It’s Summertime! Do you know what are you putting on your pits?! Do you know how to choose a healthy deodorant?
This is the time of year where things can get a little stinkier. And commercial antiperspirants and deodorant works so well! But is it safe to use? We’ll explore that questions as well as your options in this article.
The problems with antiperspirant:
1. Aluminum
“Aluminum competes with calcium for absorption, making it hard for our bodies to absorb a much-needed nutrient…” {Source: Donielle Baker, Naturally Knocked Up} “Aluminum acts as a neurotoxin and has been implicated in a number of health issues. Ingredients such as propylene glycol and disodium EDTA help other ingredients travel deeper into the skin, making the antiperspirants more effective. While penetration enhancers tend not to be toxic, they increase your exposure to the other chemicals in the product.” {Source}
2. Parabens
Parabens are used as a preservative in many products, are xenoestrogenic (synthetic estrogen-like compound) and can upset your hormone balance and put unnecessary stress on your liver. They have also been found in breast tumor tissue.{Source} Their presence in tumors doesn’t confirm they help cause tumors, but frankly, I don’t want any foreign substances collecting in my body, thank you very much.
3. Phthalates
Phthalates are ingredients that make a product flexible. They are again xenoestrogenic. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate is listed as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” in the Twelfth Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program.
Current levels of seven phthalates studied by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences posed “minimal” concern for causing reproductive effects. However, the National Toxicology Program concluded that high levels of one phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, may adversely affect human reproduction or development.
High levels of exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate through the use of medical tubing and other plastic devices for feeding, medicating, and assisting the breathing of newborn infants may affect the development of the male reproductive system, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.” {Source}
4. Blocking Sweat
Sweating may not be your favorite pastime, but it is good for you! It’s best not to block it. Here are some of the benefits of sweating:
- Releases toxins
- Burns calories
- Cools the body
- Boosts the immune system
- Releases endorphins
- Is a natural antibiotic for the skin
- Improves circulation
Ok so now you know why you should avoid commercial antiperspirants and deodorants with these ingredients. But how do you manage the stink naturally? Most of us have some sort of scent and would rather not head off to work and social functions without some assurance that we won’t scare off others.
image via canva.com
Here are 3 ways to manage your body odor
1. Reduce stress and support your liver.
You actually have two kinds of sweat glands: one is more about temperature control, and it happens through the eccrine glands.
Apocrine glands, on the other hand, secrete a fatty sweat directly into the tubule of the gland. When you’re under emotional stress, the wall of the tubule contracts and the sweat is pushed to the surface of your skin where bacteria begin breaking it down. Most often, it’s the bacterial breakdown of apocrine sweat that causes an odor. {Source}
Here are couple ways to help the liver:
A. Chlorophyl in tablets, tinctures or green drinks can help support your detox
B. Phosphatidylserine can lower your cortisol levels. When I was taking this regularly I was ‘nervous sweating’ less. (Ask me your practitioner for this one!)
2. Think about your fashion choice.
Many women’s fashions are all up in your armpit! If you are going to a big meeting (nervous) or a picnic in July (hot) this may not be a good choice. Let your pits breathe and choose shirts or dresses that aren’t too tight around your arms and chest.
Choosing the right fabric is also helpful! Lighter kinds of cotton tend to breathe better than thick synthetics.
3. How to choose a healthy deodorant.
I’ve been testing out natural deodorants for quite a while now, and luckily I found a winner just before writing this article!
It’s Schmidt’s natural deodorant (available on Amazon), made right here in Portland! Schmidt’s spreads on well for longer-lasting coverage. (I am using the lavender and sage variety.)
There are many other natural options out there as well! Some are made with only natural oils, others contain ingredients that, while not considered natural, are safer than others. Take a look at the Skin Deep Database to see how your favorite deodorant scores and use the one that works best for you that has the lowest score.
Take caution with crystal deodorant, as it contains potassium alum (short for aluminum.) {Source}
Another option is to make your own deodorant so that you can make changes as necessary.
One bit of advice – sometimes it can take a few weeks for your body odor to reduce as you switch to more natural deodorants! And if you begin to deal with skin irritation, check to see if the option you chose contains baking soda as some people cannot tolerate the daily use of it on their skin.
Enjoy your summer and enjoy a naturally lovely smell!
Herbal Adventures, a guide for natural remedies
Great post! What other natural deodorants did you try? I’m using LAVANILA The Healthy Deodorant, and am just curious if you approve of it! ( http://www.lavanila.com/The-Healthy-Deodorant-Pure-Vanilla-2oz_p_50.html ) It took some time to get used to but now I love it!
Natalie, No, I hadn’t heard of that one. It looks good! I may try that one on the next round. Thanks for sharing. Bridgit
I’m a heavy, stinky sweater living in Phoenix and spending large portions of my day in the car. I was using the baking soda/cornstarch/coconut oil deodorant with TTO and peppermint. It does help more than I anticipated, but the key to less-stinky sweat for me seems to be a magnesium supplement. I’ll have to look into the chlorophyll though. Right now I’m back to commercial deodorant because the homemade one doesn’t seem to travel well. I STILL sweat and stink right through it, even the clinical strength stuff.
Stacy, thanks for the honest feedback and the magnesium tip. Perhaps it helps because it calms you. For me, the calming helps the sweating!
Greetings! Having been raised by an all natural mom, over the decades I have tried myriad natural solutions none of which worked, so I used the commercial crap, which did. Recently, in a deeper effort to deep cleanse my body, I tried Fresca brand from Australia. Pricey, ($15 for a month’s supply) I didn’t receive my full order, and it gave me a rash. I was neither pleased with the product nor the customer service. But I’d committed to finding an all natural one, and finally found one I’m thrilled with! Desert Essence roll on, from Whole Foods, $5, with tea tree oil, lavender and aloe. No aluminum or propylene glycol.
I always had a problem with smell and profuse sweating. Yellow under armpits in clothes too. I have found the only thing that works for me is straight baking soda. I pour- little in hand add a little water and apply. So easy and inexpensive and lasts all day. It was an answer to prayer.
I’ve dabbled with various natural deodorants and for a while I would wipe my armpits with an alcohol covered cotton ball since my understanding was the smell is from dirt that’s built up. Since most of us at some point have used commercial deodorants there’s dirt built up. Now I just tend to wipe some coconut oil under my armpits and then I use a powder that I made up which is arrowroot powder and a little bit of baking soda mixed up. Since we are all different it’s difficult to find one deodorant that works for everyone.
I use Milk of Magnesium. My body odor disappeared after a week of using it. Lack of magnesium was causing my body odor. I still sweat though.
How do you use it? Do you apply it?
I dip my finger in the bottle, then rub it under my arm. I wait to put a shirt on until it has dried. (A fan hastens the drying process.)
This is a great post so thank-you for all of the tips. I starting going natural with my doeoderatn choices about 5 years ago. It was a scarry switch for me because I was the girl who would cake on the deoderant and manage to sweat within 5 minutes. Dances, get togethers and just being too close to people made me sweat. The underarms of my lovely white shirts were a dingy yellow which was horrible in High School since my uniform top was a white blouse. After suffering for years a friend of mine suggested using baby powder. I started that way and it seemed to work although since my body was still detoxing itself I felt like I still smelled. Since deoederant is expencive and I was using at least a tube and a half each month I needed to change. Then I heard about plain jane no aluminum baking soda and VOILA! My cure was found! Now I simply shower, towel dry under my arms and apply about a teaspoon of baking soda under each arm. YEAH! I feel fresh and smell great and my white shirts stay white. I have told SO many people about this and will continue to do so.
I guess I’m lucky in that I don’t sweat a whole lot unless I’m exercising, and even then I don’t have a big problem with odor. Most days I just rub a little coconut oil under my arms, but if its a day where I’ll be hiking or out in the heat a lot or something, I’ll dab some baking soda over the coconut oil. My husband says that doesn’t work for him, so I haven’t switched him over from yucky commercial deodorants yet, but at least we’re half way there!
I make my own. Mix 1/4 cup baking soda + 1/4 cup arrowroot powder (baking powder) + 4 tbsp coconut oil, mix and apply every morning =)
I am very loyal to a brand called Lavilin – http://www.lavilin.com
The foot cream works unbelievably well. Lasts a week and smells fantastic!