Why swap to natural deodorant and what is the best natural deodorant to use? Most antiperspirants contain aluminum and other toxins that are not good for our bodies. The way “antiperspirants” work, keeping our sweat glands from releasing sweat the way they were meant to, keeps our bodies from functioning the way it was designed to. Also, high concentrations aluminum, used in many deodorant formulations, has been linked to all kinds of health issues, such as Alzheimer’s, kidney issues, and cancers. Why put that on our bodies every day when we can make a simple swap to something that’s better for us?
Will You Find Aluminum in the Best Natural Deodorant?
You can probably guess, the answer is No. God created our bodies so that we can cool down and release toxins thru sweat. By using aluminum-laden deodorant, many of us have clogged up the pores so that they cannot work the way they were meant to. A lot of the health issues listed above have been linked to individuals with higher concentrations of aluminum in their bodies. Deodorant is a simple swap we can make towards a cleaner shelf of personal products. A lot of personal products we use every single day are full of toxic chemicals. Each change we make can have a profound difference over time.
Did You Know You Can Have Detox Symptoms When You Stop Using Antiperspirants?
That’s one of the ways I knew antiperspirants were not good for my body. Here are some of the symptoms you may experience when swapping to a more natural deodorant. Most of them will subside after your body resets and is able to work the way it’s supposed to, but you could experience one or more of these when you first make the switch:
-More sweat. Initially, if you’re no longer “blocking” your sweat glands, you may experience more sweat as these start working properly again. I experienced this when I first made the swap, but it isn’t an issue I deal with any more now that I’ve been using natural deodorants for several years.
-More “stink”. If you’re body is cleaning out years or even decades of toxins that haven’t been able to be released the way they were supposed to, you may initially have more smell. How a toxic deodorant deals with bacteria can also affect this. That is why I’m sharing some of the more natural deodorants that pass the “smell test.” You may have to try a few brands to learn what works best for you. Keep in mind that you may still have a little more stink as you make the initial swap to natural deodorant and your sweat pores adjust to this change.
A Rash is Not a Normal Detox Symptom When Searching for the Best Natural Deodorant
If you experience a rash, then it is probably an allergic reaction. I experienced this with a couple of deodorants that I tried. My skin is very sensitive, and I have to be careful with certain ingredients in my deodorant. If you have a breakout or itching, you should probably stop using that brand and try a different kind of deodorant.
You may even need a few days to “rest” your armpits to let them recover before adding more deodorant into the mix. One of my deodorants was so bad, I needed I break for a few days. If you find yourself in this situation, you can just clean the area several times a day and let it air out as much as possible.
Soreness in the Lymph Nodes Can Also Be a Sign of Allergic Reaction
This symptom can be especially alarming, because it can be related to allergic reactions. When I first swapped to a natural deodorant, I experienced some soreness, but I also experienced break-out from the new deodorant I swapped to. At the time, I thought soreness was a normal detox symptom, but I actually found that the deodorant I swapped to was one that I was allergic to. If you are experiencing soreness, you may want to keep searching for a deodorant that works better for your body.
Our Journey to Find the Best Natural Deodorant
What is essential in the best deodorant? My husband and I have been using natural deodorants for about 6 years. I also have a teenage daughter who loves to smell good. I was determined to start her off right, with natural deodorant, so she didn’t have to go thru detox the way Rusty and I did.
Here Are Some of the Things That Are Top Priority When Choosing the Best Natural Deodorant
-It smells good throughout the day. If it has a stinky weird smell when you put it on, it doesn’t score high in my book. The same is true when I feel like I’m stinking after just a few hours. Our favorites smell good all day long and are a scent we actually like for deodorant. I like more citrusy, fruity smells. My hubby likes unscented or masculine woodsy scents. My daughter is all about the fun scents, like Dunkin’ and lime.
-They are not antiperspirants and do not contain aluminum. As I said above, you don’t want to rub aluminum on your skin every single day. It is a toxin, and what you rub on your skin does get absorbed into the body. Also, if it isn’t an antiperspirant, it allows the sweat glands to function they way they were meant to. In my experience, this doesn’t lead to sweatier armpits. It just allows everything to work properly, without clogging it up.
-They have clean ingredients. You can look up deodorants for yourself, but the more natural ingredients and less chemical-laden you can get, the better. These are companies that present a more natural option. Feel free to research brands on your own to find the cleanest one that’s the best fit for you.
-They don’t break me out. If they cause an allergic reaction, they go in the trash. These brands have worked good for our family. Over time, the Schmidt did irritate my skin a little, but my daughter has used it for years without any issues. The one that broke me out the most did not make our top deodorant list.
Let’s Start With the Guys-The Top Men’s Deodorants:
Dr. Squatch
Dr. Squatch is one of the best-smelling deodorants. If you’re looking for a good “man” smell, the Wood Barrel Bourbon smells AMAZING. They also have other men’s health products, such as cologne, lotion, and shampoo that also smell really good. Actually, as you’ll see below, I even like to use more neutral scents for the ladies, such as Coconut Castaway and Cool Fresh Aloe, because these deodorants work so good. I have a feeling my pre-teen boys are going to pick Dr. Squatch for their main deodorant, because what teenage boy doesn’t want to smell good?
Mando
At the moment, Mando is my husband’s absolute favorite. It claims to actually kill the bacteria that causes odors. They also have Lume deodorant for the ladies. My hubby likes how long it works; it’s been clinically proven to work for up to 3 days. Personally, I don’t always love the initial smell, but it goes away after it sits for a minute on the skin. You want to rub it in completely on dry armpits.
Neither of us were crazy about the stick Mando deodorants. My husband actually sent them back in exchange for the squeeze bottles. We agree that they have a better overall scent. Those are definitely his go-to deodorants for daily use.
What is the Best Natural Deodorant for the Ladies?
Between me and my teen-age daughter, we’ve used several different brands of natural deodorants. After having to detox from the chemical-laden deodorants as an adult, I really wanted her getting clean brands right from the start. Here are some of our absolute favorites:
Dr. Squatch
Okay, I know I’m stealing from the guy’s shelf, but the Dr. Squatch deodorants smell so good, they are definitely some of my faves! The Coconut Castaway has a tropical, fruity scent (which I like in a deodorant) and the Fresh Cool Aloe is more neutral. Those are two of the ones I like the most for ladies. It started as me stealing from my husband’s stash when mine was breaking me out. Now, I’m placing complete Dr. Squatch orders just for me.
Plant Therapy
Plant therapy has surprisingly good deodorants for an essential oil company. I’ve had issues with breakout with other similar companies, but I love the ones from Plant Therapy. The Coconut Ylang Ylang smells very good, with a gentle coconut scent. I used to use the Tiare flower, which the Coconut replaced, and that one also smelled addictively good. I would literally place entire orders to restock my Plant Therapy deodorant.
Plant Therapy is also great if you’re looking for other clean products, such as bathroom scent spray, household cleaner, and essential oils. I love all the good-smelling blends. They go out of their way to create seasonal blends that smell amazing. You can use our link to save 15%. If you tune in to their Facebook page, they also have helpful training for how to use the essential oils they carry.
Schmidt’s
Schmidt’s was one of the first natural deodorants I tried and became my daughter’s first as well. I like that I can just pick it up at Walmart or Target for a decent price. The convenience factor totally won me over. I like making that simple swap to a more natural deodorant without having to go out of my way to make it work.
My favorite scent was “Rose and Vanilla”, and my daughter loved the “Bergamot & Lime.” Over time, I did have some issues with breakout, and my daughter has also moved on to a new favorite. However, if you’re looking for something you can just grab and throw in the grocery cart, but still make positive swaps, then this may be the perfect fit for you.
Native
If you’ve been shopping in Target, chances are, you’ve seen Native deodorant lining the shelves. My daughter loves all the fun scents, and they even carry an aerosol version that she wants to try. This is her new favorite brand. Once again, sometimes it’s nice to have a deodorant you can just grab around town, without having to plan ahead and place an order. They also have a wide variety of scents to choose from.
Why Swap to Natural Deodorant?
If you value your health, it’s so important to be aware of all of the toxins in our environment today. Every time I can make a simple swap, and it not break the bank, I go for it. I don’t always love every swap, but if I don’t even try it, I’ll never know. I hope sharing some of our favorite deodorants and why normal deodorant is not a healthy option will give you a leg up as you make swaps in your own home. At this point, I would never swap back to regular deodorant. There are so many great natural options out there. Good luck in finding the best natural deodorant for you!
