There has always been a perplexity when it comes to using deodorants. On one hand, almost everyone will need to use one at some point of their lives to prevent sweaty odours.
On the other hand, there’s been warnings of deodorants being bad for you on the long run. Read on…
Following widespread health awareness, deodorants have been under scrutiny for their potential to cause harm, especially after long term use. This is due to the chemical makeup of most deodorant products. Deodorants are designed to help neutralise odours cause by sweat, for sweat is the problem, or so we thought.
According to beauty expert David Pirrotta, founder of David Pirrotta Brand Management. people usually don’t realise that sweat isn’t the cause of underarm odor, but rather, it’s bacteria. “It’s good for your body to sweat, and traditional deodorants actually inhibit this healthy function by clogging pores with unhealthy ingredients like aluminum chlorohydrate,” he explains. “Natural deodorants allow the body to rid itself of potentially harmful toxins.”
You May Need To Reapply
Because natural deodorants aren’t created the same way as conventional deodorants, you may have to reapply the product now and then. Like their conventional counterparts, natural deodorants are available in a variety of formulations, and they may require some top-ups throughout the course of the day to ensure you remain fresh and smell great. This may seem troublesome, but it’s worth the effort of eliminating the chemicals that can potentially harm your health.
Take Your Time When Shopping For One
We all have different needs and preferences. We’ll have to take our activity levels, and unique body chemistry into account too. What works for a friend may not work that well for you and you’ll have to realise that making the switch to a natural deodorant isn’t as easy as just buying one product and making it work for you. Chances are, you might have to try out a few before settling on one that works best for you. Keep looking and you’ll find it.
Before You Buy, Check The Ingredients
It’s not hard to assume to natural deodorants may not work as well as stronger, conventional ones in terms of keeping underarm odor away. However, this isn’t true, especially if you know what to look for in natural or ‘green’ deodorant products.
According to Dr. Sarah Villafranco, founder of Osmia Organics, there are three main ingredients to look for when purchasing a natural deodorant.
They are:
- An absorptive ingredient, like baking soda, corn starch, or tapioca powder. It’s needed to help minimize moisture and adjust the pH in the area. Note: Some people are sensitive to baking soda, especially in high concentrations, she says, so test first.
- Antibacterial ingredients, like essential oils of lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, or thyme. These ingredients will suppress the bacteria that cause odor.
- A conditioning agent, like shea butter, to help care for your underarm skin.
Happy switching!
