Finally! We are launching a section on the Alma Eko blog that we have been looking forward to. It has been on our minds for a long time, but it took us a while to get it started. Here it is!

We have called it 'Alma Eko's Concoctions' and in it, we are going to teach you recipes for homemade hygiene, cosmetic, and cleaning products. Always with natural ingredients.

We are starting this section in July, plastic-free month, and we think it's wonderful. Because when we make our own homemade products, we avoid consuming plastic packaging, reuse, and make the most of the resources available to us. It is one of the most sustainable actions there is.

WHY WE ARE STARTING THIS SECTION

If you have been following us for a while, you will know that we are strong advocates of self-production and self-consumption as part of a more sustainable lifestyle.

Does that go against our interests as an online store? Well, a little bit, to be honest. But the truth is that this section is here to help you get the most out of items you may have at home, that you may have bought elsewhere, but also products that we have in our store. Our priority is environmental care and responsible consumption, and we have to find a balance, even with an online business.

Marketing bombardment for decades has led us to believe that a different product is necessary for everything. But we can assure you, from our own experience, that this is not the case.

SAVE WITH SELF-PRODUCTION

If you make the switch and produce your own homemade products, you will save a significant amount of money over a year. A large bar of Marseille soap, a kilo of baking soda, a jar of shea butter can last you months, and with them, you can make different preparations that you can use for various purposes.

Even so, we know that with the pace of life we lead in this frantic society, finding the time to make your own products is not always easy. We encourage you to go little by little and, furthermore, we will propose the simplest possible recipes so you don't have to invest a lot of time.

The recipe we bring you today is a clear example. You can have it ready in a few minutes, and it will last for months.

HOMEMADE NATURAL DEODORANT RECIPE

For this recipe, we will only need three ingredients:

• 50 grams of coconut oil

The one we are using is of excellent quality. It is organic, bio-certified, cold-pressed, and comes from a fair trade project.

Coconut oil has antibacterial properties, which makes it ideal for use as a deodorant, as it is the proliferation and accumulation of bacteria that produces bad odor.

• 40 grams of baking soda

It will give consistency to the mixture, and its absorbent properties will make the moisture in the area disappear.

This ingredient may not be suitable for sensitive skin, but in combination with coconut oil, which is very moisturizing and nourishing, it balances the pH.

I have sensitive skin and have been using this deodorant for over 3 years without any problems. I encourage you to try it before ruling it out for this reason.

• 15 drops of essential tea tree oil or another one you like

I admit that tea tree oil has a rather strong and peculiar scent, but I like it. Furthermore, it has antibacterial properties, which, as we have already indicated, makes it perfect for making a deodorant. However, you can use the essential oil you prefer, the one you like for its scent and that gives you good results. If it is antibacterial, even better. You can use eucalyptus or lavender, for example.

The quantities of the first two ingredients are approximate. You can adjust them until you achieve the desired consistency. Additionally, you should keep in mind that coconut oil becomes liquid above 25 degrees Celsius, so the consistency of the deodorant may vary in summer and require a bit more baking soda.

STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE

STEP 1: If the coconut oil is not liquid, heat it in a bain-marie until it is.

STEP 2: Mix the coconut oil with the baking soda until you get a homogeneous mixture. Let it cool.

STEP 3: Once it has cooled down a bit, but without having solidified, add the drops of essential oil. It is better to include it when the mixture is not hot so it doesn't lose its properties. Mix and it's ready.

You've got it!

HOW TO USE IT AND MORE THINGS YOU'LL LIKE TO KNOW

Very little is needed, and it lasts a very long time. Spread it under your armpit and forget about it all day.

You'll notice that the texture is a bit grainy due to the baking soda. It might take a little getting used to that feeling at first, but over time it becomes unnoticeable. And, an important aspect, it doesn't leave residue or stains on clothes.

You should also know that this deodorant is not an antiperspirant, which makes it healthier for your body. Conventional deodorants, with aluminum salts, block pores to prevent sweating. This means that certain toxins we expel when we sweat remain inside our bodies. With natural deodorants, this doesn't happen. Toxins leave our bodies, and it is the natural ingredients that prevent bacteria from proliferating and causing bad odor.

Additionally, because it contains baking soda, it is an effective whitener for the underarm area. In my case, I always had dark spots in that area and didn't realize they were caused by deodorant until I definitively and permanently switched to this recipe, which I've been using for 3 years.

We hope you like this new section, that you are encouraged to try the recipe, and that you tell us how it went.

Last year, before inaugurating this section, we already proposed a concoction recipe: homemade balm with shea butter, coconut oil, and calendula. We encourage you to check it out too if you feel like making it. It's super easy!