Bear's Beauty & Skincare Natural Deodorant Scent Menue with Descriptions

 

Not only do we offer a host of natural deodorants in several strengths and package styles; we also have a ton of scent options. 

Once you choose your scent, come back up here and clock one of these links to head back to the shop. 

 Follow this link to shop with me and my shop : BearsBeautySkincare.com

or the Etsy shop : BearsBeauty.etsy.com

Choosing a natural deodorant can be FUN! First, you choose your package (tube) style, then your strength, and finally choose your scent from a range of essential oils and plant-based fragrance oils!

Three steps to the perfect Natural & Coconut/Palm-Free Natural Deodorant!

Using natural deodorant shouldn't mean that you smell like a Christmas tree or your aunt who went to Woodstock (unless you want to.) So, we also offer clean and elevated scents like vegan Milk and Honey or vegan Honeyed Apricot.

Below I talk about each blend and whom it might be most ideal for. If you have trouble with choosing scents over the internet, keep in mind these are true scents, so our grapefruit comes right from the peel...it smells just like the grapefruit at your grocery store. These are not clever names that hide thirty scent notes. Because we use the true botanicals, you smell what nature created.

Essential Oils are used at what is considered "safe" dilution levels. That said, everyone is different, so always patch test new product before full application. I am, allergic to sweet potatoes, and recently they are using purple sweet potato and purple sweet potatoes in many foods and cosmetics.  Natural does not mean safe for everyone. I use caution in my choices of essential oils. I find a healthy respect of the natural ingredients needed to work with them, but I have done all that work; so all you need to do is patch test as a double check.

Why Hormone Friendly and Coconut-Free Matters with Skincare & The Body Burden

 We have all heard that our skin is our largest organ at this point, but have you ever considered something called your body burden

I love this excerpt from Science Direct and the book linked below. (Zero Affiliation) 

"Body burden is the term for the concentration (or amount) of chemical in the body at any given time, and the biological half-life of a chemical is the time required to reduce the concentration of the chemical in the body by one-half, in the absence of further intake. Many pesticides are water soluble and easily excreted, or are readily metabolized to more water-soluble compounds that are easily excreted. Lipophilic pesticides, such as the organochlorines, however, are stored in fat and are not easily removed from the body, and most people around the world carry a low body burden of organochlorine pesticides (Burgaz et al., 1994; Durham, 1969; Zatz, 1972). Repeated exposure to a chemical may result in cumulative storage and an increased body burden. If the interval between exposures is long relative to the biological half-life of the chemical, all or most of it will be removed from the body prior to subsequent exposure, and it is unlikely that the chemical will accumulate. If the interval between exposures is short relative to the biological half-life, however, there will be a residual body burden from the first exposure when the second exposure occurs, and so on, such that the chemical accumulates in the body."

 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/body-burden

 

"The body burden of a toxic substance is said to be the amount of the substance in the human body and represents the difference between cumulative absorption and excretion of the substance. Measuring body burdens provides a precise individual measurement of exposure to a toxin. Such measurements are useful in epidemiologic risk assessments and provide a means of relating exposure to absorption. The principles underlying measuring body burdens were discussed. When absorbed, toxins are usually distributed across several physiologically distinct compartments. The compartments are defined by the dynamic behavior of the toxin contained within them and do not necessarily correspond to specific anatomical sites. Lead (7439921) and polybrominated-biphenyl (59536651) exposures were discussed as examples of body burden measurements. Limitations of body burden measurements were described. Body burden measurements generally are not very useful in providing information on short term changes in exposure. The body burden does not respond rapidly to fluctuations in exposure except in the case of very rapidly excreted toxins. An understanding of the toxicokinetics of absorbed materials is necessary in order to use body burden measurements in the most effective manner. Ethical aspects of body burden measurements were discussed. Because measuring body burdens may tend to label individuals as being at increased risk of disease, body burden measurements should be coupled with environmental exposure measurements. Measuring body burdens of individuals in the absence of environmental exposure measurements is considered unethical"

 - https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nioshtic-2/00173360.html  

 

If you are still with me, you have a good idea of what the body burden is (the accumulation of chemicals and pesticides in the body, specifically fat, and how long that takes to clear the system is directly impacted by exposure, having a cumulative effect.) As a side note, all of these are really great links and references to share when someone asks about why its worth paying extra for Organic, USDA Organic, Organically Grown, or to grow your own food and medicine. 

You are also probably wondering what this has to do with skincare, this is a recent study done by the EWG, Environmental Working Group, and it speaks to one of my main concerns. 

In a study spearheaded by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in collaboration with Commonweal, researchers at two major laboratories found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood from 10 babies born in August and September of 2004 in U.S. hospitals. Tests revealed a total of 287 chemicals in the group. The umbilical cord blood of these 10 children, collected by Red Cross after the cord was cut, harbored pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage.

- https://www.ewg.org/research/body-burden-pollution-newborns 

 I know, a lot of quotes from outside sources, but I like empirical evidence. I love old wisdom, like how spit and tobacco pulls out a bee stinger, but I also like medical studies. So, why am I as a skincare formulator and herbalist concerned about chemicals in a baby's umbilical cord? Why do I think you should be as well? I think the most logical place to start is to ask the question of why a newborn baby has 287 chemicals in their system at birth? If the body burden refers to the accumulation over time and this is our starting point, what is happening to our bodies as a result?

This means that the mothers have this exposure while pregnant or that their existing toxin load is so high that it inherently transfers through the blood to baby. If you then add a petroleum derived baby oil and talc based baby powder with artificial fragrance and corn allergens that are so GMO now they don't need pesticide; you have a recipe for disaster. Sick babies, sick kids, sick teens, and more sick adults. If you further combine this body burden from birth with things like parabens, hormone disruptors, and artificial fragrances...it becomes very very clear why everything you put on or in your body matters. 

When my Grandpa passed away in 2007 from Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, I started looking into the chemicals in our food, skincare, and general environment I was scared of what my future would look like. I started cutting out things like fragrance and beauty products. I worked in a commercial salon and quickly noticed that my migraines happened there, when I was exposed to all the products; more alarming, I noticed the other women I worked with ALL had similar issues. I eventually quit that job for the sake of my health and within a month my migraines were centered exclusively around my moon cycle, and no longer a daily occurrence. This so drastically changed my quality of life that I kept digging and started making my own homemade skincare.

Not only did my headaches all but disappear, but my acne and even my body acne had started to improve. I wanted to understand the ingredients in my products so I hopped online and started digging. I researched the chemistry and the connection between barrier function and overall health, At the same time I realized my acne prone and sensitive skin was not going to tolerate coconut ingredients, unfortunate since 99% of natural products have coconut or coconut based emulsifiers (E-Wax, Ceteryl Alcohol). I started making my own recipes coconut and palm free and the rest was history. 

As I learned more about formulation and got into the skincare manufacturing side of things, I understood more about what products the market really needed. A natural deodorant was one of my first formulas. Your lymphatic system is integral in detoxifying your system. Typical commercial deodorant uses aluminum or alum salts to stop you from sweating, keeping all the things your body is trying to detoxify via your sweat trapped in your armpits. This makes it difficult for your body to reduce the body burden via that pathway. It also further adds to it with chemicals and fragrances on your skin being absorbed. 

 Our deodorant has been our cornerstone product, quite by accident. I was really into makeup and was initially much more interested in a makeup line, but I soon saw need in the sensitive skin realm for something different. 

Coconut has a tendency to clog pores, basically rated an 80% likelihood of clogging your pores (4 of 5 on the comedogenic scale.) This goes for most coconut derived ingredients as well, especially emulsifying wax. I searched for products that were free from coconut and it's derivatives to no avail. It was almost impossible to find products that met my quality standards, that weren't $40 for a stick of deodorant, and that wouldn't break me out. Even now, ten years after we started, its almost impossible to find a coconut free natural deodorant. I make one and it is great.

I think a lot of formulators have the best of intentions and use really great ingredients, but miss the mark when it comes to naturally occurring hormone disruptors in things like essential oils and even naturally fragrances. I use only essential oils, butters, and oils that have a good track record of not causing further hormone disruption.

What this means for you is that you can trust that my products won't worsen skin barrier concerns like eczema and psoriasis, won't clog pores or break you out, and won't cause lasting damage to your body or add to your body burden. If you are over 30 and still struggling with acne, this means you can soothe your breakouts and balance your skin without stripping it and causing dehydration. I actually make an AHA + BHA butter that is EPIC for mature acne and body breakouts.

We are in the process of planning a spring rebrand and release of some updated photos, labels, and products! 

I will be doing a personal update blog soon, Thank you for all of you who follow us!

Jerra

 

 

Old Blog Posts

bearsbeauty.blogspot.com

Bear's Beauty's Backstory Part 1 & 2

September 25, 2013 The Back Story - Part 1 - How I became a Green Beauty Advocate Like most little girls, I was fascinated with beauty products and cosmetics from a very young age. As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure there are pictures of a three year old Jerra in her Grandma's closet covered in red lipstick and Emeraude Perfume. I loved all things colorful, glittery, shiny, and girly! Unlike many other little girls, I also had a Grandfather who was a carpenter. He taught me to play outside, love nature, and get my hands dirty with hard work instead of taking short cuts. My Mother was also somewhat of a Hippie in her own right. She taught me about Nature's healing power, the way of herbs, Native American Beliefs and Tradition, as well as surrounded me with medical terms and information (She is an R.N. by trade.) I am sure through the course of this blog I will expound on all of those subjects and people a bit more, maybe even share some stories, but not right now. Through grade school and high school, I continued to love make-up and cosmetics. I wanted the newest lip gloss with the special plumping spheres and micro-glitter, even if it cost me a whole month's allowance. I had buckets of lip gloss, lip stick, eye shadow, foundation, lotions, perfumes, glitter, shampoo, and anything else you can think of in the world of beauty. I read every bottle, the descriptions, ingredients, product claims, and then would watch beauty infomercials and advertisements to glean even more beauty knowledge. I struggled through high school and even into my college years with sensitive skin. I had acne all over my face and back. I was forever getting rashes, dry skin, or even dandruff. I was also forever buying the next product claiming to have all of the answers for my beauty woes. The buckets of products and money spent on them continued to rack up, but I saw very little improvement in my skin or hair for more than a few uses of any product. I learned my way around the make-up world. I read every article I could find on hot new products. I loved QVC and "Friday Night Beauty." It was a whole show dedicated to selling the newest products from some of my favorite beauty heavy-hitters. I learned how to apply make-up from Bobbie Brown and Adrian. I read books about how to use make-up to cover flaws and blemishes. I became a beauty "Guru" in my own circles. I even did Theater make-up for most of my high school plays. I eventually ended up in Cosmetology School. September 25, 2013 Part 2 In Cosmetology School I learned the chemicals involved in the beauty world. I learned about hair, make-up, hair color, waxing, skin care, and cosmetics. I loved the beautiful colors I could change my usually blonde locks into. I learned about the skin and how it worked. Eventually I began to wonder about what effect the chemicals might be having on people. I still struggled with horrible breakouts, painfully dry scalp, and constant rashes. No matter how close to natural a product claimed to be, I still suffered. I also had horrible migraines on a daily basis, and was taking up to 15 Excedrin a day to combat them. My Mother gave me a book that opened my eyes to what was going on in the salon, with the chemicals, and in my own body. The book is called "The Green Beauty Guide," by Julie Gabriel. In this book, Julie, a former Beauty Magazine editor, writes about the beauty indussty as well as her own journey into green beauty. What really struck me was her list of 100 Toxic Cosmetic ingriedients. I am going to paste it in here. I suggest you grab your baby shampoo, lotion, and facewash and check out the ingriedients list. What will scare you the most is not that they are in one product, but just how many there are in every product. Over time, these checmicals build up in your Lymph system, near your Lymphnodes, and eventually can cause tumors or worse. They have even found "Triclosan," a common hand sanitizer and soap addative, in breast cancer tumors! http://thegreenbeautyguide.com/100-ingredients-to-avoid-download/ Calcium Fluoride – neurotoxic to humans; leads to bone weakness; causes birth abnormalities and depression in animals. Ceteareth (with any numeral following it) - unsafe for use on broken skin; eye and lung irritant; may be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane. Cetrimonium Chloride - skin and eye sensitizer that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering; caused cell mutations in animal studies. Cetyl alcohol - skin and eye irritant in humans. Cetrimonium Chloride – can cause itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin; caused lung cancer in animals. Chloroacetamide - strong skin, eye, and lung irritant; toxic if inhaled; causes paralysis, goiter, and birth defects in animals; banned in Canada. Coal Tar – known human carcinogen; causes lung and urinary tract cancer; potent skin irritant; causes multiple cancers in animals; banned in most countries including Canada and European Union; still used in anti-dandruff shampoos in the US and the U.K. Cocamide DEA (ethanolamide of coconut acid) – strong human skin toxicant and suspected carcinogen; causes irritation of skin, eyes, and lungs in humans; causes liver and bladder cancer in animals.

Welcome!

 Bear's Beauty started in 2013 on Etsy in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia in a house with no AC in the middle of summer. Over the past few years my life changed drastically and that lack of stability in the world in general and in my own life, made it tough to grow the brand in the way I envisioned. I struggled with long haul Covid and mold toxicity, forcing me to lean into learning more about herbalism, natural medicine, and ways of supporting the bodies natural immunity and detoxification. 

I started Bear's Beauty originally seeking products that would soothe and not irritate my sensitive, acne prone skin. I wanted products that were beyond Organic, but edible and didn't cause hormone disruption or contain even essential oils that could cause harm or build up in the body. I slowly honed the brand to be vegan, gluten free, coconut free, and even free of emulsifiers. It caters to the most sensitive skin, but works for everyone. Over the last several years, I have created over 250 recipes from scratch that are beyond clean and can't be compared to anything on the market. The thing is, I don't need that many products and I don't want to sell you that many products. 

I have been selling exclusively on Etsy for most of the last ten years, going with the flow of the marketplace's changes and shifts over the years. Without going into detail, this has really shaped the offerings I have and has limited what I can say in my listings. They also read my emails, which for whatever reason, feels invasive. I will always sell my deodorant and a few items over on Etsy, but moving forward will be launching new items and hosting my full collection at a lower price over on bearsbeautyskincare.com. This website is hosted outside of Etsy and will be unaffected by changes, so you can always find your favorite products in stock directly from me. 

If you have questions, please email me bearsbeauty@yahoo.com. 

I do consultations for skin concerns as well as custom work.