I have a confession to make. I can be smelly – really smelly if I want to be. The problem is, I am trying to clean up my skin care act and reduce the amount of chemicals I am slathering all over myself. The one “beauty product” that many people swear is one of the first things you should change is your deodorant/antiperspirant – mainly the ones that contain aluminum. I have found that an aluminum-free deodorant is really the way to go, but I want to make sure that I don’t make people stand six feet away from me either. Below are my top choices for the best aluminum-free deodorant.
First, the Difference Between Deodorant and Antiperspirant
To really understand what you are buying, you have to know the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant – nope, they are not the same thing. Deodorants are for the smell factor if you do sweat and antiperspirants are to actually stop the sweat from starting in the first place. Deodorants are thought to be a better alternative because they let the body naturally sweat, but they kill the bacteria that causes the odor. Antiperspirants actually plug the sweat glands and prevent you from sweating in the first place – no sweat, no odor. Most products on the market are a combination of both. They prevent sweating with aluminum antiperspirant and if you do sweat, the deodorant kills the awful smelling bacteria and fills the void with a lovely smell of the manufacturer’s choosing.
Most people who want to cut out a few chemicals in their lives in the pursuit to live a little cleaner will agree that an all-natural, nontoxic, aluminum-free deodorant is the best. While some deodorants can be aluminum-free, try to also look for brands that don’t contain other harmful chemicals like triclosan, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, parabens, or any other known allergens, carcinogens or endocrine disruptors. (You can always check the Environment Working Group’s Skin Deep Database to check the brand you are interested in.)
The Problem with Aluminum Deodorants
Since the aluminum in deodorant is applied directly to the skin (sometimes freshly shaven skin), it can cause irritation or allergic reactions. Aluminum itself is also considered to be toxic to the body. There have been many studies linking aluminum to breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and bone and kidney disorders. While the jury and conclusive evidence is still officially out, I tend to want to lean toward the safer side and just go with a cleaner, more natural deodorant option if I can.
How to Use Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Aluminum-free deodorant is not an initial stink-stopping wonder. You definitely do need to ramp up to maximum protection. Your body takes awhile to acclimate to not having aluminum plugging up your sweat glands. I would recommend giving yourself three weeks to adjust before making a final decision on going aluminum-free.
Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links in this post are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend these products because they are products that I personally use or companies that I have found trustworthy.
My Top 7 Aluminum-Free Deodorant Choices:
Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant
I use Malin + Goetz the most often. When I do venture to others, I always end up coming back to this one. Some people online have stated that it doesn’t have a particularly feminine scent, but I personally think it smells clean. I don’t find that I sweat very much with this deodorant either, which is a bonus. The main thing is that it actually worked on any odor and I wasn’t smelly by the end of the day, even after a light workout and a longish dog walk in summer temperatures. I also don’t have to worry that it will stain the armpits of my shirts either. This one is on the pricier side, but it has lasted me a long time comparatively.
Each & Every
I order Each & Every on a constant rotation as well. Each & Every has wonderful scents and it did a good job of preventing any smells. I did feel like this one was a little oily, however. It didn’t bother my skin at all, but you might have to be careful with some fabrics of the shirts you are wearing.
Tom’s of Maine
Tom’s of Maine has been a long-standing provider of great aluminum-free deodorants. Their lavender scent is a great mainstay, but the lemongrass scent is also nice.
LAVANILA: The Healthy Deodorant
Lavanila by far has the best scents. I particularly like the lavender vanilla scent. The plain vanilla scent is also nice. I would buy this one again just for the smells alone – the good kind.
Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant
Schmidt’s is a newcomer for me, but I’m really liking the unusual scents. I especially like the Bergamot + Lime scent – really unexpected. The Lavender Sage is also really pretty. This one was a little harder and/or “crumblier” than some of the others, but it did seem to keep the stink away.
Megababe
Megababe always gets mentioned by celebrities and on daytime talk shows, particularly the Rosy Pits scent. I can vouch for the lovely smell and it is also effective.
Native
Native is also one that is a more recent try for me. It was easy to find online, had great scents and did a good job as well. It was a little harder than some of the others, but not enough that I wouldn’t buy it again.
So there you have it folks. Some great aluminum-free deodorants to try. I ran through the gamut of brands to hopefully save you a little time and effort. I’m definitely glad that I made the switch. It was a small step that helped make me feel that I was living a little cleaner.
If you want to take your clean beauty game a little further, check out my post The Best All Natural Makeup and Skin Care Brands.
