natural deodorant sweat test review

soapwalla deodorant cream
overall sweat test rating: 8/10
price: $12.00
pros: scent, overall performance
cons: application, price

review:
I knew I had a winner when I stopped feeling the need to apologize in advance to everyone around me. After a workday and sweat session I had a few (brave) friends do a sniff test and I got the thumbs up all around. I loved the lavender-peppermint-tea tree scent (sensitive noses beware, it is quite strong). The price is a little steep and it did take me a while to get over the application of the product – you have to apply it like you would a moisturizer (they’re serious when they use the term ‘cream’).  Regardless, this would be my go to recommendation for anyone serious about going natural.

kiss my face – active life (lavender)
overall sweat test rating: 5/10
price: $5.99
pros: application, price
cons: scent

review:
What I loved most about this deodorant was that the application didn’t require any additional instruction (up against the other brands I tried this really did set it apart). For the most part it held up during the day to day although I do remember leaving one particularly warm meeting room in a bit of a sweat (pun intended). I also found the “lavender” scent to be a little strong and sort of smelt like a glue stick. If you’re willing to reapply for your workout and you’re looking for something easy and affordable then I’d recommend this deodorant as a decent option.

crystal body deodorant
overall sweat test rating: 3/10
price: $6.99
pros: hypoallergenic, price
cons: application, overall performance

review:
This one felt like I was wearing nothing at all and not in the good way. From application to performance this deodorant was my least favourite. In order to activate the “rock” you have to moisten it with water first (which dripped onto the clothes I was wearing - ugh). I wasn’t very confident that I’d transferred any product to my underarms and by the end of each day I was pretty certain I hadn’t. What it does have going for it is that it’s hypoallergenic and fragrance-free making it a good option for those with sensitive skin. If it does work for you, it also lasts up to a year so you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck. Overall if you’re an active person like me than this probably won’t hold up to your liking.

Finding a good deodorant (and making a recommendation for that matter) can be tricky since everyone reacts to formulas differently. While this test did prove to me that there are some great options out there, it made me realize there was a much bigger question I had to ask. Was I ready and willing to switch from an antiperspirant to a deodorant? Smelling fresh and staying dry are important to me and these options (for the most part) undelivered when it came to the latter. Anyone know of a natural stick that combats both these issues?

Lara challenges herself and gets into a headstand for the first time.

Tonight was a landmark in my yoga practise. I got into a headstand for the first time on my SECOND try. On my FIRST try I enthusiastically flung my sweaty legs into the air. While they made it up to my intended vertical position, my lower body then continued on, collapsing to the right of my Manduka Mat, legs flailing and knocking over the woman in the calm and steady headstand beside me. In the end we both ended up in a heap on our respective mats.

I was mortified. This woman is the yogini with the perfect full lotus I had admired in my last class. I was the newbie who only recently touched her toes without bending my knees. I apologized to sink back into child’s pose and lick my wounded ego.

After the class I turned to her to apologize once more. “Think nothing of it! Ask anyone, we’ve all been there!”, she said to me laughing. Feeling like she was someone that could understand, I explained this feeling that I've been having, like I am on the brink of being able to push to that next level in my practise, that I KNOW my body can do it but I just need that extra little support (and room around my mat) to get there.

The woman asked me if I wanted to try again with her help. I said “Yes!”

I set up my arms and placed my head in between them with my new yoga buddy standing by, ready to catch me. I raised my left leg, then right leg halfway up. Feeling confident, I slowly raised them up to vertical once more. I tried! I did it! It felt amazing to do something that had scared me! And I made a new yoga friend!

Tonight I was reminded to not be satisfied with things as they are. If I want to grow as a person, as a yogini, I need to take more risks. I will fall again when I try a headstand, once, twice, likely a whole lot more - but that’s ok. The worst thing that my mind could conceive of happening when I envisioned trying to do a headstand happened tonight. But instead of it being a bad thing, it opened up a door to an opportunity where I made a new friend that helped me to experience my yoga practice at a whole new level of engagement.

What are you afraid of doing? Who do you need to help you get to that next level?