Making the Switch to Safer Deodorant
Have you ever tried to switch to a more natural deodorant? If so, I’m guessing you were underwhelmed, or you wouldn’t still be reading about it. Maybe you smelled like a trash can by mid-day or discovered permanent stains on your shirts. So you threw in the towel and went back to the tried and true antiperspirant.
I get it. But, here’s the thing about deodorants and antiperspirants. You use them daily and they stay on your skin. The prime conditions for your skin to absorb ingredients is when there is heat or friction, which is common is the armpits. So, using a safer deodorant can make a big difference!
When I help people prioritize their clean swaps, I consider items that are used most frequently and stay in contact with the skin the most, and deodorant ranks at the top.
Making the Switch
We've tried so many different natural deodorant brands over the years. Some work okay, but stain the clothes. Others don’t stain … and don’t prevent the stink either. I understand if you’ve declared that you’ve given up trying, but I’d encourage you to give it one more go.
Switching to safer deodorant is incredibly important. Studies connecting antiperspirants and deodorants to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s have been inconclusive. But receive a breast cancer diagnosis at most major medical centers, and you will be told to stop using conventional antiperspirants and deodorants.
You don’t need to wait for a devastating health diagnosis to start making healthier swaps. It’s never too late.
Choose a Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant
Antiperspirants are typically made with aluminum, which works to stop odor by plugging sweat ducts and preventing sweating.
Deodorants don’t prevent sweating, but work to neutralize body odor and absorb sweat.
Top Ingredients to Avoid
Aluminum - Stop odors by plugging sweat glands and preventing sweating. It's also a neurotoxin and linked to cancer.
Fragrance - Catch-phrase that hides hundreds or thousands of chemicals, many of which are phthalates and carcinogens.
Parabens - A class of preservatives known to disrupt hormone function (an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity)
Tricolsan - Has been banned in many personal care products, because of its lengthy list of concerns including links to breast cancer, due to endocrine disruption.
And many more linked to human health issues.
TOXINS: How Much do Pits Absorb?
Here’s the thing. The prime conditions for your skin to absorb anything is when there is heat or friction. Of course, that’s common in the pits. Plus the added condition of shaving. When we shave, we create ideal conditions for our skin to absorb what we put on it.
Commit to making a clean swap in this one area!
Want to learn about the benefits of a simple armpit detox? Head here.
How Much Do You Sweat?
Never let them see you sweat was a marketing slogan of my youth for Dry Idea, a popular antiperspirant. And just like other slogans, it wormed it’s way into the psyche.
My goal was to not sweat a drop. No matter what. I used to consider myself a profuse sweater, so looked for the heavy duty stuff.
Shortly after college, I began learning more about toxic ingredients, such as the common “dirty” ingredient in deodorant, aluminum. But it wasn’t until I was studying at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition that I really began to learn the critical role of sweating. It’s part of our natural detoxification process, removing heavy metals and BPA from the body. It’s also the way our bodies regulate temperature. It’s necessary for us to sweat.
If nothing else, use quarantine to make the switch. Embrace the sweat! If you stink, there are ways to help neutralize the odor without exposing yourself to harmful ingredients.
Worried About the Stink?
If you are worried about stinky pits if you switch to a more natural deodorant, you have good reason! For some people, it can take a few weeks to detox the pits from the effects of aluminum. The aluminum in the antiperspirants clogs the sweat glands, leaving trapped bacteria and toxins. Once you draw out those impurities, any natural deodorant will work better than it did. How to Do An Armpit Detox.
Finding a Safer Deodorant You Love
I hate to be the downer, but most safer deodorants kind of suck. They irritate the skin or stain your clothes or leave you stinky by mid-day. Or, they’re just annoying to use. (For example, one of the more popular and effective deodorant brands comes in a jar and you use your fingers to apply.)
The best deodorant is finally available to the public! Beautycounter’s Clean Deo is new to market, but my family has been testing it for months and we love it! It works so well and our clothes aren’t stained, we don’t stink, and a little peace of mind knowing it’s just the safest ingredients. (Plus, it’s refillable, which cuts water, fossil fuel, and green house gasses by 44%. )
Are you sensitive? Beautycounter's Clean Deo does include baking soda and cornstarch, because they rein supreme in neutralizing body odor. However, in Beautycounter’s earliest testing, 100% of users said the product is non-irritating. Give it a try. You have 60 days to decide if you love it or get a full refund.
Do you find it confusing or time consuming to read labels? Skincare is like the Wild West when it comes to truth in labeling. If you'd like a simple cheat sheet so that you know you are avoiding the worst toxins, grab it here. Get the Cheat Sheet