The question of whether or not to switch over to a natural deodorant has been on a lot of people’s minds for a while. So many of us put so much effort into sourcing natural products for our face, our hair, and even our kitchen, yet go on using the commonplace drugstore antiperspirant. Meanwhile, the natural deodorant market is vast, and we have so many good options. Not to mention, we can also explain why the switch might be for you. 

So what’s the difference?

Let’s get this straight. Natural deodorants are not going to work like the classic antiperspirant, and that’s a good thing. Antiperspirants use synthetic compounds that often involve aluminum to block sweat glands and pores to stop the release of sweat altogether. Natural deodorants don’t hinder your sweat or clog your pores, but instead, they mask the odor and absorb excess moisture. A lot of times the method of the natural deodorant often works a lot better as odor comes from bacteria naturally occurring on the skin that feeds off of moisture, so by absorbing that moisture, you end up smelling better and sweating less in the long run. Not to mention, you’re not actively trying to work against the natural processes of your body. Oh, and there’s no synthetic fragrance, which is super important to us at SLFMKR. 

So what do I look for?

Natural deodorants have a few key ingredients that help them to work the way that they do. Most will have magnesium, baking soda, zinc oxide, white clay, coconut oil, and shea butter. Others will have additional soothing or moisturizing ingredients such as aloe or tea tree oil, but those are the main basics. As for how they work, here is the lowdown:

• Magnesium: balances pH since our armpits are naturally acidic, improves the natural odor
• Baking soda: absorbs moisture and kills odor causing bacteria, however, can be irritating as some are allergic to baking soda
• White clay: alternative to baking soda, also helps to absorb moisture 
• Zinc oxide: alternative to baking soda, works as an anti-bacterial
• Coconut oil: creates a barrier on the skin, has a large amount of fatty acids which make the ingredient anti-fungal and anti-bacterial
• Shea butter: moisturizing, soothing, non-greasy

When looking for a natural deodorant the main key is to look for an ingredient that will absorb moisture, an ingredient that will tackle the bacteria, and an ingredient that will soothe any possible irritation. 

So how do I switch? 

The switch can be the most daunting part of the whole process, but we promise it’s worth it, just trust us when we say it gets worse before it gets better. You start with a one to two-week detox period, where exfoliation of the underarms is necessary everyday and you should avoid deodorant altogether. This will allow you to reset and let your body get used to naturally sweating again since the pores were blocked before. After that detox period, you can begin to apply the natural deodorant daily and your body should start to sync with the deodorant. After four weeks, the entire process should be complete, and the natural deodorant should be working better than anything you have used before. 

So what are your favorites?

What are our favorites? Well, we’re so glad you asked! The two biggest natural deodorant lines we carry are Kaia Organics and Agent Nateur. Both feature different scents that we love and a few different types, including some for sensitive skin like the Niacinamide Brightening Deodorant by Kaia Naturals and the holi(stick) Sensitive Deodorant from Agent Nateur. Both use baking soda alternatives like charcoal and zinc oxide and work wonderfully. Kaia Naturals Takesumi Deodorant comes in a variety of smells that are sure to be a crowd pleaser, and Agent Nateur even has a unisex smell variety. Other than that, we love the Ursa Major Hoppin’ Fresh Deodorant and the Alo Supernatural Deodorant. Any way you go, you couldn’t go wrong. So come in and test some smells, order a few travel-size options online to see which you like, and don’t be afraid to make the jump. It will be worth it, and as always, we are here to help!