Zoe of Macaroon Original
As a curator of all things chic in fashion, beauty, and baby goods, Zoe Schaeffer truly has an eye for the "next big things." Zoe's blog, Macaroon Original, profiles everything from vibrant new nail polishes to snuggly onesies for baby. Zoe embodies the modern American mama: fashionable, beautiful, and oh yeah, a great parent. Check out what Zoe has to say about her adventure sampling all-natural deodorants.
Zoe:
I remember while working as a beauty editor for Mademoiselle, we weren’t allowed to write about deodorant because it was “too gross.” Well…copy that. But as I grow older, learn more about my familial history with breast cancer and read about the dangers of parabens and sulfates in beauty products, I’d say it’s a topic worth broaching, nasty or not. My blog, http://macaroonoriginal.com/ is devoted to all things beautiful, but this not-so-beautiful subject is what’s on my mind this moment, making it hard for me to write about anything else.
Summer in LA is not a choice time to make the big switch, this was my season of transition. When researching brands of natural deodorant to try, I asked a bunch of friends (whose collective response was “yeah, they don’t work”). So I decided to take it to the web. Some of the big name beauty brands were getting slammed left and right, and I will not mention them out of respect. But along came some comments about Living Libations, a company I’ve known about, that have some other groovy products with things like, “Love Wine” and “Seabuckthorn Hot Lover Lips.” Now we’re talkin’! If I’m going to rub essential oils under my arms, it’s gonna be from a company that also makes “Wild Child Healthy Gum Drops.” Meaning, this might mean a lifestyle change for me too! I remember hearing about their Poetic Pits (Yup! That’s the name) and how its small roll-on has a lovely scent and is cute to boot. And then I read an emphatic quote online from a devoted yogi that said, “I wore this to my Hatha Yoga class and when I came out, someone told me how delightful I smelled.” Really? Let’s give this a whirl. The one I chose was “Rose Glow” (the one the yoga lady suggested) and it’s made up of lovely things like sandalwood, rose otto, and geranium, which sounded better than parabens and aluminum any day. My road test occurred while blueberry picking in a farm outside LA, where I surrounded myself by safe friends and family (so not to offend anyone outside the inner circle.) And while I kind of reveled in my new modern hippie persona, subtly smelling of floral essences while plucking berries with my children, I must admit, I still felt a little unprotected. I’m used to surviving Manhattan summers, subways and all, feeling like I could brush up against an ex-boyfriend, and still feel cool as a cucumber. But being outdoors in the wide-open plain and still feeling a bit vulnerable was a challenge.
My verdict? While this roll-on is the one I will continue to use (it’ll be amazing on balmy days and cool evenings,) it’s going to take a little getting used to.
Josie….do I smell a new product launch in the works?
5 Comments
Reader Comments (5)
I read this as...yeah, it still didn't really work. :) Still waiting on an actual, viable natural alternative. When it matters, I still feel like I have to use the nasty stuff, however I'm committed to trying the natural alternatives and using them when, as Zoe puts it, "within the inner circle"!
I cannot tell you how happy I am to see a story about natural deodorant. After being diagnosed with stage 3a breast cancer last year I found the few natural deodorants out there, and the even fewer that work. Different things seem to work for different people, but there is definitely room for improvement and we certainly need it. Chemicals in our beauty products are scary. Cancer is scary. And stinky armpits are yucky. These are things we need to talk more about so we can inspire new products. Thank you Zoe for writing about the, “gross” things that contribute to making us look and feel beautiful, and can help keep us safe. My fingers are crossed that more natural deodorant choices are coming soon!
Yes. If 1 and 3 people are going to be diagnosed with cancer we all need to clean up what we're putting in our body. It's understandable that nobody wants to cause a panic about everything in the world we live in, but with natural choices and encouragement people can be guided to better choices. I have not found a great deodorant yet, but there is an ok one that I carry in my purse and I just put it on through the day.
Still looking. I'm glad people are thinking about it.
natural deodorant is much better.