Make Your Own Pit Paste

That's right, I'm pulling a full-on Martha. After I was diagnosed with breast cancer, we started paying seriously close attention to the ingredients in EVERYTHING—not just food, but lotions, shampoos, and yes, deodorants.

The least toxic deodorants were either ineffective or really expensive (or both). We tried just about everything, including going without—which, honestly, works some of the time, but on the days when it doesn't, well....

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After lots of trial and error, I finally found something that worked really well, and it didn't have any scary ingredients. Primal Pit Paste! All organic, made with shea butter, coconut oil, arrowroot powder, non-aluminum baking soda, and essential oils. The problem? It cost between $9 and $11 for a 2 oz. jar.

Being the frugal, problem solver that I am, I tried to figure out if I could make it myself for less.

Here is the recipe I found that comes closest:


INGREDIENTS:

3 Tbs. Shea Butter
2 Tbs. Coconut Oil
3 Tbs. Arrowroot Powder (or Organic Corn Starch)
2 Tbs. Baking Soda
10 drops essential oil (Lavender, Lemon Thyme, Calendula)


DIRECTIONS:

Put the shea butter and coconut oil in a glass bowl, jar, or measuring cup. Heat it in the microwave in 15 second increments until it is melted. (Or you could use the double boiler method.)

Mix in the arrowroot, baking soda, and essential oils until completely combined.

Put into a 4 oz. jar and allow to cool & solidify. You can pop it into the fridge to help it along.

This is a paste that you apply with your fingers. A little goes a long way, so 4 oz. may last you several months.

Cost breakdown:

Shea butter: $0.76
Coconut oil: $0.50
Arrowroot powder: $0.33 (or organic corn starch: $0.29)
Baking soda: $0.02
Essential oil: $0.50 (or you can make your own for pennies)

Total: $2.11 / 4 oz. -or- $1.06 / 2 oz. (vs. $11 / 2 oz.)

Savings: $10

What's great about it:

1. It lasts forever. I made a 4 oz batch 3 months ago and split it with my wife. We've barely put a dent in our respective 2 oz. jars. I expect 2 ounces will last us 6 or more months with regular use.
2. It works even on deodorant blow-out days (just reapply for a quick fix)
3. It doesn't have any harmful ingredients
4. It's really easy to make
5. It's super frugal

Additionally, it's Vegan.

Primal Pit Paste has a few other ingredients, but so far we've not really missed them. But if you wanted to include them, you could add:

• 1-2 tsp. Candelilla wax melted in with the Shea butter and Coconut oil
• A couple of drops of Vitamin E

The wax helps to stiffen up and extend the the lotion a bit, and the vitamin E just adds another element for soothing and healing sensitive skin.

Where to find the ingredients:

Arrowroot Powder can be found in the grocery store—sometimes with the spices, sometimes with the organic baking flours. (I'd forgo the small spice jar and look for arrowroot flour.) Bob's Red Mill sells it in 1 pound bags, but it might be cheaper to try to find it at your local health food store in their bulk apothecary section (usually near all the vitamins)—that way you don't have to buy a full pound, especially if you're only using a few tablespoons.

Baking Soda can be found in your local grocery store, but read the label to make sure it doesn't contain aluminum (good old Arm & Hammer is aluminum free, I can't say that about the generic brands though, so read the labels).

Candelilla wax (optional) can be purchased online and can run anywhere from $10 to $17 a pound.

Coconut Oil, these days can be found just about everywhere. I get mine at Costco when it's on sale. A big 64 ounce tub lasts me all year (especially now that I'm not cooking with the stuff). Go for organic if your budget allows.

Essential Oils are fairly ubiquitous these days. You can find them at the health food store, grocery stores, big box stores, or online. I don't have a favorite brand. I've used a variety and all have seemed to work well.

Shea Butter can be most easily found online. You want 100% Shea butter (no other ingredients, and watch out for 100% Shea butter soap—you do not want the soap). It can be raw or unrefined, which is how it is often sold online. Buying online will be your cheaper option, costing about $4 for 4 oz, or $10 for 1 lb., but if you're in a hurry, stores like Walmart and Target will have it in their Beauty sections—usually costing about $10 for 4 oz.

Vitamin E oil (optional) can be found just about anywhere—Target, Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, etc.— and can run anywhere from $4 to $12 for a 2.5 ounce bottle.