The clean beauty marketplace is flooded with natural alternatives to antiperspirant and deodorant. Did you ever stop to think what a natural deodorant really is? Will it get rid of body odor? If the label of your deodorant brand says "natural" does it mean it's better for you and your skin than the competitor without that claim? Fact: there is no strict regulation/oversight on the term "natural" or "all natural" found on skin care brand labels. For us consumers, natural deodorant has come to mean a body odor prevention that is devoid of harmful chemicals. But how close to nature is your odor protection? It comes down to trust in the brand you choose. Let's get you well-informed about all you need to know. And next time you are ready to purchase what you hope is the best natural deodorant, read the ingredients and consider that maybe no deodorant is truly natural, (but you can still be odor free).
There are many beauty practices that rely on the use of chemicals to boost how you look or feel. We consumers take the risk of exposure to some potentially "unsafe" skin, nail or hair care practices knowingly (or maybe not realizing), because we want the result more than we fear the chemical exposure. Have you ever done hair straightening, hair coloring, gel nails or teeth whitening? These all incorporate exposure to harsh chemicals. This is the same if you use antiperspirant and deodorant. You want to feel fresh and clean and are willing to expose your skin to the necessary ingredients in order to gain that odor-free confidence.
But aren't chemicals all around us? Why be afraid of chemicals? Technically speaking, water is a chemical. But you are probably not afraid of water. Bottom line: What you may want to avoid is too much exposure to synthetic chemicals or better yet, avoidance of stuff in general that is not found in nature. Just like you try to avoid processed foods and seek natural whole foods. Here is an illustration:
Food
Healthier choice: an organic apple picked locally
Chemical or processed choice: apple flavored cereal
Why choose the apple picked from the tree?
It's in its natural state without potentially harmful additives that might cause a health risk if ingested.
Body Odor Prevention
Healthier choice: deodorant with only ingredients from nature
Chemical choice: antiperspirant with aerosol and aluminum compounds
Why choose natural deodorant?
To avoid skin irritation and potential absorption of questionable chemicals that might cause a health risk when applied to the skin.
But does natural mean no risk? The answer is no. Poison ivy is a plant in nature but it can cause a significant rash. Peanuts are grown from a plant but many people are severely allergic to them. So if you want to feel your clean, fresh best and avoid having unwanted body odor, first get to know how to navigate the many choices available and understand what you might wish to avoid or embrace.
Antiperspirant & Deodorant: What Are The Potential Downsides To Your Health?
Some health concerns from using antiperspirants and deodorants include allergic reactions or noticeable changes on the skin. However, more fearsome, are the long term less obvious risks. Here is a sampling of some minor and not-so-minor effects you may find related to antiperspirant or deodorant:
Dry skin: Since aluminum, found in many body odor fighting products, blocks sweat glands it reduces moisture on the skin. Antiperspirants and deodorants often contain alcohol too. Add these ingredients together and the skin can become dry with exposure to them. Plus, with daily use of these ingredients found in odor prevention, there may be a resulting alteration in the skin's barrier function. End result: the skin can become flaky, dehydrated and dull.
Breast cancer: There are no conclusive studies to show that antiperspirants containing aluminum are a cause of breast cancer. However, some research has revealed potential effects of aluminum in breast tissue (note that aluminum exposure is not only from antiperspirants). There is uncertainty surrounding this, but for my own personal practice, I avoid aluminum containing antiperspirants because by doing this, I consider it one less potential risk or exposure.
Irritation: Both natural deodorants and antiperspirants may cause skin irritation with redness and flaking owing in part to the nature of the skin where it is applied. Underarms, for example, have very delicate, thin skin. The body parts that are home to the most odor causing elements, tend to also be the thinnest skin areas and potentially the most at risk for irritation. The smelly spots are also the sensitive spots.
Rashes: If you have sensitive skin or conditions such as eczema/atopic dermatitis choose body odor prevention by reading ingredients and avoid perfumes and added fragrance. Be sure to know what is in the formula, as exposure to “fragrance” may increase chances of skin rash for some people. It is easy to gravitate to the deodorant that has the best scent but it may also have more chance of causing contact dermatitis . The word "fragrance'' on the ingredient list can be only a single term but may incorporate dozens of scents to comprise the final product. To help avoid this, note the ingredients. They should be alcohol free and "fragrance" should be low on the list (which means its concentration is less than ingredients listed higher up). Better yet, seek fragrance-free products. Of note “hypo-allergenic” is another term that is not regulated and is not strictly defined. Product makers can call their product “hypo-allergenic” and we must take them at their word.
Armpit sensitivity: Your armpits are not only exposed to irritating deodorant ingredients but you may also shave your underarms or wear clothing that causes chafing of this sensitive area, further increasing chances of skin rash. Baking soda and essential oils are ingredients in many deodorants. They work well for many but be aware that these can cause sensitivity to your thin skin with daily use for some consumers. The combination of shaving then using irritating ingredients plus wearing certain clothing that rubs on skin spells serious armpit irritability.
Discoloration: With repeated layering of ingredients that leave residue on the skin day after day there is a risk of "clogging pores" . In addition, underarms are repeatedly exposed to skin rubbing against itself or to chafing from clothing. The armpits and other body parts can react with thickening of the skin that may go along with changes like in the skin appearance of these areas. This is often experienced as skin darkening, aka hyperpigmentation.
Before you choose a natural deodorant or antiperspirant, understand the difference so that your natural skincare routine works for you. Keep in mind that conventional deodorants and antiperspirants are really anything but natural because they work against the skin's normal physiology and functioning. How?
Anything But Natural In Theory
Antiperspirant blocks pores (sweat ducts) to keep the sweat locked in. Blocking sweat will prevent cooling moisture from reaching your skin surface. Not as the body intended.
Antiperspirants are sold without prescription but are considered an over the counter drug.
There are also prescription strength deodorants available which contain stronger concentrations of the sweat blocking pharmacological ingredient, aluminum.
Deodorants fend off undesirable body odor as they contain heavy fragrances to mask your natural scent. Some also contain drying ingredients like witch hazel or alcohol. These may keep your skin somewhat dry without blocking sweat in most cases but the trade off can be sticky, chalky ingredients with overwhelming scent.
Natural deodorant usually means aluminum-free deodorants that are made from ingredients found in nature such as shea butter, seed oil, kaolin clay, jojoba oil, (simmondsia chinensis), charcoal, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), tapioca powder, arrowroot powder, citric acid, botanical extracts and others. Natural deodorant refers to products that are considered cosmetic or beauty products and do not contain a pharmacologic ingredient like antiperspirants with aluminum do.
To be truly natural, you would smell like you do not like perfume and your body would sweat normally.
But... Most of us want to be as close to "natural" as possible but also be at our cleanest, driest and best smelling. Right?
In the United States, the governing body for drugs and cosmetics is the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. The FDA website on the definition of natural in cosmetic products, will tell you that there is no official FDA or USDA definition for "natural".
Read labels carefully and consider the source. Again, you must trust the brand/manufacturer.
Bottom Line
If you want to be free of body odor or sweat all day, like many of us do, then pick a product that works for your needs and does so with the fewest chemicals. You must read labels.
If nature had it her way, sweat and odor would happen. But for day to day life in many societies odor and wetness on your body is objectionable. That is the dilemma.
But good news is, there are options that are neither sweat blockers nor have irritating or residue forming qualities. Keep reading.
How effective deodorant is natural deodorant? Does it provide all day protection against body odor? Yes it can. You do not need harsh chemicals or pharmaceuticals to fight normal body odor.
For fewest harsh chemicals: look for aluminum-free deodorants with little or no added fragrance
For sensitive skin: look for baking-soda free and fragrance-free or synthetic fragrance-free and alcohol-free
For peace of mind: look for “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals” or Leaping Bunny Certified in all your skin care choices.
Finally…
A great natural deodorant with no harmful ingredients was something I was passionately after. So much so, I invented one. Being a board certified dermatologist I knew all about sweating, body odor and skin. It took 5 years of formulating to come to the best odor-fighting and skin friendly, pH balancing result that is also an easy application and zero residue... and I did it.
The above is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice nor a substitute for medical care from your doctor.