Sunday Swap : Clean Deodorant
Happy Super Bowl Sunday!
This week’s Sunday Swap is DEODORANT!!
I have tried SO many clean deodorants so I am happy to share what I've learned in this post and some of my favorites!!
Let’s start with the basics:
Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant:
Antiperspirants are meant to reduce sweat in the armpits, but sweating is a critical part of the body’s natural detox process. A little sweat is a good thing! It means our bodies are ridding themselves of toxins and helping to regulate our internal temperatures.
Deodorants are meant to de-odorize our armpits. They act as a way to decrease the odor of our sweat through making our skin more acidic and thus less attractive to bacteria.
Natural deodorants are not antiperspirants, so keep in mind that they do not reduce the amount of sweat you produce from your armpits.
Ingredients to avoid:
Aluminum
Aluminum prevents preparation by clogging your sweat glands and as a result trapping toxins in your body that can build up over time. Aluminum in deodorant known to cause genetic mutations and heavy metal toxicity.
Parabens
Endocrine disruptors that disrupt hormone function and lead to reproductive issues. They are estrogen mimicking chemicals that can lead to early puberty in children and increase risk of hormonal cancers.
Phthalates
Plasticizers added to deodorant to improve their consistency. Phthalates are known endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic and increase the risk for asthma, infertility and hormonal cancers. Phthalates are often listed underneath the “fragrance” label on product ingredients.
Fragrance
Synthetic Fragrance is a known endocrine disruptor linked to fertility issues, allergies, skin irritation, asthma, and obesity.
Propylene Glycol
Classified as a known skin irritant- causes allergic reactions.
Triclosan
Antibacterial chemical used in deodorants, soaps and hand sanitizers. Known endocrine disruptors and carcinogen and linked to liver toxicity and thyroid dysfunction.
TIPS FOR Making the Switch
Embrace the Detox period - your body may sweat more than usual or be a little stinkier when you switch. This is normal as your body is simply sweating out the toxins.
Reapply deodorant throughout the day as needed
Do not go back and forth between your old deodorant and new one- this can cause skin irritation
Drink lots of water to help your body detox
Shave your armpits at night and apply the deodorant in the morning to minimize skin changes when switching
trial and error- some natural deodorants may work better for you than others, don’t be afraid to try a few!
If you notice a natural deodorant is no longer working for you, switch it up! for some, switching your natural deodorant every 6 months or so helps with odor reduction.
MY FAVORITE Natural Deodorants
All of these clean deodorants are free of aluminum, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, parabens , propylene glycol, and triclosan. I have found that natural deodorants work best when they have some scent from essential oils to help mask odor, but if you prefer fragrance-free these brands also have some options!
1. Primally Pure
This is my current favorite natural deodorant! I use the Blue Tansy scent but have also used the charcoal. It works SO well at minimizing perspiration and there is no odor! I typically don’t have to reapply during the day. It is fragranced with 100% organic essential oils.
2. Beauty Counter Clean Deo
Beauty Counter makes a great natural deodorant. It comes in several scents, I like the Rose scent the best. I felt like for some reason the lavender and coconut scents did not do as good a job at masking odor! This deodorant is also more eco-friendly because once you purchase the container, you can buy refills!
Disclaimer: this is the most expensive clean deodorant I have tried , but is worth it in my opinion for your health!
3. BY HUMANKIND
By Humankind is a really cool, eco friendly company. Their deodorant comes in paper that you load into their refillable container. They have a variety of scents - my personal favorites are Lavender Citrus and Coconut.
This is my husband Ian’s favorite deodorant. I made him switch to clean deodorant and now he is hooked!
4. URSA MAJOR sublime sage spray deodorant
Ursa Major is one of my favorite clean beauty brands. If you prefer a spray formula for deodorant, theirs works great! It definitely has a more herbal than floral smell if that is something you prefer.
5. Necessaire
Nécessaire is also a great clean beauty brand. They have a gel formula of clean deodorant that works well. I don’t love gel , but if that is something you are used to this is a good clean option! They have a fragrance free or eucalyptus scent.
6. schmidt’s
Schmidt’s is a great option that is available at most grocery stores. It is a great starting point when making the switch to clean deodorant. I have used Schmidt’s in the past, but found that it did not do the best job at masking odors in the long term! They also have a fragrance-free option.
Please feel free to share any feedback or additional tips + tricks in the comment section below!