“Which natural deodorant should I try next? None of them have worked for me! UGH.”  

I have heard this so many times and it has been one of the most frustrating and hardest products to replace.  I myself have felt the frustration of switching from one natural deodorant to the next.

In the midst of my frustration I grabbed a Secret deodorant because there was NO WAY I was going to stink at my sister’s wedding, right?!  Right.  But finally, I have found one that works for me.

But honestly, natural deodorant did not work right away.  WHY? Because my body had to detox the chemicals and all the nasties that were in my mainstream deodorant before the natural one worked.  So my first word of advice is to hang in there!  Everyone is different, but eventually, you will find the one that works for you and your body will thank you 🙂

SO WHAT’S WRONG WITH MAINSTREAM DEODORANT?

Deodorant is something that we put on ourselves DAILY.  We rely on it to smell good and most of all, to avoid the embarrassment of having the stankiest B.O. in the room.  However, the cost of embarrassment is substantially less than the harmful effects of wearing mainstream deodorant. A recent poll of over 500 parents revealed that approximately 50% of children ages 4 to 11 are using deodorant by age 11. And with less than half of parents aware of the possible side effects, more education needs to be done.  Some of the main ingredients to be concerned about are parabens, aluminum, propylene glycol.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF THESE NASTIES?

PARABENS: Because of the preservative qualities of parabens, it is hard to find products without them as they are cheap, effective, and help products maintain their quality for long periods of time.   It has not been proven that parabens are harmful, however, parabens have been correlated to breast cancer, anaphylaxis, and endocrine misfunction (metabolism, thyroid, reproduction, etc).  So this ingredient is more on the “better safe than sorry” and “use at your own risk” list.

ALUMINUM: Can be found in deodorants, processed or frozen foods, antacids, aluminum cookware, etc.  The most prevalent effects of aluminum absorption have been learning and behavioral deficits. There have also been several studies showing how aluminum wreaks havoc on your brain.  Aluminum has been linked to loss of memory, concentration, motor coordination, and Alzheimers.

PROPYLENE GLYCOL: Also known as anti-freeze.  This is an ingredient in many deodorants, styling gels, sunscreens, moisturizers, body sprays, lip glosses, baby wipes, bubble bath, etc. The possible effects are irritation to the skin, eyes, or lungs as well as organ system toxicity. 

FRAGRANCE: Fragrances such as flowers and herbs may not be harmful, however, the “fragrance” that you see listed as an ingredient in your deodorants, perfumes, detergents, and pesticides is just a synonym for numerous harmful chemicals that are listed on the EPA’s Hazardous Waste List.  I know…whaaaat?!  Unlike parabens, fragrances will build up in your body’s fatty tissue.  These chemicals have been linked to allergic reactions, cancer, kidney and liver failure, central nervous system disorders, birth defects, etc.

HOW DO I MAKE THE SWITCH?

1. Detox Your Pits: After years of wearing mainstream deodorant, multiple chemicals have built up in your system and need to be released.  Here is a great article on how to detox your armpits.  It involves a 3-ingredient mix of 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, and 2 teaspoons of water. Mix and spread the mixture over your armpits and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Wash away and repeat daily as needed.  You can also assist the detox process by exercising and sweating the toxins out of your body.  Don’t be afraid to sweat and have your armpits get wet.  This is good, this is what your body is meant to do 🙂
2. Clean Up Your Diet: Basically, you are what you eat.  So choose veggies instead of chips, fruit instead of Sour Patch Kids, and increase your water intake.
3. Be Gentle: As your armpits are detoxing, they can be prone to irritation and, therefore, you should be gentle while shaving.  Let your underarms adjust and do not apply deodorant right after a shave as this can cause stinging and irritation.
4. Stick With It: Deodorant is not a one-size-fits-all product.  Give your body time to detox and feel free to play around with a few different deodorants.  You will find your deodorant, just stick with it!

HERE’S A FEW PLACES TO START

• Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant (my favorite!): $9.99 

  Ingredients

  Maranta arundinacea (arrowroot) powder Cocos Nucifera (coconut) Oil Euphorbia Cerifera (candelilla) Wax Butyrospermum parkii (shea butter) Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (fractionated coconut oil) Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil Magnesium hydroxide Carbo activatus (activated charcoal) Natural fragrance Tocopherol (vitamin E; sunflower-derived)
• Primal Pit Paste: $8.95 

  Sample Ingredients

  Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Ylang Ylang Essential Oil, Jasmine Essential Oil, Gardenia Essential Oil, Bergamot Essential Oil, Non-GMO Vitamin E derived 100% from Sunflowers
• Primally Pure Sensitive Deodorant: $12 

  Ingredients:

  Organic Arrowroot Powder, *Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Tallow from Grass-Fed Cows, Organic Beeswax, Baking Soda, Non-nano Zinc Oxide, White Kaolin Clay,
• Weleda Natural Deodorants: $9-$14 

  Sample Ingredients

  Alcohol, Water (Aqua), Fragrance (Parfum)*, Limonene*, Linalool*, Citronellol*, Benzyl Alcohol*, Benzyl Benzoate*, Benzyl Salicylate*, Geraniol*, Citral*, Eugenol*, Farnesol*, Rosa Moschata (Rosehip) Leaf Extract, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Extract, Glycerin, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate. * from natural essential oils

What are your favorite natural deodorants? Let me know in the comment section below!  Thanks!

Sources:

Education.com – The Potential Dangers of Mainstream Deodorants/Antiperspirants for Children; Environmental Working Group – Propylene Glycol; National Center for Biotechnology Information – Aluminum and Alzheimers and Aluminum Neurotoxicity; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Biomonitoring Summary; National Center for Biotechnology Information – Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumors; National Center for Biotechnology Information – Phenols and parabens in relation to reproductive and thyroid hormones in pregnant women; Food for Thought by David Lawrence Dewey