The Why
Let’s first chat about why making a switch to non-toxic deodorant is important.
Sweating – one of the main ways our bodies get rid of toxins is through sweating. This is a good reason to NOT stop our pits from sweating. We want those babies to rid toxins!
Aluminum – which is the main ingredient in most antiperspirants, is toxic to our bodies and has been found accumulated in breast tissue. Some even say it could show up as Alzheimer’s. Check out this study if you are bored (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2014.00212/full).
Other bad things – we also want to stay away from things like Parabens and “Fragrance. “ Did you know “fragrance” isn’t FDA monitored and essentially could be anything?! Like legit, if a product has “fragrance” listed, that “fragrance” does not have to be disclosed and is also not monitored. It could be monkey pee, a nasty chemical, you name it…it could be anything.
The How
Now let’s chat about the how. It took me a while to switch to non-toxic deo. I was a major sweaty pit gal. I used doctor prescribed deodorant/antiperspirant for years. So basically, I was a sweaty beast. I started by telling those around me that I was embarking on this adventure and if I smell a little, they will just need to get used to it. Haha. No, but really. We are all very obsessed with smelling like flowers, etc. all the time. Believe me, I love good smelling stuff, but not at the expense of my health.
I then started gradually working my way towards non-toxic deodorant. I still had my toxic deodorant on hand. I wore that to work. I started with the weekends, when I wasn’t going to be seeing many people, I would use no deodorant or a non-toxic one. Winter is a great time of year to work on switching over as we are covered up with clothes and it’s not hot so we tend to sweat less.
Sometimes I would get a longer stint in when we would go to the lake for a week, etc. So, basically, I phased it in. It took about a year for me to do.
Another cool thing is that the cleaner you eat and the more you detox your body the less smelly your B.O. is.
The What
And finally, a list of my favorite non-toxic deodorants that I have tried. I know there are many more on the market, so I definitely haven’t tried them all. I just don’t have that many armpits. And remember, we all have different body chemistry, so something that works for me might not work for you. But I hope with my trials thus far I can help someone in their quest for a clean deodorant.
If you are not familiar with the Environmental Working Group, now is the time to make that site your friend. It’s not perfect as it doesn’t have every single product. But it has enough to help you on your non-toxic adventure. Items are rated on a 1-10 (1 being less toxic side of things, 10 being most toxic). I will reference that in this write up so it made sense to introduce you to the site here. https://www.ewg.org
My Favorite: Primally Pure Blue Tansy
EWG Score: 2
Ingredients:
Organic Arrowroot Powder, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil*, Tallow from Grass-Fed Cows, Organic Beeswax, Baking Soda, Non-nano Zinc Oxide, White Kaolin Clay, Organic Geranium Essential Oil, Blue Tansy Essential Oil*, Rosemary Extract* and Non-GMO Vitamin E
*FairTrade
Pros:
- Works the best for my pits
- Aluminum Free
- Uses a finer grain baking soda, which causes less sensitivity (some non-toxic deos can be irritating due to the baking soda)
- Their website is full of helpful information!! https://primallypure.com
My Second Favorite: Humble
EWG Score: 1
Ingredients:
(this is for the Mountain Lavender)
Fractionated Coconut Oil, Non-GMO Corn Starch, All-Natural Baking Soda, Beeswax, Pure Essential Oils & Botanical Extracts
Pros:
- They have some sensitive skin and vegan formulas
- A wide variety of scents
- They even have recyclable container options available
- No aluminum, alcohol, dyes, parabens or artificial fragrance. 100% Cruelty-Free.
Third on my List: Fat and The Moon Sensitive Pit Cream
EWG Score: N/A (this is an example of not everything being available on ewg.org)
Ingredients:
Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera)*, Arrowroot Powder (Maranta arundinacea)*, Magnesium Hydroxide, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Essential Oils of Basil (Ocimum basilicum)* & Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides)*
*Organic
^Ethically & Safely Wildcrafted
Pros:
- No baking soda, for the days your pits are extra sensitive. This is all I used for a while when my pits where very sensitive.
- They have a .5 oz size, which is great for travel!
Fourth: Mineralized
EWG Score: N/A (another example of not everything being available on ewg.org)
Ingredients:
(this is for the Cherry Blossom Scent)
Food-grade: Magnesium Hydroxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Magnesium Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Sulfate, a trace amount of Fractionated Coconut Oil, Cherry Blossom Essential Oil.
Pros:
- Fun scents
- Convenient powdered formula (with applicator) that is great for travel. Will not melt!
No foreign chemicals. Only food-grade, bodily-familiar ingredients. No baking soda, aluminum, and gluten. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Great for sensitive skin. - Refills come in biodegradable cardboard packaging
Last on my list that I have tried: Primal Paste
This is last as it can be irritating to me sometimes
Also, they appear to be changing their name to Pretty Frank so keep that in mind if you look for this product.
EWG Score: 1
Ingredients:
Organic Shea Butter, Organic Arrowroot Powder, Non-Aluminum Baking Soda, Organic Coconut Oil, Candelilla Wax, Organic Lavender Essential Oil, Vitamin E
Pros:
- No Aluminum, No Parabens, No Fake Fragrance
- All Natural, Organic, and Vegan Ingredients
- Non-Aluminum Baking Soda Delivers Powerful All-day Odor Protection
- Leaping Bunny Certified and Cruelty-Free
- Handcrafted in Austin, Texas
