RUDDELL

Borrowing from Mandarin, the name Bai-li is not only a pun on DePew’s name but evokes the essence of her product: pure-beautiful, made with the simplest ingredients and authentic intention.

“I wanted people to be able to pronounce and understand every ingredient,” DePew says. The list is in the single digits, devised through trial and error. For months, DePew was her own guinea pig, casting aside common deodorant go-tos like baking soda when they resulted in a rash. Less-staunch seekers might have given in and gone back to pharmacy fallbacks, but not her. With her formula perfected, DePew began to source bulk ingredients from a variety of brands that share her dedication to sustainable practices.

“Every ingredient has its own unique odorfighting qualities, but I would say the biggest odor blocker in Bai-li is magnesium hydroxide, which is a naturally occurring salt in our Earth!”

Armpit Ecology

So odor is outdone, but what about perspiration? Well, slippery pits are part of life. “I’m a big advocate for sweating, even though it may be uncomfortable,” DePew says. “It’s your body’s way of ridding itself of toxins. It’s an important bodily function which is why antiperspirants are so bad for you.”

So many factors play a role in this bodily function, like what we eat, our stress and activity levels throughout the day, and even the ecosystem under our arms. That’s why Bai-li offers another function that other deodorants don’t: probiotics. When DePew learned that our underarms have their own microbiome, she was fascinated. And when you’re making your own deodorant, you can prioritize whatever you want. Bai-li’s probiotics seek to act on the balance of bacteria that can make a difference in how you smell.

“Probiotics help eliminate the bad odor-causing bacteria, while feeding the good bacteria,” she says. “I tell everyone you may experience a detox period after switching to a natural deodorant because your microbiome needs to recalibrate and rid itself from the chemicals and toxins that are used in traditional antiperspirants. Just give yourself time and your body will balance itself back out.”

For luscious lips, well-tended underarms and the satisfaction of alignment with a local, lovely brand, look for Bai-li at Kimberton Whole Foods locations, Easton’s FD Market and online.

BY DAISY WILLIS