CCOF-Certified Beach Organics’ Natural #Organic Deodorant , Behind-the-Scenes Pictures, and a $50.00 Certificate!

Prior to composing this review, I was under the distinct impression that I was doing the right thing by using a Crystal Stick deodorant to avoid Aluminum. I’ve been constantly on the lookout for deodorants that I could use for myself and introduce to my family. I’ve purchased a few “natural” deodorants, but would quickly realize, that they were not natural as advertised. Even more, these well-known products were not owned by small, socially responsible companies, but purchased by corporations who have a history of selling socially irresponsible products. It has been disappointing, to say the least.

However, researching for this post has brought new information to light. If you’ve been a Crystal Stick deodorant user such as I have, you may want to reconsider using it as a part of your daily personal care regimen. Dr. Mercola warns…

“The aluminum in crystal deodorant stones is a different type of compound known as an alum, the most common form being potassium alum, also known as potassium aluminum sulfate.

Potassium Alum or Ammonium Alum are natural mineral salts made up of molecules that are too large to be absorbed by your skin. They form a protective layer on your skin that inhibits the growth of odor-causing bacteria. These deodorants are recommended by many cancer treatment centers.

But while this may be a better alternative to most antiperspirants and deodorants on the market, it is not completely aluminum-free.”

I’ve made up my mind to ditch my Crystal deodorant stick. I’m just so thankful to have been introduced to a wonderful product that I can replace it with. I will share the deets later on in the post, but first a bit of information…

It’s important to distinguish that deodorant and antiperspirant are not same. A deodorant contains odor-control ingredients that do not prevent perspiration. An antiperspirant contains ingredients, namely Aluminum, among many synthetic ingredients, that prevents perspiration.

Aluminum-based compounds are the active ingredients in antiperspirants. The compounds create a temporary “plug” in the sweat duct that prevents the flow of sweat to the skin’s surface. Some research suggests that these compounds cause estrogen-like hormones and are linked to cancer.

The issue with this is not just the toxicity of the ingredient but prevents the skin of detoxifying, a double-whammy to the most porous, absorbable part of your body.

I’ve now come to the conclusion that the only way to ensure your deodorant is toxin-free is to look for a third-party certification label such as USDA Organic to avoid misleading marketing tactics.

Beach Organics’ Lemongrass Deodorant is undoubted, the best ALL natural deodorant I’ve used. With just a swipe or two, I’ve experienced all day freshness. The scent is so lovely, I would simply uncap the deodorant just to take a deep sniff though-out the day! Additionally, there’s no stinging when applied to freshly shaven skin. I found it to be more of a balm, soothing and softening in this stead.

Beach Organics is a woman-owned, private company. They create a luxurious line of certified organic skin care products that include soap, shampoos, body butter and more. They also have shampoos and sprays for pets. The products are hand-made, in small batches, in a state of the art facility, which was certified by CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers Organization) as being compliant with USDA Organic requirements in 2011. The skincare line, namely their deodorants were designed with the intent of reducing women’s exposure to toxic estrogenic chemicals. As a fellow advocate for women’s empowerment, I absolutely heart their mission. They also contribute to charitable causes such as the Breast Friends of Brevard and Serene Harbor Women’s Shelter in donations and time.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of Beach Organics hard at work.

On the left, Robin at Beach Organics is cutting soap. The soap starts out as a 25-pound block, seen on the table to her right. Also visible is the curing rack in the foreground of the picture. The picture on the right shows Robin joined by Flo, cutting the soap that is soon to be cured.

I had the pleasure of interviewing with Beach Organics’, Certified Soap-Maker, Kelly, who was generous enough to send me a variety of her own creations to sample.

In addition to the deodorants, Lemongrass and Lemon Lavender, I received two of their best selling blends, Coastal Breeze & First Light soaps, Coastal Breeze Body Spray, Tangerine Lip balm and a bottle of First Light lotion.

The Coastal Breeze soap comes out on top for me. It has everything I look for in a soap.

• Moisturization
• Scent
• Loads of lather from small amounts of soap
• Effective at cleansing.

This soap has it all…and then, a surprising element. I LOVE a soap that gives me value for my money. This soap is a one-and-done deal. The lather is plentiful. You only need to wash up once.  The surprising element for me was how I felt afterward. Yes, my skin was smooth, moist and supple, but I actually felt relaxed. Kelly shared with me that the Coastal Breeze blend is made up of lemongrass, bergamot, geranium and clary sage. 

Lemongrass tones skin and muscle, while Bergamot relaxes muscles and reduces feelings of pain. I was amazed at how relaxed I felt afterward. With seven children and a busy schedule, this is the closest I’ve come to “spa-ing” every day. I eagerly look forward to the morning when I can jump in the shower! I’ve dubbed the Coastal Breeze blend, “spa in a bar”. While lavender is one of my favorite scents, I gravitate towards Coastal Breeze for its sheer ability to provide a calming start to a busy day! The First Light (Lavender) soap provides a similar experience but isn’t as muscle-relaxing as it’s counterpart. The scent is thrilling and light and would work well for anyone who loves a light, herbal lavender scent.

For years I’ve used body sprays and have given them up due to the synthetics they contained, so I was THRILLED to receive a bottle of Coastal Breeze body spray. It is simply made up of the purest water and the Coastal Breeze blend. I’ve had the bottle for two weeks now and it’s practically gone!

Their organic lip balm is very light, non-greasy and quickly absorbable. They’re created with some of my favorite emollients; Shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil and aloe butter. The tangerine flavor I received was yummy and light. Here are some “behind-the-scenes” photos of balms waiting to be labeled.

The Giveaway!

Beach Organics was kind enough to offer one of my readers a $50.00 Gift Certificate!

Entry is easy! Go to www.beachorganicsskincare.com and tell me which products you would use your $50.00 certificate on, should you win of course, and “Plus One” TheOliveParent on the sidebar. Complete as many entries in the Giveaway Tools application as possible to increase your chances of winning. This giveaway is open to US residents only, 18 years of age or older. The giveaway ends May 1st, 2013, 11:00 PM CST. Entry into the giveaway implies your consent to its terms and conditions.

Disclaimer:

All information and products presented in this post has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, cure or treat any diseases.

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