8 Best Natural Deodorant Ingredients

Aluminum-Free Baking Soda

Baking soda is amazing at neutralizing odor and absorbing moisture. Also known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda can sometimes contain aluminum particles so look for an aluminum-free baking soda formula. Very high concentrations of baking soda can disrupt your skin’s pH and cause rashes for sensitive skin types, so be wary of high baking soda deodorants.

I personally never had an issue with baking soda in my deodorants. This is really something you have to experiment with and see if you have any reaction or irritation with this ingredient.

Coconut and Carrier Oils

Coconut oil and certain other carrier oils are often used in natural deodorant products because of their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and moisturizing properties. Lauric acid, a key component of coconut oil, is effective at killing a wide range of skin bacteria including the bacteria that thrive under our armpits.

Also, because this oil is packed with anti-inflammatory compounds, coconut oil can also be effective at reducing irritation caused by shaving or skin friction.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are essentially the anti-bacterial stars of organic deodorants. Some essential oils are better than others for deodorizing because many essential oils are too harsh for topical use. The best essential oils to look for in a natural deodorant are bergamot, cypress, grapefruit, lavender, tea tree, sage, and rosemary.

I love the lavender essential oil myself and many of the deodorants that I have tried and done a review on have been lavender.

Aloe Vera

Because aloe vera gel tends to be very gentle, many people don’t realize that it has potent anti-bacterial and

anti-microbial properties. By using aloe to kill the bacteria which causes odor in our underarms, you may sweat but the moisture won’t breed odor-causing bacteria and some people use aloe vera as a natural deodorant on its own. As an added benefit, aloe vera is also anti-inflammatory so it can be healing for razor bumps and bruises due to shaving.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is exceptional at absorbing moisture and sweat. Many natural deodorants use either arrowroot powder or cornstarch to absorb sweat and then combine the powder with a potent anti-bacterial to prevent odor. Even without an antibacterial agent, a good absorbent powder like cornstarch hinders the ability for bacteria to break down sweat and create odor.

Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder is a very absorbent substance that is very similar to corn starch. It servers as both a medium for absorbing sweat and as a thickening agent for deodorant pastes and sticks. It is often found in natural dry shampoos as well because it is great at absorbing excess oil. By itself, this powder isn’t great at killing bacteria, so it is usually mixed with potent anti-bacterial essential or vegetable oils like coconut, lavender, or sage.

Non-Nano Zinc Oxide

This is an effective and mild antiperspirant. Unlike aluminum, non-nano zinc oxide is not absorbed by the skin because the particulars are too large. It can effectively block the production of some sweat without posing a health issue. Additionally, Non-nano zinc oxide has some anti-bacterial properties which help to reduce odor. It is a white powder that can leave streaks on your clothing if not properly rubbed in.

Kaolin Clay

Mined from the mountains of Koa-ling China, kaolin clay is an extremely absorbent and detoxifying powder. It can easily absorb a lot of oil and moisture, which makes it a fantastic natural deodorant ingredient. Kaolin clay also has potent detoxifying properties.

It is great at drawing out impurities from the skin and then neutralizing them with its blend of mineral and phytonutrients. Very gentle and great for sensitive skin types.

If you have never used a natural, aluminum-free deodorant, you may want to consider these tips below and see what is the best way to make your green switch and what to do and what not to do:

Time: If you’re making a big switch from conventional antiperspirants to natural deodorant, your body might need time to adjust before the natural stuff can be effective. Some even claim that your pits might have some detoxing to do. That might take a few weeks for your body to adjust.

Shaving: Some people also report that natural deodorants sting or cause irritation after shaving. An easy way to avoid that is to shave at night and apply deodorant in the morning.

Staining: A common complaint about natural deodorants made with oils like coconut is that they stain clothes. Avoid this by using only a small amount and giving the product a couple of minutes to absorb before you put on your clothes.

Baking Soda: Many of the most popular natural deodorants are baking soda-based. Baking soda can irritate some people’s skin, at least at first. Luckily, there are lots of baking soda free formulas that are non-toxic and non-irritating.

In general, I’m concerned about deodorant and antiperspirant because of exposure! We tend to apply these products every day and leave them on for long periods of time. Also, more of the product’s ingredients can penetrate the skin thanks to little nicks left behind after shaving.

Under your arms and close to your breasts, there can be more than 80 lymph nodes, which are standing on guard all the time. When you put any toxins or harmful chemicals under your arms, you are destroying your defense lines and becoming vulnerable to harmful conditions.

You want to strengthen your protecting army by giving it the best nutrients and ingredients that can help the lymph system to cleanse itself gradually, and help your private army to be in its top-performing shape for your health and well being.

Make sure to read the ingredients in every product you apply on your skin, to ensure that you are not harming your protecting lymph nodes and your immune system. Keep your private army strong!

As always,

Read labels

Know your ingredients

AND stay safe!

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