Gluten Free Best Friends Forever! | GFBFF.com

In a week it’ll be June. That’s summertime. Is this blowing anyone else’s mind?

Among many features, this summer will be the first summer I’m basically product-free, due to a coconut allergy. So far I’ve tackled soap, toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner, hair product, even household cleaning products and laundry detergent.

I’ve been having fun with it. I like to think of it as the universe’s ultimate allergy challenge.

And so far, I’m winning.

I play mad-coconut-free-scientist whenever the need arises for a certain something-something, and it generally works out. Then I usually post it here, for the 3 or 4 other people on earth that happen to share in this obscure allergy.

The need for deodorant hadn’t really come up. I had been using Lafe’s Deoderant Stone just fine these past three seasons and felt pretty good about my lack of commercial anti-persperant. That is, until yesterday–I took a long walk outside and became aware I may need some extra support in the deodorant department with the promise of Nebraska’s usual heat and humidity.

So I whipped up a powder deodorant. It’s absolutely lovely–and effective.

DIY Deodorant

• 3 tablespoons arrowroot powder
• 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
• 40 drops essential oil (optional; I used 30 drops lavender/10 drop tea tree oil–you could add any essential oil in any ratio you wish.)

1. Combine arrowroot powder and baking soda in whatever jar with a lid you may fancy. (I picked up this glass jar from Pier One, however, I know they also sell similar jars at Target. A mason jar would work, also.)

2. Add essential oil to the jar and mix with a fork, incorporating the oil into the powder. (The mixture may look crumbly at first. Give it time, and the oil will be absorbed.)

Voila! There you have yourself a homemade gluten-free, coconut and coconut-derivite free, and aluminum-free powder deodorant. I still like to use Lafe’s Deodorant Stone and add this powder on top, though it can be used alone.

I apply it with a powder puff I picked up at Sally’s Beauty Warehouse. It’s equipped with a little ribbon on the top and everything–which lends for easier application, I think. As for the actual application, just pat it on until you don’t see white powder anymore. In this way, you could also apply it with a cotton ball or even a makeup brush–whatever suits you.