My Switch to Natural Deodorant
Let me start off by saying I never expected this would be such a hot topic! I casually mentioned that I use Megababe’s Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant (made without aluminum) in my IG stories and sparked a bunch of questions. I also want to mention I am not an expert nor healthcare professional, just happy to share my experiences and answer your questions from my point of view. Let’s get to it:
Why did you switch and what’s really so bad about natural deodorant?
I personally never really thought much about my deodorant until I stayed at a friend’s house and she educated me on why she chose to switch. Antiperspirant, no matter the brand, uses aluminum to block sweat ducts from producing sweat. There have been reports that some scientists have suggested that using the aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of Alzheimer’s and breast cancer, and some might even contain infertility-causing toxic chemicals. For more information on these chemicals and what to look out for, click here. But it isn't clear if that much aluminum is absorbed through the skin. Either way, I found it kind of weird that I rarely sweat- even in the toughest of workouts or hottest climates. Typical deodorants work by closing up the pores to prevent perspiration, but this means that sweat builds up beneath the skin. This can cause bumpy skin and painful irritation, which I’ve always had. So, I thought “let’s give this a try.”
note: At this stage in my life, I 95% use natural deodorant, every now and then I use my Secret Freshies when I’m in a bind, traveling or super stressed.
Why does natural deodorant make you smell so bad?
Here’s the deal: your sweat doesn’t smell - it’s just salt and water. What does create a stink is when sweat comes into contact with the natural bacteria that lives on our skin. Changing this reaction is easily done with natural deodorant. Which leads me to my next point…
JUST BECAUSE I’VE FOUND WHAT WORKS FOR ME, DOESN’T MEAN THE EXACT PRODUCTS WILL WORK FOR YOU.
I’ll say it again for the people in the back: Natural deodorants work with your body’s chemistry and we all have different chemistry. So, if you’ve tried and failed, you may have not found the right scent/formula that works for you. For some people, it’s a baking soda based. For others, it’s something else that makes the deodorant work well (like magnesium, zinc, charcoal, probiotics, etc). Natural deodorants can be really expensive to keep trying so I’d recommend buying trial sizes or purchasing from a retailer like Sephora that allows you to return after trying. However, you need to give it some time to detox/ figure out if it works. My current routine didn’t work right away.
Does it take time to transition to natural deodorant?
Short answer, yes. When you stop using deodorants with chemicals and aluminum, your body will start to push these chemicals out, which can lead to a “stinky” period. When I was researching, I saw some people suggested to not wear anything for a few days and drinking lots of water but I didn’t do this. For me, I say it took about two to three weeks- once I found the concoction that worked for me (more on that later). Which leads me to…
How many different kinds did you try? Which ones?
As I said before, it is truly a trial and error process. Now that I think about it, I’ve probably tried over ten different products. Again, don’t be scared off by what didn’t work for me because we’re all different and it could possibly work for you. I did have some pretty bad reactions to a few of them, especially after shaving - I’m guessing (after my research) that I have a baking soda sensitivity.
What happens if what I’m using makes me itchy or break out in a rash?
This happened to me too. This means that whatever you’re using isn’t mixing well with your body’s chemistry or you may have an intolerance to baking soda.
Will I sweat more?
Simple answer, yes. However, sweat is a HEALTHY and NORMAL part of being human! Sweating is our bodies’ way of regulating temperature and releasing toxins, two very crucial jobs. After making the switch from a chemical-filled deodorant or antiperspirant, you may be extra sweaty as your body rids itself of toxins. This should normalize once your detox process is over. And once it does, you may find that you sweat even LESS than you did before! As I said, I am not that sweaty of a person - except on my upper lip (sorry TMI) and noticed I was a little sweatier but not in a soak-though-my-shirt kind of way. But of course, everyone is different.
This pretty much sums up all of your questions, but here are a few more tips I’ve found helpful:
I actually use a little deodorant concoction… a cocktail, if you will. I never really stick to just one scent. For me personally, Megababe and Native seem to work well for me when mixed together. I have sensitive underarms so I apply Megababe right after the shower (it goes on really smooth and soft). When my pores close or if I didn’t just shave, I’ll apply Native. I find it’s a little rough/scratchy to put on so if I’m freshly shaven it doesn’t feel good. When I’m in a bind, stressed or traveling- I also use regular Secret deodorant so I can’t say I’m 100% natural but definitely close to it.
Not all scents work the same, even if it’s the same brand. I’ve branched out and purchased the different scent options from both brands mentioned above and noticed they require getting used to. They definitely don’t work the same right away… so now I keep about 5 different scents in rotation, adding to my deodorant cocktail.
If you’ve had any issues with clothes staining or your armpits getting dark, you can read more about that here. I haven’t had any issues with that, so I can’t really speak to it.
At the end of the day, there isn’t a single natural deodorant brand that everybody unanimously loves, because everyone will have a different experience. When it comes to going natural, there truly is something for everybody. You just have to have the patience and commitment to find it. I hope this post was helpful! Be sure to leave a comment below with any questions or suggestions you may have!