Are you looking for a new natural deodorant? You need to try milk of magnesia. I stumbled upon milk of magnesia as deodorant more than four years ago, when I was having a terrible time finding a safe, natural deodorant that didn’t make me break out in a rash. I decided to give it a go and have never looked back. I’ve tried many natural deodorants over the years, but milk of magnesia is hands down the BEST natural deodorant I’ve never used.
What is Milk of Magnesia?
If you’re like me, you may never have heard of milk of magnesia before. Milk of magnesia is magnesium hydroxide suspended in water. It’s most commonly used as a laxative. For reasons that I don’t entirely understand, though, it also makes an awesome deodorant.
Why I Love Using Milk of Magnesia as Deodorant
Effective: Milk of magnesia is the most effective natural deodorant I’ve ever used. It’s not an antiperspirant, so it won’t stop you from sweating, but in my experience it does an amazing job of preventing body odor. (Be sure to check out the comments below–I’m not the only one who loves its effectiveness!)
Low cost: Milk of magnesia is very inexpensive. I currently pay about $3 for a 12 ounce bottle that lasts me several months. This is a huge savings over the price of most commercial natural deodorants.
No residue or stains: Milk of magnesia doesn’t leave stains or residues on my clothes. Some of the natural deodorants I’ve used in the past were not so clothing-friendly.
No irritation: Milk of magnesia doesn’t irritate my skin at all. It also doesn’t sting when applied after shaving, which is a nice side benefit that can’t be said about all the deodorants I’ve applied.
No assembly necessary: Most homemade deodorant recipes I’ve seen have been quite simple to put together, but even simple recipes can seem daunting if you’re already feeling overwhelmed. I like that the milk of magnesia is ready to use right out of the bottle.
Where to Buy Milk of Magnesia
You can find milk of magnesia at most grocery stores or pharmacies. Make sure you buy a variety that’s just magnesium hydroxide and water. Many varieties also contain flavoring agents, food dyes, sugars, and/or preservatives, none of which you want in your deodorant. I always buy this brand from Amazon.
I don’t mind applying the milk of magnesia with my fingers, but if you find that too messy or inconvenient you may want to check out this milk of magnesia-based deodorant from the People’s Pharmacy. It’s much more expensive than just buying milk of magnesia, so I haven’t actually tried it myself, but the reviews look good.
Another option would be to buy a roll-on deodorant container (or repurpose an old empty container) that you could fill with milk of magnesia and then simply apply to your underarms like a commercial deodorant. (I think something like this might work as a container, although I have not tried it so can’t be sure.)
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How to Use Milk of Magnesia as Deodorant
Here’s how I use the milk of magnesia:
Pour about a nickel-sized amount of liquid into your palm.
Use your fingers to apply the liquid to your underarms.
Allow your underarms to completely dry before putting on your shirt.
You can also experiment with various other techniques, if you want. Some commenters have mentioned leaving the milk of magnesia uncovered for a while so it becomes a thick paste rather than a liquid. Do some experimenting and see what you prefer!
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Everyone’s different, so milk of magnesia may not work for you as it does for me, but if you’re in the market for a new natural deodorant I’d recommend giving it a try. If it doesn’t work you’ll probably only be out a couple of bucks, which is not something that can be said for most natural deodorant options.
More Natural Skincare Posts
If you’re into natural skincare, you might also enjoy my easy tutorial for honey face wash. Like this deodorant, my honey face wash is inexpensive, safe, and only one ingredient. Go check it out. 🙂
What do you use for deodorant? Have you found something you love or are you still looking?
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