smell ya later

as i'm packing my bags, getting ready for a week of YMCA summer camp with 150-ish stinky kiddos baking beneath the southern california sun, i'm thinking... man, i hate it when i stink. at the same time, i don’t relish the idea of slathering my tender underarms with icky chemicals. oddly enough (and contrary to popular belief), sweat is odorless. it’s the nasty bacteria that gather on the skin and break down the sweat that cause the big smell-o-rama. (more than you really wanted to know, right? yeah, me, too.)

all antiperspirants (and I mean all -- if you find one that doesn’t, let me know!) contain aluminum, which has generated greater debate than an inside pitch at my daughter’s softball game. aluminum has been linked to cancer and alzheimer's disease. especially at risk -- according to a 2004 u.k. study at university of reading, as well as subsequent studies -- are women who shave and immediately apply antiperspirant (don’t try to tell me you don’t. i know better!). also present are parabens -- synthetic preservatives found in many personal care products -- which are linked to various cancers.

deodorants, on the other hand, neutralize smells and provide antiseptic action against bacteria. so, if you can deal, why not try a natural deodorant ? whether or not this these links to disease are true, it seems to me that anytime one can replace a chemical cosmetic with a natural one, so much the better.

there are abundant choices out there. and, while i’m not sold on the rock deodorants, there are some good alternatives offered by companies such as alba botanica, avalon organics and jason natural cosmetics, among others. test some out and see what works for you.... and if you have any other suggestions, let em rip...

on that note, i'm outta here until the 15th... smell ya later!