Your Guide to Decoding Safer Deodorant
Alright, it’s high time that I’ve finally put some pen to paper and shared a little information about “natural” deodorants, how to transition to a safer option, and in a way demystify the whole sweating process in and of itself. I talk a lot about safer personal care products, but hands down one of the biggest questions I get or the most feedback centers around the fact that many of you have tried to switch to safer deodorant and you’ve had some trouble. Whether you still sweat (we’ll get to how this is normal and natural), your skin got irritated (everyone’s tolerance level for baking soda is different), or you feel like it didn’t do what you had hoped (let’s set some realistic expectations), you’ve got questions. And well, I hope I have some answers! Let’s read on to see if I can help!
First and foremost, I’ll be referring to safer deodorants in this post as “natural” from time to time, but jus be aware that we’re holding the term “natural” rather loosely here, but what we really mean is deodorants that are made using ingredients that are less likely to be an issue to human health. Branding and greenwashing aside, we will try to focus on the ingredients and options that I know that are truly more of a safer option and not just a marketing gimmick.
Natural deodorants are continuing to gain momentum and popularity in consumers mind which is amazing! We’re waking up to the fact that what we put on our bodies impacts our health, but what once were specialty items only available in few retail locations, online, or direct from the company, are now poised to grow by $150 million in the next four years! Just a few years ago, natural deodorant enthusiasts would have to go as far as to make their own, but now some of the largest retailers have multiple options on their shelves - which is a bonus for us consumers, but also can be a little confusing! We’re here to explain the process of sweating and hopefully clear up some confusion about safer options available to you. Let’s chat some science.
Why do we sweat?
The majority of the sweat we produce is designed to regulate our body temperature, regardless of how that body temp change occurs! Common reasons for fluctuating body temps include: temp changes coming from exercise, climate changes, emotions, or even spicy food. While sweating often seems like an inconvenience, our bodies were made to sweat, and IT’S A GOOD THING FRIEND. Reaching for anti-perspirants can actually inhibit your body’s natural way to regulate it’s temperature and process certain toxins - so stopping that process isn’t necessarily good for us!
What causes the stink?
To set the record straight, sweat alone doesn’t actually smell! When we find ourselves in a sweaty situation our body reacts by activating the eccrine and apocrine glands which don’t just produce water, but also salt, proteins, ammonia and urea that get mixed in by these glands depending on the type of sweat response. It’s these additional sweat additives that can lead to stinky pits; bacteria that naturally live on our skin and near hair follicles merge with these sweat additives and can continue to grow and stink in the warm and cozy nooks under your arms. YUM RIGHT?!
Why ditch conventional?
Let’s talk about some of the ingredients we can find in common conventional deodorants and antiperspirants and how we may want to go to some lengths to avoid them.
Aluminum:
We are meant to sweat! Conventional deodorants almost always have anti-perspirants in them to keep you from producing sweat. They achieve this by using aluminum-based ingredients that physically (as long as the deodorant is applied), block your pores and prevent sweat from coming through the surface. These aluminum-based ingredients, however, have brought up many concerns about the skin absorbing these compounds and affecting estrogen receptors of breast cells. While there is no direct link ‘yet’, studies have suggested that there is a strong need for further research. Something I’m not willing to risk! Know what else those antiperspirants do? They stain and discolor your shirts! It’s not the sweat doing that, it’s all of the bacteria mixing with the chemicals that are ruining your favorite shirts and leaving embarrassing stains - I think we can all agree that part is the PITS!
Triclosan:
This chemical is added to many care products, including deodorant, to reduce bateria, but it also has been shown to cause hormone disruption within the thyroid gland.
Fragrance:
Conventional deodorants also keep the smell away by dousing your pits in fragrances that just hide bad smells. Because of “trade secret” loopholes, companies are under no obligation to tell you what they’re using to make a scent - which means there could be more chemicals than we can actually read on the bottle. Because of this, fragrance is one of the #1 ingredients I avoid in my products when I can!
Why choose safer deodorant?
Natural is the way our bodies were designed to operate! By removing all of the chemicals, fragrances, and unknown ingredients and replacing them with lifestyle changes, natural ingredients, a little bit of patience and expectation management, you too can make the switch!
How to Prep
First of all, the most important step is to have patience! Ok, now that that’s out of the way, the absolute best way to start is to choose a few days where you’ll feel ok to not wear any deodorant at all. By setting these days aside, you’ll be able to give your body a chance to kick some of the ick that has been lingering in and on your skin for years! For the few days while you’re detoxing those pits, use a body scrub every time you shower to encourage the skin and follicles in that area to slough off. Then, a great additional step would be to wash with a detoxifying soap such as the Beautycounter Counter+ Charcoal Cleansing Bar or to use a detoxifying mask like the Beautycounter Counter+ Charcoal Mask.
What to expect during transition
No way around it; you’re probably going to stink a bit and that’s ok! You know what else is ok? To have wet pits! Remember, natural deodorants do not have antiperspirants, so your body will sweat like it’s supposed to and that’s ok too. Once you’ve fully transitioned into natural deodorant, while you may be a little more wet than you’re used to, it'll be wetness that will dry quickly and without staining and ruining your clothing.
Another thing to expect is that you may have to invest in a few options; making the switch to natural deodorant also involves some commitment. It’s such a personal journey! What works wonders for someone else may not work at all for you and vice versa, so you may have to try a few different brands and types before you settle on what works best for your body and needs.
What can cause possible reactions?
The most common issue that switchers experience is a rash in one or both of their underarms. This rash may come after only a few uses or even after a few weeks and if experienced, the deodorant that was used should be discontinued. This rash is often a reaction to the baking soda used in most natural deodorants; it is added to absorb smells in the same way you add a box of baking soda to your fridge to keep it fresh. If you find yourself experiencing a rash, discontinue use of the product immediately, go through the prep steps again, and then seek out a different product or brand that offer and low to no baking soda formula (this is often marketed as a sensitive skin option).
How to pick a natural deodorant
Now that “natural” beauty products are picking up steam and gaining popularity with the mainstream, many companies are jumping on board by changing their marketing strategy. One of these strategies is to “greenwash” their products by making them “seem” like they are more natural by confusing and misleading the consumer. The best way to check to see if the product is truly a better option is to check with the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This is SO easy to do with their app; so many products are already in their database so you can use their mobile app to scan a barcode and get the full breakdown of the ingredients and their risks. Product not in the app? You can either add it yourself and it’ll give you a breakdown once it knows all of the ingredients or you can just search each of the ingredients to see how they fair.
Another way to pick a great natural deodorant is to choose one to try from the list of ones I’ve heard some good feedback about (and some I’ve tried myself!)
Beautycounter
A new launch from my favorite safer beauty brand, the Beautycounter Clean Deo really focuses on the ingredients. The formula includes cornstarch and baking soda to absorb whiteness and help neutralize odor, coconut oil and shea butter which helps skin feel hydrated and smooth and candlelit wax condition and hydrate your skin. The Clean Deos all have clean, mild and really refreshing scents. There's Fresh Coconut, which is my personal favorite, because it smells like vacation, which I desperately need, and it’s a refreshing blend of tropical coconut sweet vanilla and sandalwood. There is also Soft Lavender, which is a soothing lavender set with a hint of vanilla, and Clean Rose which smells like a modern fresh cut rose with notes of geranium and pepper.
If you want to learn more about all of the Clean Deos we’re launching, you can visit my blog post here and take a quiz to find out what scent suits you best!
I’ve heard good things about Native but I was unable to use it due to a rash caused most likely by the level of baking soda in this particular formula. I do like that Native is aluminum and paraben free, as well as offers some plastic free options directly from their site, however, there response on “fragrance” feels a little less than straightforward. They are also an affordable and accessible option for many people.
I’ve also heard great things about Schmidt’s, however, this was one I was unable to use on my own pits due to a rash! I’ve recently seen they’ve come out with a baking soda free option so if you do have sensitive skin, you might want to try it! I like that they are more open and transparent with their fragrance use (they use something called Smartlabels), and they too are an affordable and accessible option for many.
There are many many more options out there for safer deodorants, so don’t be afraid to experiment and find which one works best for you and your unique body chemistry! Remember that sweating is a natural necessary body process, and that often times there can be a transition period as we switch from conventional fragrance laden antiperspirants to safer options that allow for our bodies to do their thing! Let me know if you have any questions and I can help you tackle this safer swap!