I’m going to get a little personal. For a sweaty Betty like me, who works out HARD but also sweats while sitting in the shade on a warmer day, my priority has always been to find a deodorant that has some antiperspirant properties. Most of my post-pubescent life was spent in the search of something that will help me become less (or not at all!) self-conscious about my body odour. There was a point in my life where I was stealing my dad’s deodorant because I thought that a men’s version would be of super-extra strength!

Flash forward to adulthood and I pretty much purchased whatever was on sale, mostly men’s deodorant as well, because I found that even antiperspirants would not stop my unladylike underarm sweat from soaking through any and all of my clothes so I figured that I would maybe not look refreshed, but I would definitely not stink! So, when even the “clinical strength” stuff was not giving me the results and more and more studies about the yucky chemicals in those deodorants/antiperspirants showed how harmful they can be, and my mom having been a breast cancer survivor, it was time to make a change to the natural stuff.

In 2016 I did a natural deodorant challenge where I used a roll-on version from a very reputable Canadian company for 60 days. Even though my sweatiest sweat sessions, the stuff I used delivered in stink-free freshness, but I did find myself having to reapply several times a day. I was completely sold on the natural stuff and have not purchased a synthetic chemical, and potentially harmful, deodorant for 2 years but did not want to keep reapplying the roll-on often (to be clear, the roll-on stuff works amazingly for my younger sister and her fiancée, it just is no match for my sweat glands!). I was on the search for something a little bit “hard-core”. That is when I found routine cream.

You know how they say that things come to you if you are on the same frequency as them? Well, one day I was scrolling through my Instagram feed and found that one of the trainers that I follow had very nice things to say about this stuff. So I went out looking for it locally. When I found it I knew I had found what I was looking for!

routine. Is a Canadian company (huge plus!) started by sisters Neige and Pippa. Using all natural, ethically sourced ingredients they have created a formula that just works! I purchased a full-sized jar of the Like a Boss because I read on their FAQ’s that it is great for super stinky and heavy sweat. I loved it! The scent is not overpowering and I did feel a bit dryer than with the roll-on, plus I did not need to reapply so often, just as I normally would post-workout. I did realize that the formula I purchased contained baking soda and it sometimes irritated my underarms, not enough to stop using it, just enough to feel a bit uncomfortable. The jar lasted me about 5 months of regular use and when I purchased again, on their website this time, I bought a formula, called A Girl Named Sue, that contained magnesium instead of baking soda plus a mini kit of several baking soda-free scents (and their great customer service sent me an extra mini A Girl Named Sue with my order!), so far it has been 3 months and I am happy as a clam! I love the fact that they have formulas for everybody. Vegan? They have several formulas for you. Sensitive skin? Try their formulas with magnesium or activated charcoal instead of baking soda. Super sweaty? Try their formulas with clay to help absorb. Want a more feminine scent? They have scents for you. Want something more manly or woodsy? Of course they have something for you. Are you sensitive to smells? They do have unscented formulas, which you can also add your own essential oils to if you want. Can’t decide? They have mini kits of jars that can last 2-3 weeks (which, by the way, are super awesome for traveling!). I also just discovered that you are able to refill your empty jar with SUPERSTAR, The Curator, and Like a Boss at The Soap Dispensary in Vancouver so if you are super environmentally-no-waste conscious, it is a perfect product for you too!

routine. Is available online at www.routinecream.com and at several shops around town in the USA and Canada and you can look up your location on their site to see if you can find it locally. Shipping is free if you spend $50 or more when buying online. A full sized jar, which lasts from 3 to 6 months, is less than $30, and a mini jar is $4.99. You can also find mini-kits with 5 mini jars for $15 or 12 mini jars for $42.99 (a 3-6 month supply of minis). So far, Like a Boss has been amazing but I’m very much loving the A Girl Named Sue scent, although I do have several minis that I bought to carry for my daily post-gym routine so I have yet to try all of the magnesium scents.

This product has completely tamed my sweat glands and I can say, with confidence, that I will never be post-workout stinky again!