Deodorant is something that everyone wears (or should wear, if they don’t!). And suppose you’re interested in using healthy, natural products in your home and for your body. In that case, you probably prioritize using a natural deodorant, too. Some might ask, “why use natural deodorant?” and “is natural deodorant better?” Most may not realize it, but conventional deodorants and antiperspirants have chemicals in their ingredients that are harmful to people. If you want to learn all about the benefits of natural deodorant, keep reading!
Regular Deodorant and Antiperspirant 101
First, let’s talk about everything that’s in your run-of-the-mill regular deodorants and antiperspirants.
Regular Deodorant Basics
We all know that deodorant is designed to prevent you from smelling bad, but not prevent sweating. In comparison, antiperspirants prevent sweat from happening in the first place. Deodorants typically use scents and formulas to mask the smell that perspiration can cause. However, most haven’t thought about what ingredients and chemicals are involved in the formulation of regular deodorants.
Parabens
Parabens have recently been put on blast by just about anyone who is at all health-conscious.
Why is this? Well, because parabens are known to function as estrogen once the skin absorbs them.
Estrogen is a female hormone, and while it is not bad in and of itself, you do not want too much estrogen in your body; whether you’re a man or a woman. Any hormonal balance is unhealthy and can cause all sorts of mental and physical health issues, including an increased risk of breast cancer (specifically for those with elevated estrogen levels).
Although scientists claim that the amount of parabens in cosmetic products is not nearly enough to cause breast cancer or other hormonal imbalances, is it worth the risk?
Not to mention, with the immense amount of hormone-pumped foods that Americans ingest every day- that extra estrogen in your deodorant is something you should take action on.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol is a chemical that is in all sorts of cosmetic products and, specifically, deodorants. Originally used as an anti-freeze, when used daily, it can cause severe issues. It is known to damage the nervous system, heart, liver, and many people have sensitivities to it as the cherry on top! Even some natural deodorants may contain this, so always, always double-check ingredients in the deodorants you buy.
TEA and DEA
Triethanolamine (TEA) and diethanolamine (DEA), are commonly used in deodorants and are known carcinogens. They have even banned their use in Europe due to this fact. Remember, just because a chemical isn’t banned in your country, doesn’t mean it’s not a harmful substance. Do your research!
Antiperspirant Basics
Antiperspirant is the same as deodorant, but it also keeps you from sweating. So how does it keep you from sweating? Let’s talk about aluminum!
Aluminum
Antiperspirants contain aluminum, which is what acts as a pore plug to stop you from sweating. Although aluminum is not the worst thing you could put in your body, it may not be the safest.
Aluminum, in high amounts in the body, can cause severe kidney problems. Although the amount of aluminum in deodorant is quite low, it is still worth noting that aluminum is not a beneficial substance to have in your body. Especially for those with low kidney function, their kidneys cannot process all of the aluminum, so they should 100% avoid antiperspirants with aluminum.
Why You should use Natural Deodorant
Let’s dig into the actual benefits of natural deodorant, and explain why you should use natural deodorant instead of regular.
5 Benefits of Natural Deodorant
Here are some of the benefits of using natural deodorants.
1
No Harmful Chemicals
First of all, most natural deodorants do not have aluminum, parabens, and all the other harmful ingredients mentioned above. This is the critical difference between the two. Although you still need to check out the ingredients in any prospective deodorant brands, natural deodorants are generally free of all of these harmful chemicals.
2
Allow Yourself to Sweat it Out!
Unlike antiperspirants, there is no aluminum (or any other ingredient) clogging your pores to prevent sweating. Now, some may see this as a con of natural deodorants. Sweating is annoying, especially when you soak through your clothes, or live somewhere with high temperatures.
But really, we all sweat. Sweating is healthy and vital for regulating internal body temperatures. So own that sweat! Instead of trying to prevent it, focus on killing bacteria on your armpits with natural deodorants.
3
Bye-Bye Stains
No one likes unsightly yellow stains on the armpits of their shirts. Well, those stains are caused primarily by aluminum in your deodorant! Just one more reason to quit antiperspirant.
4
No Animal Testing
Another amazing thing about natural deodorants is that most of them are cruelty-free and even vegan. When using non-toxic chemicals, there is no need to test on animals. Your average regular deodorant or antiperspirant is not going to be cruelty-free or vegan.
5
Fragrances
Another important benefit of natural deodorant is the natural fragrances used for the scent of the products. It’s no secret that the artificial fragrances used in many deodorants are harmful and that they cause allergic reactions for many people. Essential oils are all-natural and diluted in deodorants. They are a great, healthful alternative to the artificial fragrance in regular deodorants.
6
The Detox Process
Is the Armpit Detox from Natural Deodorant a Thing? More Importantly, is it Worth It?
The one benefit of natural deodorant that may seem a little sketchy is referred to as the “detox phase.” Specifically, when switching from antiperspirant to natural deodorant, people experience several weeks of extremely smelly underarms. Although this isn’t exactly fun, this detox period passes. Soon, your natural deodorant will have you feeling fresher than ever.
The primary way that people combat this detox phase is by using clay masks on their armpits! It sounds weird, but people rave about the results being smell-free pits.
It is worth noting that there isn’t any hard scientific evidence about armpit detoxing existing. However, there also aren’t a lot of studies conducted on it yet. Many who switch from regular to natural deodorant (or even to no deodorant) claim that the detox is 100% legit.
Natural Deodorant vs Regular Deodorant
There are a lot of benefits to using natural deodorants. By avoiding all of the harmful chemicals in regular deodorants and antiperspirants, you can better maintain your health and potentially prevent future health problems.
Is natural deodorant better?
At the end of the day, what deodorant you use is 100% up to you, and it can take real work to find the right deodorant for you and your armpits needs. Hopefully, you now have some helpful info on the benefits of natural deodorant.
Now, go give it a try! Time to test out that armpit detox process for yourself.
Further Reading
