New To Natural Deodorant? Here's What You Need To Know

Trust us, we get it.

The struggle to find a truly non-toxic deodorant that actually works is real – and a struggle so many of our customers (including our founder!) have faced. If you’re still having a hard time believing that natural deodorant can actually combat B.O., not sure what ingredients you’re actually applying to your pits, nervous about the potential detox phase, or worried about keeping your skin free from rashes + irritation, this post is for you.

New to natural deodorant? Here’s what you need to know.



INGREDIENTS REALLY DO MATTER



First things first. If you’re new to natural deodorant, we’re giving you a digital high five (is that even a thing?!) for making the *best* decision for your body. Because you guys, ingredients really DO matter.

Think about it: how often are you applying your deodorant? Most likely, every. single. day (and sometimes maybe multiple times a day!).

Once you start to uncover the harsh reality of harmful chemicals found in traditional deodorants, you’ll get a better picture of how this daily application is actually exposing your skin and body to an array of ingredients that are either contributing to your overall wellness – or causing more harm than health.

Instead of using aluminum (which is also closely linked to Alzheizmers + heavy metal toxicity), we use arrowroot powder and kaolin clay to absorb moisture, allow the skin to breathe and detoxify the body. And rather than using highly toxic artificial fragrances to mask odor (which are also directly connected to countless health conditions), potent essential oils play a key part in our natural deodorant.

Our non-toxic formula is incredibly concentrated, made with only a few pure ingredients – ingredients that work with the body to not only neutralize B.O., but to help detoxify the body of toxic buildup and bring balance back to sweat glands.



LEARN TO READ LABELS



While you’re on the search for your natural deodorant soulmate, it’s important for you to know: not all natural deodorants are created equal. So we want to strongly encourage you to become an avid label reader! Just because there’s a green leaf or the word “organic” on the front of the jar or tube, be wary of what’s actually inside.

Sadly, greenwashing is much more common in the skincare industry and is deceiving consumers that the products they’re purchasing are pure, natural, or organic – while in reality, the ingredients list reveals otherwise.

QUICK LABEL TIP: Marketing messages may claim “NO” this and “NO” that… But rather than focusing on what’s NOT in the product, do some digging and look at the ingredient label to see which ingredients are really being used instead. Even if some of the “natural” brands lining the drugstore shelves claim to be aluminum-free, several are loaded with fillers and other harmful ingredients.

We can’t stress enough how essential is it to actually read and research and learn your product labels. And we want to help make this process even easier for you! You won’t ever have to google the ingredients we list on our natural deodorant labels because we are proud of the ingredients we use and are committed to providing truly non-toxic products that support healthy hormones, a strong sense of overall wellness – and pits that are stink-free, of course!



EXPECT TO SWEAT



Okay, you’ve got your truly non-toxic deodorant, now for the good news. You’re going to sweat… and you’re welcome!

Sweating, glowing, glistening, whatever you want to call it 😉 is NOT a bad thing – it’s actually a very good, healthy + necessary function to detoxify and keep our body balanced! Instead of blocking pores to prevent sweating (like an antiperspirant) with harmful chemicals (like aluminum), non-toxic deodorant allows skin to breathe, rids the body of toxic buildup + regulates its internal temperature.

Once you’ve switched from an antiperspirant that stops your sweat glands from actually doing what they’re supposed to do, you’ll most likely start to feel a bit more sweaty (and you might even be extra sweaty as your body begins to purge itself of toxins from chemical-filled conventional deodorants). BUT your body will normalize soon after and you’ll find you sweat even less! Our natural alternative even has a cumulative effect, so the more you use it, the better it works. We’d call that a win-win!



DON’T DREAD THE DETOX PHASE



Switching to natural deodorant doesn’t have to be scary – and we promise, the sweat will subside. If rumors surrounding the dreaded detox phase may be holding you back from making the transition, we want to help clear the air.

Similar to the sweat situation above, as your body rids itself of toxins from traditional deodorant, you may find yourself a bit more smelly than normal. After a week or two (the detox phase depends on your current chemical buildup), this will minimize and disappear as your pits + sweat glands become more balanced! All-day odor protection – without the risks of disease or dangerous side effects – is possible when taking a natural, non-toxic approach to conventional deodorants.

While excess sweat and smell may be an inevitable part of the initial pit detox, this 3-ingredient DIY detox paste can help minimize odor, painful rashes and sweat!

DIY Underarm Detox: Mix 1 tablespoon bentonite clay, 1 teaspoon ACV, 1-2 teaspoon purified water and apply thin layer to each pit for about 5-20 minutes (depending on how your skin responds). Apply daily for up to 2 weeks – or until your pits are detoxed, smooth and odor-free!



IRRIATION, REDNESS, AND RASHES – OH MY!



Does redness, rashes or inflammation make your sensitive skin nervous to try another natural deodorant?

While there could be multiple causes for armpit rashes (check out this post for reasons why + what you can do about it!), one culprit could be baking soda. While it’s an incredibly effective odor-fighting ingredient, if there’s too much baking soda in a deodorant, it can feel abrasive and possibly cause a reaction for some skin types.

Our expertly formulated natural deodorant contains lower doses of odor-blocking baking soda to help prevent BO while protecting sensitive skin! Plus, our formula is fortified with skin-soothing + detoxifying ingredients such as non-nano zinc oxide and kaolin clay.

Here are a few helpful suggestions to prevent irritation and protect sensitive skin when applying natural deodorant:

  • don’t apply after shaving (shave at night + apply in the morning)
  • apply only 1-2 swipes for lasting odor protection (less is more!)
  • allow deodorant to warm up to skin to reduce friction
  • try dabbing instead of swiping

Phew, we covered a lot. But now, you’re no longer a natural deodorant newbie – you’re a natural deo pro!

We hope this post helped you discover that going natural doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice smelling good, or that you’ve got to swipe product to your pits with your fingers, or that the packaging can’t be cute sitting on your bathroom counter. 😉 There’s a new wave of natural deodorant and the verdict’s out: this one takes the cake. XO

 

From ingredients, to sweating, to armpit rashes, we're spilling everything you need to know if you're new to natural deodorant. This post is a must-read! | Primally Pure Skincare

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Courtney O’Connor

Courtney Joy O’Connor is Primally Pure’s In-House Holistic Esthetician and Content Curator. Being in the beauty industry for over a decade, her experience + expertise with pure products, the healing power of touch and holistic skincare rituals are at the core of all she creates. She has trained extensively with industry experts across the country to offer her community the most educational content and transformative treatments. Courtney lives at the beach with her plant babies and loves road tripping, blending superfood bliss balls and exploring our big, beautiful world.