Lifestyle

Why you should consider making the switch to natural deodorant

Believe it or not, our armpits play a VERY important role in our body’s overall health, especially when it comes to removing yucky toxins through sweat. You may have seen the recent trend in “aluminum-free” deodorants and it seems like every brand now makes one… but why?

6 min read

August 25, 2021

Believe it or not, our armpits play a VERY important role in our body’s overall health, especially when it comes to removing yucky toxins through sweat.

You may have seen the recent trend in “aluminum-free” deodorants and it seems like every brand now makes one… but why? Why are all major brands now scrambling to make an aluminum-free version of their deodorants?

Is it a switch that’s worth making or is this all a marketing scheme?

As part of my healthy lifestyle journey, I began looking into products that I used every single day to see whether they were actually good for me or if there were better alternatives out there.

Some of the products I took a deep dive into included my skincare products, body washes, and deodorants!

Our armpits are directly connected to our lymph nodes, making them directly connected to our lymphatic system. Anything that we apply to our skin can be absorbed and enter the lymph system or the bloodstream. But what does that mean?

Do you know the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?

Deodorant is meant to deodorize, meaning that its job is to neutralize/mask the smell of our body odours. Antiperspirant, on the other hand, is meant to stop us from sweating, meaning it blocks our sweat glands.

If you look at a stick or bottle of traditional antiperspirant, one of the main ingredients is likely aluminum. Recent studies have taught us that aluminum may potentially have harmful effects on the body, hence the recent surge in aluminum-free and natural deodorants. Furthermore, sweating is good for our health because we eliminate toxins from the body when we sweat. If there are chemicals being added into our body to prevent that, our body has to find another way to get rid of these toxins.

According to a blog post written by Dr. Nadia Musavvir, N.D., a naturopathic doctor who specializes in skin health, although studies do not state that aluminum can cause serious illnesses such as cancer or Alzheimers, this chemical can cause changes to the brain and organs. These changes can interfere with the body’s optimal function, leading to a decrease in efficiency and function.

So what is the difference between an aluminum-free deodorant and an all-natural deodorant?

Aluminum-free deodorants can still contain other chemicals. Just because there is no more aluminum, does not necessarily mean that the rest of the ingredients are great. All-natural deodorants are made with cleaner and more natural ingredients.

So you want to make the switch to natural deodorant.
Did you know there is also a SPECIFIC way to make the transition from traditional deodorant to natural deodorant?

It’s weird… but you gotta do what you gotta do…

 …It’s not as simple as throwing out your old deodorant and using a new all-natural one. The process of switching to a natural deodorant can be a lengthy one because of one main thing: detox.  

Many don’t know about this part and this is often why people try natural deodorant for a short period and end up ditching it because “it doesn’t work.”

Here is a brief explanation of how to properly transition to natural deodorant:

Step 1: Throw out your old deodorant and buy a new natural one (my recommendations can be found later in the blog!)

Step 2: The detox phase. This is where it gets sweaty and smelly. I know, it sucks, but you gotta do it… and here is why. If you’re like me and used traditional deodorants for several years, your body is likely used to the chemicals found in those deodorants. This means, it may have a hard time getting used to the new ingredients.

When the body is no longer absorbing the ingredients found in conventional deodorants, it begins to detox what is left of those ingredients in your system. During this detox phase, it is normal to sweat and smell more than usual. This is the part where most people give up.

How long does this phase last?

There is no set time. The truth is, it’s different for everyone. For me, this transition lasted about one month (three-ish weeks). I know this may seem like a long time, but it was only bad for the first week. That being said, when I decided to make the switch to natural deodorant, it was the middle of summer and our home didn’t have air conditioning at the time so…. I was an extra sweaty mess hahaha! I found that I was sweating a lot more, but I did not notice the smell being any different than it usually was. 

The good news is, there are ways to help the detox process

-      Promote sweating. Help the toxins make their way out of your system by helping your body sweat. Getting a workout in daily, sitting in a hot bath, or using a sauna are effective ways to promote sweating.

-      Try a detox mask. Yep, a mask on your armpits. Masks that are meant to detox the skin often contain ingredients such as bentonite clay or charcoal, which draw out impurities. However, these masks can be irritating to the skin if they are done too often! Remember that the skin around your armpits is sensitive. The mask I used was the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask mixed with some apple cider vinegar.

-      Chlorophyll. Where have we heard this word before? Chlorophyll water took social media by storm as being an effective way to deodorize the body from the inside, among its other benefits. We can find chlorophyll in foods we eat every day such as spinach and kale; however, if you’re going through an armpit detox, grabbing some liquid chlorophyll for the time being can help!

Thinking about trying a detox mask? This Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay mask can be used both on your face and on your pities:

Step 3: Apply deodorant more often at first. Once you feel like the detox period is over, you may feel the need to apply deodorant twice per day rather than only in the morning. This is normal and gradually, you’ll only have to apply once in the morning!

Do you have sensitive skin? Does your skin get irritated easily?

Here are a few tips to make your transition to natural ingredients as smooth as possible:

Since you are now using completely different ingredients than your pities are used to, it is common to experience some irritation at first. But before giving up or trying a new brand, try this.

-      Do not apply the deodorant onto wet armpits. Make sure they are fully dry first!

-      If you’ve just shaved, wait a little bit before applying deodorant.

-      Try a deodorant that is baking soda-free. As a natural way to replace the effects of aluminum, natural deodorants contain baking soda as a base. This can irritate some pities, but don’t worry, just look for a deo that uses coconut oil or witch hazel as a base.

-      If you plan on doing a detox mask, avoid using apple cider vinegar or other ingredients which may cause irritation.

Now let’s talk texture and consistency

When I bought my first natural deo (Native) I was honestly shocked at the consistency. I was expecting it to be as creamy as my old Dove deodorant…but it was not. That was pretty hard for me to get used to.

When it comes to deodorants, the texture is everything. Thing is, we all prefer a different texture.

After doing some more research into other scents and brands, I realized that there were a variety of other consistencies when it came to natural deodorants. Some sticks are rougher, others have a cream-like consistency. You can even buy natural deodorant sprays and putties.

When it comes to finding the right natural deodorant for you, my best advice is to do your research and try out a few different brands.

Here are 5 brands that I have tried out myself and recommend!
  • Jāsön
  • SmartyPitts
  • Schmidt's
  • Kopari
  • Native

As for men’s deodorant (tried and tested by my boyfriend)

  • Every Man Jack

Another difference you may notice when it comes to all-natural deodorants is the price. All-natural deodorants do typically cost more than a regular Dove deodorant. But with cleaner ingredients does come a higher cost. BUT DON’T WORRY, I have found that stores such as Winners, Marshalls, and TJ Maxx often carry popular brands of deodorant at a much lower price. I often get mine from there and they are all under $10!

I’ve linked a few wonderful articles and blog posts that go more in-depth into natural deodorants and how it can be very beneficial for our health to make the switch:

I truly hope that you learned something from this blog post today and that I have opened your eyes to being more aware of how our bodies absorb the products we use topically. Even if you’re not ready to make the switch or think that natural deodorant isn’t for you, make sure that next time your buy deodorant, it is aluminum-free :)

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Know yourself, know your body & until next time!

Mags

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