the UGC: While We're on the Subject...

While We're on the Subject...
October 02, 2008

Since we're on the subject of my hippie tendencies, let me tell you about my adventures with some aluminum-free deodorant.

(Oh, and by the way, if anyone is getting offended by my obsessive use of the word hippie, I apologize. I mean it in the most affectionate way possible. Some of my dearest friends and favorite people ever are of the hippie ilk. BUT I DIGRESS.)

So I was running low on my old stand-by (some form of Dove deodorant) and we were at the fancy pharmacy (which just recently closed its store near me, Wah!) and decided I'd try some Tom's of Maine Sensitive Skin Deodorant. I've been trying to buy products that are a bit more natural lately, and this seemed to fit the bill.

The first positive I noticed was no streaky white marks on my black clothing. I know Dove CLAIMS to go on clear, but if I put a shirt on too soon after applying some, I get streaks. The Tom's of Maine stuff isn't white, and it's not grainy like the dove is, it's more smooth. Almost like the consistency of a bar of glycerin soap. It was a little weird to get used to, but not bad. It even smells nice when I put it on, and it had been doing a pretty okay job not making me smell. After a couple of weeks, I was pretty pleased.

And then last Friday happened.

It had been kind of a weird day. The day before had been stressful at work, and it sort of resulted in a lunch meeting to pow wow with a couple of other people on my team. I was nervous. I was going to have to talk about my feelings, and there might be some conflict, and my stomach was doing flips. And I was sweating. Of course, all my fretting was for nothing because everything was fine once we started talking, this however did not change the fact that I was sweating.

Fast forward a couple of hours where I had plans to meet some lovely ladies for dinner. Ladies who I know online, but had never met in person. I'm getting more and more used to doing that sort of thing, but still. A little nervous. It didn't help that I left work late, and ended up getting to the restaurant late, but it was okay (more sweating). Also, it was a bit warmer that day than it had been (even MORE sweating). Dinner was, of course, lovely. I had a fabulous time chatting and eating, and after the first 5 minutes or so, wasn't nervous at all. This however did not change the fact that I had been sweating. A LOT. At one point I reached into my bag to search for some business cards, and caught a whiff of something that smelled the exact opposite of pretty. And it took me a minute before I realized...IT WAS ME.

TOM'S OF MAIN DEODORANT FAIL.

I spent the rest of dinner keeping my arms secured to my sides for fear that anyone else might be subjected to my stank (my sincerest apologies to my dining companions). So yeah. The deodorant adventure? Not going all that well. However, I haven't stopped using it yet. On days when I'm not sweating profusely, it works just fine. However, I think I might have to try the "Long Lasting Care" formula. If not for my sake, for the sake of those around me.

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

$\"Pollen\"$ \n\n\nSince we're on the subject of my hippie tendencies, let me tell you about my adventures with some aluminum-free deodorant. \n\n(Oh, and by the way, if anyone is getting offended by my obsessive use of the word hippie, I apologize. I mean it in the most affectionate way possible. Some of my dearest friends and favorite people ever are of the hippie ilk. BUT I DIGRESS.)\n\nSo I was running low on my old stand-by (some form of Dove deodorant) and we were at the fancy pharmacy (which just recently closed its store near me, Wah!) and decided I'd try some Tom's of Maine Sensitive Skin Deodorant. I've been trying to buy products that are a bit more natural lately, and this seemed to fit the bill.\n\nThe first positive I noticed was no streaky white marks on my black clothing. I know Dove CLAIMS to go on clear, but if I put a shirt on too soon after applying some, I get streaks. The Tom's of Maine stuff isn't white, and it's not grainy like the dove is, it's more smooth. Almost like the consistency of a bar of glycerin soap. It was a little weird to get used to, but not bad. It even smells nice when I put it on, and it had been doing a pretty okay job not making me smell. After a couple of weeks, I was pretty pleased. \n\nAnd then last Friday happened.\n\nIt had been kind of a weird day. The day before had been stressful at work, and it sort of resulted in a lunch meeting to pow wow with a couple of other people on my team. I was nervous. I was going to have to talk about my feelings, and there might be some conflict, and my stomach was doing flips. And I was sweating. Of course, all my fretting was for nothing because everything was fine once we started talking, this however did not change the fact that I was sweating.\n\nFast forward a couple of hours where I had plans to meet some lovely ladies for dinner. Ladies who I know online, but had never met in person. I'm getting more and more used to doing that sort of thing, but still. A little nervous. It didn't help that I left work late, and ended up getting to the restaurant late, but it was okay (more sweating). Also, it was a bit warmer that day than it had been (even MORE sweating). Dinner was, of course, lovely. I had a fabulous time chatting and eating, and after the first 5 minutes or so, wasn't nervous at all. This however did not change the fact that I had been sweating. A LOT. At one point I reached into my bag to search for some business cards, and caught a whiff of something that smelled the exact opposite of pretty. And it took me a minute before I realized...IT WAS ME.\n\nTOM'S OF MAIN DEODORANT FAIL.\n\nI spent the rest of dinner keeping my arms secured to my sides for fear that anyone else might be subjected to my stank (my sincerest apologies to my dining companions). So yeah. The deodorant adventure? Not going all that well. However, I haven't stopped using it yet. On days when I'm not sweating profusely, it works just fine. However, I think I might have to try the \"Long Lasting Care\" formula. If not for my sake, for the sake of those around me. \n\nI'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

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