First of all, what’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?
Well, as the name implies, deodorants reduce the smell of body odour from your armpits and antiperspirants contain aluminum salts that reduce the amount of sweat you produce from your armpits by blocking the pores of your sweat glands.
If you sweat a lot, then an antiperspirant may sound appealing, but lets dive into it a bit more.
The role of sweating is to a) control body temperature and b) to eliminate toxins. By clogging up your underarm pores with the aluminum salts, you effectively stop both of these.
Two main health concerns with using aluminum containing antiperspirants are Alzheimer’s Disease and Breast Cancer.
Earlier on in the 60s and 70s, aluminum was identified as a possible suspect in Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disease. The suspicion led to concern about exposure to aluminum through everyday items like pots and pans, pop cans, antacids and antiperspirants. Concerns skyrocketed later on when studies started popping up that revealed Alzheimer’s patients having high levels of aluminum in their brains.
With breast cancer, the concern is the proximity of the armpit to the breast. Clinical studies are showing a disproportionately high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. Application of aluminum containing antiperspirants to the armpit is effectively putting aluminum into your blood stream and lymph nodes by absorption through the skin and through micro nicks from shaving.
In the Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, an article was published in 2005 that stated,
“Aluminum is knows to be “genotoxic”, meaning it is capable of causing alterations in DNA and genetic expression. This would be consistent with a potential role in breast cancer if these DNA alterations occurred in breast cells”.
For that reason alone, I will never use aluminum containing deodorants or antiperspirants again. Ask a breast cancer survivor is she uses aluminum containing deodorants. I put money on the answer being “no”.
The movement toward cleaner, safer beauty products is part of a larger paradigm shift in consumer awareness in health and wellness that is growing every day. People, more and more, are wanting to know what is in their beauty products since increasing evidence supports that certain ingredients are linked to health concerns.
An excellent resource to find out about all of your beauty products is the “Environmental Working Group”. They have a large database of many ingredients and products for you to check out. Go see what score your current deodorant gets and perhaps consider choosing a natural, aluminum free version!
I have used quite a few aluminum free natural deodorants in my time. Here are my recommendations:
- Arbonne Shea Butter Aluminum Free Natural Deodorant – This smells amazing and goes on thin. It leaves your skin super soft. Easy to apply as it comes in a conventional deodorant stick. Doesn’t leave pit stains on my clothes – which is a big bonus! Don’t forget to sign up as a preferred client before purchase for a 20% discount. $15.20
- Native Aluminum Free Natural Deodorant – Comes in a variety of pleasant scents. Goes on a little thicker than the Arbonne deodorant. It is also easy to apply as it comes in a conventional deodorant stick. I do find it leaves pit stains on my clothes. Also ships from the USA and price is in American dollars, so take into account the exchange rate when pricing it out. Best to order a few so you don’t have to order all the time. $12 USD
- Routine de-odour-cream Natural Deodorant – Love this stuff as well. Comes in many different formulas (with or without baking soda, with or without beeswax). Has many pleasant scents. Locally made in Calgary, Alberta. Comes in a re-fillable glass jar but you have to use your finger to put it on. Also comes in a stick. It is very pricey. $28
- Rocky Mountain Soap Liquid Crystal Natural Deodorant – I find this works but not quite as well as the others. It is moderately priced and has a few different scents. It is a liquid and goes on wet with a roller ball. This is what I don’t like about it. I feel like I have to walk around with my arms over my head until it dries. Also comes in a jar in a cream formula. Have not tried this version of it. The cream is on the pricey end. $11-28
The best option is trial and error. What works best for me may not work best for you. You may say, but these are more expensive than my drug store brand! All I have to say is, the best investment is in yourself. What does anything else in the world matter if you don’t have your health?
I choose to use clean, safe and natural deodorants because breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family. And it works! So why not?
If you are ready to make the switch to all natural aluminum free deodorant, be sure to give yourself a solid month before you make any hasty decisions about whether or not your new natural deodorant works. You have to detox your pits! If you’ve been using an aluminum containing antiperspirant for years, be prepared to be a ‘lil stinky at first. The aluminum has been clogging your pores for years and it all has to come out now.
To assist in the transition you can:
- Use a 1:1 ratio of bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Put this clay mask on your armpits for 10-15 min and then wash off. Repeat weekly until detox is finished.
- Be sure to drink plenty of water during the detox phase. Water will help flush out any pent up toxins.
- Reduce your intake of odour causing foods such as sugar, spicy foods, processed foods, red meat, alcohol and coffee.
Ok so there you have it. Find a natural deodorant that you like, detox those pits and enjoy life knowing that you’ve reduced your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer.
Drop a comment below and let me know how your armpit detox went and what natural deodorant you are using! Connect with me on social media if you want more info on this!
