plenty Issue 14 Feb/Mar 2007 | Page 81

CHEAT SHEET

PlentyLabs: Sweat Equity

Since I discovered the joys of smelling like Teen Spirit, I’ ve been a slave to traditional antiperspirants. But when I heard they might cause serious health problems, I did some research. Some reports claim parabens( preservatives in some deodorants) have been found in breast tumors, but a link to cancer has never been proven. The rumor that aluminum
( another common ingredient) causes Alzheimer’ s disease is also unsubstantiated. Still, I decided to give natural deodorants a whirl. These chemical-free formulas won’ t keep you dry all day, but they do have their perks— they’ re known to be gentler on the skin, and scents from plants beat the heck out of abrasive chemical smells.— Kiera Butler
Nature’ s Gate Organics Lemongrass & Clary Sage Deodorant $ 4.40, 1.7 oz. shopnatural. com Accent on the lemongrass. This deodorant’ s strong, citrus-y smell is refreshing, and it’ s 70 percent certifi ed organic to boot. It can be a little sticky, especially if you apply it fresh out of the shower, so it’ s best to dry off fi rst.
Kiss My Face Active Enzyme Scented Deodorant $ 3.49, 2.48 oz. nationalsupplementcenter. com This deodorant boasts a vegetable enzyme that neutralizes odors, and it contains baking soda and clay to absorb perspiration. One caveat: If fl owery isn’ t your thing, this one might not be for you, since its scent is almost like perfume.
Jason Apricot Deodorant Stick $ 5.41, 2.5 oz. jason-natural. com Apricot might seem like a strange scent for a deodorant, but it’ s actually quite pleasant. It does tend to leave some residue on shirts, but its endurance is excellent— the fruity fragrance typically lasts all day.
Earth Science Liken Natural Deodorant $ 5.95, 2.5 oz. shopearthessentials. com Calendula, sage, goldenseal, ginger, coriander, and lichen plant give this deodorant its clean, subtle scent. It feels smooth and moisturizing going on, and despite its opaque white color, it doesn’ t streak.
Tom’ s of Maine Calendula Natural Deodorant Stick $ 3.29, 2.25 oz. vitacost. com An old standby, Tom’ s deodorant is also most widely available of the bunch— it’ s sold at most mainstream drugstores. Although its scent doesn’ t have the staying power of some of the other deodorants, a touchup works wonders.

Dilemma: Got a Six-Pack and Nothing to Do?

Q: I’ ve always heard that we should cut up our plastic six-pack rings into tiny bits so that they don’ t strangle ocean wildlife if they get washed out to sea. Is this still true? Wouldn’ t the six-pack holders wind up in a landfill instead of the ocean?
A: It’ s true that many six-pack rings do end up in landfills, but that doesn’ t mean they won’ t make it to the ocean eventually. In fact, 80 percent of marine debris comes from land- based sources like sewer overflows and landfills. Plastics pose problems for sea life because they aren’ t biodegradable, often remaining in oceans for years at a time, and six-pack rings are especially troublesome because of their stringy shape. Millions of birds, turtles, and fish ingest or become entangled in debris each year, and animals ensnared in six-pack holders and other garbage often drown or lose limbs. Many plastics also contain toxic chemicals that cause reproductive failure, starvation, infection, or even death if they’ re eaten. Plus, they also harm habitats like coral reefs and seagrass beds.
Obviously, cutting up the rings is just one small step toward protecting sea life. But it’ s still worth doing.( The EPA recommends it, too.) And if snipping up the detritus from your six-pack of Blatz strikes you as too insignificant an effort, consider additional steps like reducing waste by reusing and recycling, choosing products with minimal amounts of packaging, or participating in beach cleanup projects.
plentymag. com Feb / Mar / 07 | 79