A few months ago, my friend asked a question that stopped me in my tracks.
“Do you guys use natural deodorant?”
Is this a common thing? Was I a bad millennial? Why is she asking this at dinner? Do I need new friends?
I typically have 2 criteria for deodorant: that it stops sweat and that it makes my underarms smell like they took a tropical vacay to Hawaii without me.
I had heard about the aluminum in antiperspirants causing health issues, but I didn’t know if we were all acting on this rumor or if this was going to be like that time we all saw Super-Size Me and stopped eating McDonald’s for a couple months.
To the internet, I went.
Before I go on, first things first…
WTF is antiperspirant and how does it work?
Antiperspirant stops sweat through aluminum. The aluminum salts dissolve on the surface of the armpit and create a plug near the top of the sweat glands. Cute. Basically, the reason why an antiperspirant prevents you from perspiring is because it’s blocking your pores.
Antiperspirant and Health Issues
Next, I researched antiperspirant links to health issues. I read countless articles, journals, blogs, and medical studies to finally answer my question: Should we worry about antiperspirants? The answer is, in short, no.
A lot of research that supports the switch from antiperspirant to natural non-aluminum containing deodorant, is not, in fact, backed by scientific evidence. There is no real scientific evidence that aluminum or any of the other ingredients in antiperspirants pose any threat to human health. Yes, there are studies that suggest links between antiperspirant and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and breast cancer, but none that can directly prove antiperspirant was the cause.
On why these concerns with antiperspirant have recently been raised again after being resolved in the past, John Bailey, PhD, chief scientist with the Personal Care Products Council, said, “The Internet, by its very nature, is a great medium for recycling old issues over and over again. And I think there is a tendency for some people to use these scare tactics to their own advantage.” Ohhh internet, you sly fox. At it again with your tricks!
Doctors recommend, if you want to reduce your risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and breast cancer, to focus on your lifestyle. Factors such as being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and staying mentally engaged are all great ways to reduce risk of both diseases.
Learning antiperspirants may not be as bad as their reputation alludes was a relief but I was still curious to try natural deodorant because I learned that natural deodorant actually has a lot of major benefits.
The Benefits of Natural Deodorant
First, natural deodorants help control good bacteria. Are you sitting down? Because this blew my mind. Sweat doesn’t cause B.O.! I knew there was a reason why Queer Eye‘s legendary Jonathan Van Ness said you don’t need to wash your hair after a workout! Yeah, that’s definitely why I wasn’t doing that… After all, sweat is just salt and water. The stink actually happens when sweat mixes with the bacteria on your skin. Natural deodorants help control that bacteria so that doesn’t happen and there are less odors, even when you’re not wearing deodorant.
Also, no more pit stains! Hallelujah! Turns out, aluminum is what causes those unsightly yellow stains on the underarms of shirts. Natural deodorant = clean t-shirts, baby.
Third and possibly my fave, natural deodorant results in smoother skin and a closer, longer-lasting shave. Antiperspirants cause sweat to build up beneath the skin, which can lead to bumpy skin and painful irritation.
Lastly, natural deodorant = more sweat. I know, right? I thought we were talking about benefits, Christina… But yes, although uncomfortable and unappealing, sweating is actually important because it regulates our body temperature and gets rid of toxins. Think of it as a juice cleanse for your armpits! Sorry if I just ruined juice cleanses for you.
How To Make The Switch
I’m happy to report that, as of today, I’m 2 months into my switch to natural deodorant and I’m pretty happy with how it’s going!
I knew that initial switching process would be a less than attractive one. And one of my biggest (and totally logical) fears was being the chick with B.O.
So now I want to share with you my tips for making an easy transition to natural deodorant:
- Plan ahead. Maybe don’t unleash your natural funk when you have really active/stressful days/a big job interview coming up. The adjustment takes time. You may be extra sweaty while your body gets rid of the built up toxins. Plan accordingly.
- Drink lots of water. Water helps the body get rid of toxins and can reduce body odor. Also, be aware that your diet directly affects the smells your body produces. Wow, I felt so gross just writing that.
- Armpit detox mask! Yes, I’m serious. Just like a mask for your face, doing a clay mask on yo pits is a great way to cleanse your pores. Deodorants with aluminum likely have caused built up residue. So, do a bentonite clay mask. I used the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay because I’d already used it on my face and it was magical. Also, would nearly 2,000 reviewers on Amazon lie to you? Probably, if they were paid to do it. But you can trust me because I don’t get paid at all for this. The recipe I used was: 1 TB Bentonite Clay, 3 Tsp Water, and 5 drops of tea tree essential oil.
- Find a deodorant that works for you. I’m not an expert on natural deodorant brands by any stretch of the imagination, but I will say I’m obsessed with the one I’ve been using! I use Kopari Coconut Oil Deodorant (Featured in Allure’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2019) #notspon but #pleasesponsorme. A friend of mine is a big fan of Native, too!
I will say, I do think I lucked out with making the switch. I work at a desk job and am able to shower immediately after going to the gym. So if you work long hours at a physically demanding job, I recommend bringing wipes to help you with the transition. But stick with it! If it works for you, it’s so worth it and you’ll find you sweat a lot less over time!
Okay, have I sufficiently grossed everyone out? Perfect. My work here is done.
Have you tried natural deodorant? Are you sticking with it? Comment your thoughts below!
