Well-Being

Why You Should Try a Natural Deodorant

There's never been a better time to make the switch

By Rhiannon Jones /

There’s never been a better time to make the switch

Wearing deodorant is a staple in most of our routines. It’s like brushing your teeth—without it, you don’t feel ready to tackle the day. Not to mention, we depend on it to get us through those sweaty workouts and day-to-day tasks without feeling, well, smelly.

But did you know that your regular antiperspirant or deodorant can actually cause more harm than good? From skin irritation and possible health risks to actually making perspiration worse, there’s a reason why so many are trying more natural products.

Here’s why you should consider it too…

 

1. Natural deodorants are aluminum-free

Most drugstore deodorant brands contain aluminum to prevent perspiration—but sweating is actually a good and natural function that helps release toxins. Chemical-laden deodorants can clog your sweat glands and prevent the perspiration your body needs to cool down. Antiperspirants temporarily fight odour by working hard to block your sweat glands, while aluminium-free deodorants contain antibacterial ingredients that focus on killing the odour-causing bacteria rather than just covering it up.

 

2. Natural deodorants don’t use artificial fragrances

When “fragrance” is noted on the ingredients list, the manufacturer doesn’t need to say what chemicals are included to artificially scent the product. Natural deodorant scents are extracted from essential oils of herbs like rosemary, lemongrass and tea tree oil, which not only smell beautifully refreshing, but also help prevent the buildup of sweat-eating bacteria. And with no artificial fragrances added, those with sensitive skin can rest easy knowing the full ingredients list.

 

3. Natural deodorant can make you smell better

As noted above, your pits need to breathe, and anything blocking your glands from doing so is going to cause a buildup of the good bacteria that should actually be digesting sweat. In turn, this limits how your body digests the bad bacteria and actually causes your sweat to smell even worse.

 

4. Natural deodorants do not contain parabens

Natural deodorants are paraben-free. Parabens are preservatives used in personal care products to elongate their shelf life, but may also interfere with how your body produces and regulates hormones like estrogen.