Why I Made the Switch to Natural Deodorant

Hi friends –

Let’s talk about the pits. Armpits to be exact.

Before you click the big X in the corner, hear me out. This is seriously one of my favorite topics to discuss, because I find it so fascinating.

I will be honest with you. When I used to think of using natural deodorant, I thought it was only reserved for “hippie types” or those that may not care too much about their overall hygiene. Which is not to say that hippies don’t take care of themselves, but that they are more carefree and don’t care as much about what others think of them. Which I have to say, I wish more people were like. But I always thought natural deodorant was just a fleeting concept and something I would never ever want to try.

Fast forward to about eight months ago and I can’t believe I waited this long in life to try it. It’s just that freaking amazing!

So naturally you might be asking yourself, what caused me to make the switch? Great question (even if you didn’t ask). I started using essential oils several years ago, but really started making a huge effort to switch to a more natural lifestyle about two years ago. I figured if I was going to start tossing over-the-counter meds because of their harmful ingredients, why couldn’t I do the same with my skincare or makeup or anything else?

Now before you start thinking I’m living some crazy all natural lifestyle, I’m not. I like to think I live my life 70/30. Most people do 80/20, but I like to give myself that extra 10 percent. Basically, I try really hard to make conscious, “healthy” choices in life, but I still LOVE to experiment with drugstore makeup, I still take ibuprofen when I’m deathly ill and I still eat Skittles at least once a week. YOLO.

But when I started doing my research about natural deodorant, I was blown away by the realization that your armpits are SUPPOSED to sweat. My whole life I had been taught that you wear deodorant to stop your pits from sweating and smelling. You don’t WANT to sweat, or you don’t NEED to sweat (because girls don’t sweat, they glow, right?). But the truth is YOU DO.

When we sweat, our body is naturally ridding itself of harmful toxins that get built up in our system. We are exposed to so many environmental stresses every day – from pollution, the makeup we wear, the food we eat, etc. So our bodies use our largest organ, our skin, to expel these toxins so we can function at our highest level. Natural deodorant is actually allowing your body to do exactly what it needs to do, get rid of toxins, without causing you to smell like you just hopped out of a sweat box with a bunch of men who haven’t showered for days.

We’re meant to sweat, people! There is nothing wrong with it! It is literally a primary function of your body. It is necessary for our bodies to detox. And you may even sweat MORE when you first make the transition. But it’s totally normal!

And if that’s not enough to get you to toss out those toxic products, you also have to consider the list of common ingredients that are found in almost every drugstore deodorant out there:

• ALUMINUM – this is the SCARIEST ingredient to me. This is what causes your pits to not sweat by blocking your ducts completely. However, it also causes heavy metal toxicity and has been linked to Alzheimer’s and found in breast cancer cells. Yeah, no thanks!

 

• TRICLOSAN – Triclosan is an ingredient added to many consumer products intended to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination. This is what essentially stops you from “smelling.” It’s also been linked to thyroid dysfunction and liver toxicity.

 

• PARABENS – Parabens are synthetic chemicals that are used as preservatives in a variety of products. They are also endocrine/hormone disruptors found in 99 percent of breast cancer tissue. BYE FELICIA!

These were enough to have me running for the hills! And I know, everyone is different. And I totally get it! Making the switch isn’t for everyone, but I love the fact that there is so much research out there that can help us decide for ourselves what we want to risk putting in or on our bodies. This body is the only body I’ve got, so by golly I’m gonna protect it!

So how does one “make the switch?” Well quite simply, you gotta go all in. When I first started using natural deodorant, I was a little thrown off because my pits were sweating WAY more than usual. But that’s simply because I had been blocking all of that “yuck” from getting out all of these years. Your body is going to have to go through a natural detox of its own. It takes a little getting used to, but I promise it goes away after a week or two and you’ll be back to normal in no time.

The weirdest part of the entire transition (at least for me) was that even though I was sweating a lot more, I didn’t actually smell. Like AT ALL. This literally blew my mind, but it makes it that much cooler.

And to give you an insider tip, one thing that really helped me when I first switched was using a detox mask on my underarms. Yes, you heard me right – they aren’t just for your face! Do you have one of those clay or charcoal face masks sitting around at home that you use for acne or oily skin? USE THAT. These types of masks are actually going to help dispel those nasty toxins from your armpits, which will help stop you from sweating through the transition. I actually still use a detox mask on my pits once a month, just to keep things fresh! You can do it as little or often as needed, whatever you find works best for you!

You also need to find a deodorant that you like, as there are so many out there now it can become overwhelming. My go-to (if you can’t tell) is Schmidt’s! I buy it at Target for less than $5, which is about the same as what I was spending on Dove deodorant before. For me, it’s convenient because Target is so close and I’m usually there every few days to walk around aimlessly and buy things for my house/myself that I don’t need. Can I get an AMEN? I have fallen in love with their Bergamot + Lime scent. Bergamot essential oil is known for its uplifting qualities and I love a good citrus scent. Rose + Vanilla is always my backup if they are out of Bergamot, which has a more floral scent but isn’t overpowering by any means.

Two other great natural deodorants I have used are Primally Pure’s Charcoal Deodorant (I literally use ALL of their skincare products) and doTERRA’s Natural Deodorant with Balance. While they are a little bit pricier, they are both exceptional products. I might even love them MORE than the Schmidt’s brand, but it’s honestly just about convenience for me. If I run out of deodorant, I like the simple fact that I can run to Target and grab another. Which probably just means that I need to plan better in case of emergency!?

So there you have it, folks! If you stuck around this long, you are a true friend. My exciting journey into natural deodorant.

After I got through the short detox process, I feel like my pits are feeling better than ever. If I put on deodorant after I shave, it doesn’t sting and I have no fear of it clogging my pores or causing any issues down the road. I know I’m making a small step in the right direction to give my body the good things that it needs and not sacrificing my hygiene in any way (cause ain’t nobody got time for that!). It’s definitely not for everyone, but I encourage you to do your research. I am so glad I did and I made the switch. I will forever be an advocate for going natural!

XOXO – Brittany