I hope you’ve all been taking advantage of this time of being around minimal people to something super important and exciting….and that’s trying out natural deodorant! Obviously, Ha! I mean, there really isn’t a better time, is there? No interaction with strangers or co-workers or even neighbors means that no one will have to know if you try one that doesn’t work. Sweating during a zoom call? No problem. Drenched after a workout? No problem. Even if it doesn’t work, not a soul will know there’s any BO in these situations except maybe your housemates, but they should love you anyway.
I know natural deodorant isn’t for everyone, but it’s worth a try to find out since ingredients in conventional deodorant have the potential to adversely affect your health. Ingredients like aluminum, triclosan, parabens, phthalates and fragrance are often used in conventional deodorants. These have been linked to causing things like skin irritation, hormonal disruption, tumor growth and cancer. Since deodorant is a product that’s applied daily (or multiple times daily) it’s a good product to consider using a more natural version of to reduce exposure to these chemicals. Plus the ingredients in natural deodorants are often nurturing to the skin and help tend to it rather than harm it. Better to be safe than sorry in my book (of course, to each their own).
I’ve been using natural deodorant for several years now and I feel no need to go back to conventional deodorant. I actually find it really fun to try new ones and have already done a post of favorites before (here) but I’m adding to the list with these since now is the perfect time to try one out. I find that natural deodorant works just as well to cover up odors if you find the right one that works for your body. It’s definitely a bit different as there can be less wetness protection, but you can get used to it. At first it might not seem like it’s working but that’s because your pits have to do a bit of a detox to purge all the gunk like aluminum that clogs it up to prevent wetness, but trust me you will eventually notice some kind of difference to show it’s working.
Here are the most recent natural deodorants that I’ve tried out and really liked:
Morton Essentials Pink Grapefruit Natural Deodorant
Ok, you caught me, this deod is a repeat from the list I’ve shared before, but that’s because it’s my all-time fave and I always go back to it like a trusted old friend so I had to re-share. I spotted this deodorant in a Whole Foods in LA while visiting there. It was pink and had a “made locally” tag so I had to buy it. You know, it felt all LA and everything to buy something local. I had no idea how much I’d like this one, but here I am 4 years later still raving about it. I’ve only ever tried the grapefruit scent which is bright and cheery, but they also have these scents too: lavender, clean, men’s, unscented and lime-coconut (for sensitive skin). It’s made with arrowroot powder, sodium bicarbonate, organic coconut oil, organic jojoba oil, candelilla wax, organic shea butter, kaolin clay, tocopherol acetate, rose oil, and a blend of 100% pure essential oils. It comes in a two versions: a pot or a stick. I’ve tried both and like the stick better just for the convenience and less mess factor, but both work the same.
I like this one because it’s not too thick of a texture so it feels lighter on skin and it doesn’t leave any white residue. You only need a little for all day odor protection and I really don’t notice much, if any, wetness unless it’s a busy/active/stressful day, and it’s still very minimal. This deodorant is also at a budget-friendly price point of $10.99 and they even sell a travel sized set you you can try before committing to a full size. I have to note too that the owner, Jessica, is just so kind and thoughtful and would help with any deod questions you have. The current stick I have is gifted, but I’ve bought plenty myself so all opinions are completely my own. I’d definitely recommend giving this one a try!
Milk and Honey Regular Strength Deodorant in Lavender + Tea Tree
I found this deodorant in a Birch Box Clean Beauty Box which I purchased mostly because I wanted to try this deodorant (and one of the other products in it). I’d heard good things so I was optimistic and I have to say the opinions were right. This is a good one! It’s made with organic coconut oil, organic arrowroot powder, sodium bicarbonate, organic shea butter, organic beeswax, sunflower seed wax, organic lavender oil and organic tea tree oil. It comes in two other scents: Lemon + Vanilla (sounds amazing) and Coconut + Lemongrass (also sounds amazing). They also have a baking soda free deodorant for sensitive skin and an extra strength deodorant for maximum protection.
I have only tried this one so I can’t attest to how well the others work. This one smells so nice and fresh, but not at all overpowering. It’s a slightly thicker formula so it sometimes requires a bit of pit warming before gliding onto skin, but I never found that to be a problem. You only need a couple of swipes and this one kept me dry and smelling fresh all day. It made it easy to forget that I was wearing natural deodorant. This one is a bit higher in price at $16, but for some reason I felt like it did last a really long time so worth it in my opinion.
Piper Wai Natural Deodorant Stick
I got this deodorant in a Yogi Surprise subscription box. I had been wanting to try it out so it was a great surprise to find. This one is unique in that it’s ingredient list includes activated charcoal as an extra boost to really help absorb wetness and neutralize odors. It’s also made with tapioca starch, coconut oil, candelilla wax, shea butter, sodium bicarbonate, cocoa seed butter, polymethylsilsesquioxane (I checked EWG because that word looks made up and it’s a 1 so all good), witch hazel leaf extract, tocopheryl acetate, honeysuckle flower extract, magnesium hydroxide, activated charcoal, sunflower seed oil, and the essential oils of: peppermint, eucalyptus, tangerine, bergamot, clary sage, lemongrass, tea tree, thyme, clove, lavender, and rosemary. It has a really nice, light, fresh and gender-neutral scent.
This one is formulated to glide effortlessly and easily onto skin. It probably most closely resembles the consistency of a conventional deodorant so it’s a good one to use in the transition. Plus, activated charcoal can help the initial detox period a long a little quicker. You only need a swipe or two for all day protection. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed odor or wetness with this one. Despite the fact that it’s grey colored from the activated charcoal, it doesn’t appear grey on skin and it doesn’t stain clothing at all. This deodorant is also at a higher price point of $16.99, but it has lasted me a long time too. They also have a version of this deodorant that comes in a pot that’s only $11.99 so a little less investment to try out with this option.
So are you going to try out natural deodorant during this time? Or have you already? We still have around 30 days of lockdown here so now’s the time! Get those pits detoxed and on to natural deodorant before it’s back to civilization. I know some people are sensitive to the baking soda in natural deodorant so I’ll share some baking soda free favorites soon too! In the meantime, let me know if you’re going to give it a shot or if you’ve already tried it, how it went!
