It’s natural to want to smell good (trust me, everyone wants this for you). Luckily, antiperspirants and deodorants are made for this noble purpose. But while they both work well to reduce odor, antiperspirants and deodorants are not equal. Not only that, but some of them are made with harmful ingredients. And just like any other product that touches our skin, what we put on our armpits matters.
To make the best choice for your sometimes stinky underarms, you’ll need to know how these products differ and what to look out for. When it comes to your health, we wholeheartedly believe in using products with the most natural, nontoxic ingredients and avoiding any chemicals that can wreak havoc on your health.
In this post, you’ll find out everything you need to know about underarm products to make the best decision about what to use to naturally, safely and effectively control unpleasant armpit odor.
What chemicals should I avoid in antiperspirants and deodorants?
Many antiperspirants and deodorants you find on store shelves contain chemicals that are either harmful to your health, irritating to your skin, or both. If you don’t know what to look for, you might be putting toxins on your skin that could make their way into your bloodstream and potentially cause serious health problems.
Here are the primary chemicals to avoid:
- Triclosan – an ingredient used to kill bacteria in many personal-care products. Research has shown a link to hormone abnormalities.
- Parabens – used as a preservative in products. They are hormone disruptors and possible skin irritants.
- Phthalates – these help fragrances stick to the skin. They have harmful effects on the endocrine system and child development.
- Fragrances – unidentified chemicals that could be toxic or irritating.
- Aluminum - an ingredient found in only antiperspirants. It has a potential risk of causing breast cancer or Alzheimer’s disease (see below).
Why do most antiperspirants have aluminum?
Antiperspirants use aluminum salts to do what they’re meant to do: to stop you from sweating. On the other hand, deodorants don’t use aluminum salts because they’re intended to mask or cover up underarm smells and not prevent perspiration.
How does it work? When you sweat while wearing an antiperspirant, the aluminum salts absorb into your skin and form a plug in your pores. This stops the sweat from escaping through your pores and keeps it trapped in your skin. The purpose is to reduce the build-up of odor-causing bacteria by keeping your skin dry.
Is aluminum in antiperspirant bad for you?
You may have heard about some of the health concerns over aluminum in antiperspirants. One of the most alarming concerns has been that aluminum in antiperspirants might be linked to breast cancer. Some scientists believe aluminum gets absorbed into the bloodstream and causes mutations that lead to the growth of tumors. Another theory is that toxins in sweat get trapped in the skin and end up in the lymph nodes, causing cancer to form.
According to the American Cancer Society, no large studies involving humans have necessarily shown a connection between antiperspirants containing aluminum and breast cancer risk. However, some smaller studies do suggest a possible link, which isn’t very comforting.
Another concern about aluminum is that it may cause Alzheimer’s disease. This concern arose from studies done in the ‘60s that found this metal was present in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. But since then, research hasn’t been able to reinforce this conclusion. Also, there is some debate over whether the aluminum from antiperspirants gets absorbed into the body or simply stays in the skin.
Though research hasn’t shown direct conclusive evidence, knowing there are such significant potential health risks associated with antiperspirants is still worrisome. That’s why using a deodorant made with natural, nontoxic ingredients is the safest option for both your well-being and peace of mind.
Is baking soda in deodorant bad for you?
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is often used in natural deodorants because it does a great job of absorbing odors. It works by controlling the pH and inhibiting odor-causing bacteria from forming in your pits. The problem is that baking soda is highly abrasive and can cause skin irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Arrowroot is a gentler odor-absorbing alternative to baking soda that also reduces moisture and inhibits bacteria.
Does all-natural, aluminum-free deodorant actually work?
The good news is that natural deodorant actually works! That means you don’t have to settle for deodorants that come with a bunch of sketchy ingredients and a whole host of health concerns. Natural deodorants are able to effectively absorb moisture and keep smelly armpit odor away without any negative impact on your health.
Our new All-Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant contains non-nano zinc oxide, arrowroot powder and probiotics to maintain a healthy bacterial balance and eliminate odor all day long. It’s also free of environmentally unfriendly palm oil, and has coconut oil and cocoa butter to smooth out underarm skin.
What are the benefits of switching to all-natural, aluminum-free deodorant?
Besides getting rid of underarm odor with ease, natural deodorant that doesn’t contain aluminum is excellent for a long list of reasons.
- No pit stains
- Won’t block pores
- Moisturizes your skin naturally
- No irritation
- Absorbs odor without altering the body’s normal process of sweating
- Balances bacteria in your armpit
- Nontoxic to you and the planet
To sum it all up...
If you dislike toxic chemicals as much as we do, all-natural aluminum-free deodorant is the only way to go to get rid of odor without compromising your health. There are too many concerns linked to antiperspirants and deodorants to feel comfortable putting them on your precious skin. Natural deodorants can do the same job, but save you a lot of stress. If you haven’t already, make the switch and go about your day smelling wonderful with confidence!