Successfully Switching to Natural Deodorant
It was 2018 when I was scrolling through Facebook and saw someone post about Native Aluminum Free Deodorant. We all see people talk about products they love all the time, but for some reason, it caught my attention! I had tried Tom’s Natural Deodorant years before and did not have a good experience. But, now, I was open to trying natural deodorant again.
First, let me begin by saying, I.SWEAT…A.LOT. So, if you are worried that you can’t make the switch, worry no more! If I can do it, anyone can! I had previously started using Secret Clinical and other deodorants because nothing else would really work for me. So, I figured, what did I have to lose by giving toxic free deodorant a shot, right? The weather was starting to heat up so I thought that if it worked for me during the summer months, I knew I could stick to it! So, I went to Native’s website, ordered a starter pack, and dove into my research.
Did you know that the aluminum in antiperspirants has been linked to potentially causing breast cancer?? The same for Parabens which is also commonly found in Deodorant? Also, my underarms used to be darker than my other skin color; but after a few weeks on natural deodorant, my underarm skin tone cleared up. My underarms are softer and less sensitive after shaving. The skin tone change told me there are some toxic ingredients in the deodorant I was using in my body for it to be changing my skin shade. Discovering all of these things pretty much sealed the deal for me.
Final result: I have not used any aluminum-filled antiperspirants in over three years, and I don’t regret this change at all! Native deodorant is actually aluminum free, paraben free, sulfate free, talc free, and phthalate free! Wins all around! In this message, I want to share some brands I have tried as well as some tips I learned over time after making the switch.
Top All Natural Deodorant Brand Picks
1. Native – One of their best-selling scents is Coconut & Vanilla, which I also love! It comes in the Sample pack. This is my go-to scent. They also have a Sensitive line made without baking soda if you have skin irritations to that ingredient. Also, over the last year or so, they started selling their products in stores so you can find them at Target, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart. (Also, try out their bar soaps! Great lather, and a little goes a long way. I love the Unscented bar.)
2. Each & Every Deodorant – I tried this baking soda free deodorant over the last year because Tabitha Brown has made videos about it. (Yep, that’s the only reason I know about it. Go Tab!) I love this cruelty free deodorant, too! I started out with ordering a travel pack of these because they are a bit on the pricey side. I like Citrus & Vetiver the best so far. I plan to try some others. (I also plan to try their perfume rollerballs soon. I am always looking for new, natural options for things I use every day.)
3) Raw Sugar Deodorant – I picked up the Vanilla Bean + Charcoal all natural vegan deodorant one day in Target, and I liked it a lot! This one doesn’t roll on as easily as the others, but it’s still a good buy. It’s cheaper than some of the other brands, too, but it still works. Plus, it comes in Plastic-Free packaging (Native does too!). (Try the Raw Sugar brand also for body wash and hand sanitizer.)
4) Schmidt’s Deodorant - The Rose & Vanilla scent is my fave! Schmidt’s is a great substitute if you need a cheaper option. It also is good if you run out of your deodorant and need some in a pinch because it is more widely sold. (This happened to me when I first started out and forgot my Native deodorant at home when traveling. Schmidt’s to the rescue so I didn’t have to revert back!)
Tips, Tricks, & Things to Remember
PATIENCE, People: If you have ever heard, “the race is not given to the swift…but to the one that endures”, this is one of those times to activate it! Lol Switching to natural deodorant takes PATIENCE. You will buy some that won’t work like you had hoped. You will fall in love with a Brand but all of their scents may not work for you. Plus, sometimes, it takes the body time to adjust. When I first started, I did an underarm detox using Bentonite Clay and Apple Cider Vinegar. (Mundi actually mentions the Bentonite Clay I used in her post of 50 non-toxic things sold at Target .This is not the particular info I used, but here is a great article that gives steps to do a detox as well as good info about the harmful ingredients in conventional deodorant and how to switch. https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/armpit-detox/
· Cost: Natural deodorant IS more expensive. But, you will not even miss the extra dollars you spend in the long run. I know it can seem to be costly when you try one, and then it doesn’t work so you feel like you have wasted over $10 for nothing. But, again, ENDURE. To use up brands and/or scents that may not have worked so well, I use them at night or a day when I may be working from home and not really going out. To save having to buy too often, I also do not always wear deodorant at night. Scrub those underarms good, and you should be ok to make it through the night. Then, in the morning, wash them again (and dry) before applying deodorant.
· Sweating: Natural deodorant is NOT an antiperspirant. This means YOU.WILL.LIKELY.SWEAT. Sweat clears our bodies of toxins and keeps us cool. So, we actually need to sweat, but the aluminum in normal deodorant is made to keep us from doing this very important thing! Native’s formula includes baking soda, which helps with keeping dry, but again, everyone is different. So, I do still sweat quite a bit sometimes with natural deodorant.
· Smell: This is going to be a tough one for you guys. But, here it is. I can admit it. Sometimes, natural deodorant will fail you! I know, I know…tough to hear. This can especially happen if you are trying a new brand or scent. But, some of my old deodorants used to fail me, too, so, would I rather deal with this AND risk potential cancer by going back? No brainer…With that said, all of our body chemistries are different. So, I can’t stress enough that you have to find what works for you! You may never have this issue! Or you may be like me and have to really be mindful of this fact. You may notice that many suggestions of scents I made, for example, had Vanilla as an ingredient. This is because I have found that this works well with my body. In contrast, I have found that Lavender scents in any brand don’t really work for me too well. This is similar to how you may choose perfumes, etc. Learn your natural body scent so you can pick out how other scents react with them and be better at choosing what is right for you. Sometimes, no scent is best, too! J (Native has an Unscented deodorant that is good to try.)
· What Goes In, Comes Out: Going further with the scent convo…our bodies release what is in them when sweating. So, up your water game when you go on this journey! I have noticed less/no smell from my underarms if I am well hydrated. This is a win-win all around! Who doesn’t need more water?! Also, this goes for food as well. Fruits and veggies are gifts that keep on giving to our bodies, inside and out! J
· Clothing: Pay attention to fabrics that you wear. I noticed this before switching, but some fabrics make me sweat more than others. Two words: Cotton breathes. Also, here’s a bonus: I have noticed that when washing my clothes now, sweat and natural deodorant are washed out more easily than sweat with my old deodorants. Bye bye sweat stains! J
· Be Unapologetically You: Embrace your natural scent! I have found that even if I start to sweat, the smell was worse when I used to use “regular” deodorant. I think chemicals mixed with my sweat was probably doing me no good in the fresh department! So, for me, au naturel is really best!
· Be Prepared: Finally, if you are really paranoid about getting caught out here (Lol), always BE PREPARED. I carry an Each & Every travel tube in my purse, especially in the summer. I buy all-natural body cloths (you can find these on Amazon or through Grove) and keep them in my purse as well. So, I can go to a restroom, wipe down my underarms, and re-apply deodorant, if needed. Done! Also, because you may sweat a lot more than normal, you may find it handy to keep an extra shirt in your car. You may not have to do this forever, but maybe in the beginning or when you expect to perspire a lot (ex: after the gym). This is just in case! Again, you may not have to do any of this, but it’s always good to be prepared!
I hope all of this has helped someone consider taking this step to a toxic free life! I am no expert, and I don’t live completely toxic-free yet. But, even small changes can help! Remember to endure! You may have to try a ton of deodorants before you find one that is right for you! J In the meantime, take care of yourself and each other!
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