The job
PIT STOP is a waterless magnesium deodorant paste made for sensitive underarms, in an 85 g tin that lasts about three months. It leaves skin feeling soft with a dry, powdery finish.
How to use it
Scoop a pea-sized amount with a fingertip and hold it for a few seconds so it softens. Smooth a thin layer onto clean, dry underarms.
Use once a day and reapply as needed. Used daily, one 85 g tin lasts about three months.
Picked, infused and poured near Ottawa.
Every jar starts with a plant we grew or foraged ourselves. Evelyn forages and formulates. Mark runs the operation and is the product's hardest critic. Nothing ships until it's been tested to make sure it's safe, effective and meets Health Canada's cosmetic regulations.
Every ingredient, and why it's there
Underarm odour comes from bacteria breaking down sweat, not from sweat itself. Most natural deodorants handle odour with baking soda, which many people find irritating with daily use, and set the formula with beeswax, which can leave a tacky film or a hard wax that drags against hair and freshly shaved skin.
Magnesium hydroxide is a mild mineral that neutralizes odour. It barely dissolves in oil, so it works at the surface without the sting many people get from baking soda.
Shea (Butyrospermum parkii) butter is rich in stearic and oleic acids, which keep underarm skin soft and help the paste glide on.
Plantain (Plantago major), the broad-leaf weed that grows in nearly every lawn, is infused into fractionated coconut oil, which draws out its oil-soluble compounds and keeps the paste light.
Stearic acid firms the paste without beeswax. Kaolin clay and arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) powder absorb moisture at the surface and leave the dry, powdery finish.
Each scent uses its own blend of essential oils, listed below.
Good to know
- Made for underarms, but good for other swampy spots.
- 85 g tin. Lasts about three months with daily use.
- This is a deodorant, not an antiperspirant. It handles odour; you will still sweat.
- Made without baking soda or beeswax.
- All scents contain essential oils.
- Patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
- Do not apply to broken skin.
- For external use only.
- Avoid eyes and mucous membranes.
- Discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Questions people ask
Is PIT STOP an antiperspirant?
No. It's a deodorant. It handles odour and leaves a dry, powdery finish, but it doesn't block sweat.
Why a paste and not a stick?
Sticks need beeswax or another hard wax to hold their shape. Leaving out the beeswax is what keeps PIT STOP from feeling tacky.
How much should I use?
About a pea-sized amount per underarm. A thin layer works better than a thick one.
How long does a tin last?
About three months with daily use. The 85 g tin holds more than most deodorant sticks, and a thin layer goes a long way.
I'm switching from an antiperspirant. What should I expect?
You may notice more sweat for the first week or two, because your sweat glands are no longer being blocked. That's normal.
Will it mark my clothes?
A thin layer, fully rubbed in, shouldn't. Too much shea butter can leave marks on dark fabric, so start small.
Which scent should I choose?
Rose & Lotus for soft florals, Sandalwood & Patchouli for warm and earthy, Bergamot, Lime & Ginger for bright citrus, or Tea Tree & Sage for a clean herbal scent.
Is it suitable for sensitive skin?
It's made without baking soda, which is the most common reason natural deodorants irritate. All four scents contain essential oils, so patch test first if your skin reacts easily.