Some of you know that I’ve been experimenting with natural deodorants for sometime now, either from me blabbing on and on about it, or from my lovely scent ;) I originally became interested in pursuing more natural options right after my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Although there were no links between her deodorant or talcum powder use and the cancer, it still got me thinking about the products that I use regularly and how they might be affecting my endocrine system and overall health. And when I found out that cosmetic products aren’t even subject to FDA approval in the US, well, I decided to take matters into my own hands.
There seems to be a lot of attention and regulations enforced around the food we eat (though the agriculture industry still has a long way to go...that’s for another day!) yet hardly any focus on the products we put on our skin. Heather Patisaul, Ph.D., an associate bio professor at North Carolina State University says that “when you eat something, it’s broken down by your liver and digestive system, but when you put something on your skin, there are times when it can enter your bloodstream without being metabolized.” So really, we should be just as worried about what’s going on our body as what’s going in it!
Still, the biggest argument against using chemical-laden deodorant I’ve seen for women in particular, is the harmful effect on the endocrine system. The endocrine system is the body’s chemical messenger system telling the brain which hormones to secrete. When the endocrine system is out of whack, women can experience erratic metabolism, increase in stress levels, elimination issues, and a wonky menstrual cycle, a main indicator of feminine health!
Here are just a few of the harsh chemicals commonly found in deodorant:
Parabens: used as a preservative, interferes with the way your body produces and regulates estrogen and other hormones.
Aluminum: typically only found in antiperspirants, reduces the amount of sweat that reaches the skin by blocking the sweat ducts.
Talc: also commonly found in antiperspirants. Just a quick google search on this dangerous ingredient brings up hundreds of class action suits against big companies like Johnson & Johnson. Studies have shown a 30% increase in ovarian and endometrial cancers due to Talc use.
Triclosan: common ingredient found in antibacterial hand soap that reduces bacterial contamination. Studies have shown a decrease in thyroid hormones, microbiome disruption, and potentially making bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Now that we understand WHY this shit’s bad for you, let’s get to the fun part- my personal experiment with four different natural deodorants, and which ones worked best. One thing you should know is that I am one of those women who requires the STRONG stuff. For the better part of my adult life, I wore the strongest solid Secret deodorant because literally nothing else worked. So I knew that this was going to be a process. I was about to revert back to my awkward, smelly pre-pubescent years. And you guys, I was so pumped.
Disclaimer- be aware that just because some of these didn’t work for my body, they may work for yours. Everyone’s pH levels are different, so it’s worth a try, especially if you can find free samples!
Scent: Lavender & Citrus
Consistency: Really dry, so you have to warm it up on your skin to get the deodorant to glide a little easier.
Strength: Smells great for about an hour! I put the deodorant on right after showering, biked to go teach, and as I was teaching was thinking “wow, someone smells fierce!!” Yup...it was me :)
The score: 1/10
Scent: Lavender
Consistency: Gel, goes on easy, but turned wet once it rubbed into my skin, felt more moist as the day went on.
Strength: I did a scent check when I went to the bathroom in the morning at work and it smelled like I wasn’t even wearing deodorant. And don’t even think about reapplying- your pits will just be really wet and smell like B.O. with a hint of lavender. Needless to say, Tom is not my friend.
The score: 2/10
Scent: Chamomile & Green Tea
Consistency: Liquid roll-on, goes on very wet.
Strength: Started off really strong, but wore off towards the end of the day. My friend Aryn told me I smelled bad (ha!!)
The score: 4/10
Scent: Unscented, but sort of smells like patchouli (go figure)
Consistency: It’s a little jar of paste, so you put it on with your fingers which takes some getting used to. Goes on very smoothly and not sticky or wet. FYI- their website has stick deodorant, too.
Strength: I had a very active day- rode my bike to and from work and went to a yoga class, and it stayed strong up until I was about to go to bed. V impressed, Pit Paste.
The score: 9/10
My homemade activated charcoal deodorant
Scent: Tea tree and Peppermint
Consistency: It’s a bit dry and chalky, so you have to put it on in the shower so it doesn’t get all over your bathroom floor.
Strength: Another winner! The activated charcoal really does an excellent job of balancing the pH and acting as a natural deodorizer. I was inspired to make my own when my friend Sarah let me try her Piperwai deodorant when we were in Nicaragua!
The score: 8/10
So there you have it! From a purely strength standpoint- activated charcoal deodorant is where it’s at. But I will say, the color and the application put it behind Primal Pit Paste overall. If you’re interested in making your own activated charcoal deodorant, read this post! One more thing- with natural deodorants, gone are the days when you can re-apply and run out the door. In order for these to be effective, you have to either shower or wash your pits and then apply, otherwise people will think you smell :)
Thanks so much for reading...Good luck with your deo endeavors!
-H