Ah deodorant. One of the many taboo subjects women aren’t suppose to talk about.
The purpose of this post is to start the conversation. Chances are, you apply this product daily, without a second thought.
But have you ever taken a look at the chemical contents of commercial deodorants and antiperspirants?
They frequently contains toxic carcinogens such as heavy aluminums, parabens, triclosan, TEA, and DEA. These potentially deadly chemicals leach into the delicate underarm skin all day, everyday. In the case of antiperspirants, preventing sweat from coming out of your pores takes some heavy duty work from some heavy duty chemicals. Yikes.
So what’s a girl to do? Alternative deodorants get a bad rep—and I can see why. I had to try quite a few to find ones that were effective enough to tackle my *ahem* Mediterranean genetics. And I’m glad I did! I would much prefer to use sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), essential oils or salts to keep bacteria at bay than, you know, chemicals linked to causing cancer in humans.
The Purist’s Picks
Kaia Naturals Detox Deodorants
Kaia Naturals – Takesumi Detox Deodorant in Juicy Bamboo, Black Oak and Bourbon, or Nordic Frost.
After using this charcoal-based deodorant for the full detox period (30 days), I can say I’m a fan! However, it took the full 30 days for my underarms. Some people find it takes less. Thankfully, the detox period wasn’t awful or noticeable to the people around me (believe me, I checked. I have no shame.)
If you are ready to give the detox deodorant a spin, I would highly recommend doing so in the cooler months. At this point, my underarms are way less, um, fragrant than they used to be.
- Wearability: 5/5
- Effectiveness: 4/5
- Price: 4/5
- Toxins: 4/5
- Overall: 4/5
Schmidt’s Deodorant Sticks
Schmidt’s Deodorant Stick in Rose Vanilla, Charcoal Magnesium, or Bergemont Lime
The only regret I have about Schmidt’s deodorants are that I didn’t try them sooner. Each of the three scents are all wonderful, natural deodorant choices.
I have personally bought the Rose + Vanilla twice now, and Dusan has been using the Charcoal Magnesium every day for months.
- Wearability: 5/5
- Effectiveness: 4/5
- Price: 5/5
- Toxins: 5/5
- Overall: 4.5/5
Soapwalla Cream Deodorants
Soapwalla Cream Deodorant – original
This deodorant seems to get a lot of press. Some people love it. I tried it out and didn’t hate it… but it’s not my first choice. It works ok for day-to-day wear. In my opinion, the price is a little high for the 2 oz of product you receive
I’m subtracting one point from Wearability because I find scooping the paste out and apply to the underarms is a little awkward.
- Wearability: 3/5
- Effectiveness: 2/5
- Price: 3/5
- Toxins: 5/5
- Overall: 3/5
A final note
If you are on a budget, you can make your own natural deodorant cream by combining baking soda with water and lavender essential oil. I know several people who swear by it.
I’m hoping to put together a few beauty product DIY’s in the future. Stay tuned for the cream deodorant recipe!
I hope you found these reviews helpful. If you have questions, please let me know below.
