Reasons why antiperspirants and deodorant from the store are toxic products no one should be using near delicate breast and glandular tissue and the scientific studies on the dangers of these common ingredients.
If you are eating a wholesome, healthy diet and are still using underarm deodorant from the store, it’s time to wake up and smell the roses.
Store deodorant is loaded with chemicals and toxins that easily penetrate the skin, getting into the blood supply.
It’s even worse if these products are applied soon after shaving. Tiny nicks in the skin provide an even easier route for chemicals to penetrate the skin barrier directly into the bloodstream.
Drug companies are taking advantage of the ability of skin to absorb chemicals of all kinds with the smokers’ patch being one of the most well known. There are now skin patches for birth control and a patch for motion sickness when you take a cruise or fly in a plane.
Slathering on the chemicals and heavy metals contained in underarm products day in and day out is a dangerous practice and one that no doubt can contribute to a host of health woes in the long run.
Need some concrete reasons to ditch the store deodorant? Here is the top ten list to consider before your next shower and where to find nontoxic brands that actually work.
#1: Parabens
Most deodorants, even those labeled as “natural,” still contain harmful ingredients like parabens affixed to one of the following common prefixes: methyl, ethyl, propyl, benzyl and butyl.
Parabens are dangerous substances, particularly when put on the delicate underarm skin which is so near the breasts.
The Breast Cancer Fund reports that measurable concentrations of six different types of parabens have been identified in breast cancer tumor biopsies. (1)
What’s even more telling is that the concentration of the parabens in the biopsies were in the same approximate concentration that would be found in paraben containing cosmetics like underarm deodorant.
Parabens are not just a risk for the breasts. Samples of a diverse sample of US adults found parabens in nearly all urine samples as well indicating that these chemicals get into the blood and move around the body before being excreted.
#2: Aluminum
The heavy metal aluminum is contained in most deodorants and is even disguised in some natural deodorants under the word “alum”. Any compound containing the word “aluminum” would be a problem such as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly.
Scientific evidence has demonstrated that aluminum exposure is associated with the development of Alzheimer’s Disease. (2)
#3: Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal agent. Preliminary analysis indicates it may be carcinogenic due to potential contamination with dioxin. Triclosan easily crosses cell membranes and is stored in body fat.
A 2006 study has shown that low doses of triclosan act as an endocrine disruptor in the North American bullfrog. In 2008, a study of juvenile male rats showed that triclosan exposure significantly impacts thyroid hormone concentrations.
More recently, a 2016 study showed that this chemical disrupted the placental hormones of pregnant rats. (3)
Triclosan is in many deodorants labeled as natural so buying at the health food store is no protection from this chemical.
#4: Fragrances
Love the smell of your deodorant? Even natural smelling fragrances like rose might be something else entirely. The fragrance industry takes great care to hide from the consumer exactly how chemical fragrances are concocted using any blend of the 3,100 stock chemical ingredients that are available. The Environmental Working Group reports that:
The average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. Among them are chemicals associated with hormone disruption and allergic reactions, and many substances that have not been assessed for safety in personal care products. (4)
Bottom line? If your deodorant has “fragrance” listed in the ingredients, you really don’t know what’s in it!
#5: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Yet another chemical popular in deodorant, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) has been banned in Europe. A well-known skin irritant, SLS is also a suspected carcinogen and has been linked to kidney and liver damage; nervous system disruption; damage to eyes leading to cataracts; eczema, and dermatitis. (6)
#6: Sweat Blockage
Sweating is good! You want to sweat to release toxins and it is a normal cooling response the body needs. Blocking sweat with antiperspirant ingredients is an unhealthy practice and can cause blockage of toxins.
#7: Deceptive Marketing
Some deodorants, even natural and organic ones like salt crystals and salt sprays, state that they have no aluminum chloride.
However, if you examine the label in detail you notice that they contain potassium alum. The full chemical name of potassium alum is potassium aluminum sulfate, which is still aluminum!
Stay away!
#8: Staining and Clumping
What in the world are those clumps left on your skin by conventional deodorants?
This stuff doesn’t completely lather off in the shower either and eventually ruins your shirts by leaving yellow stains that don’t wash out (that’s from the aluminum).
They are also embarrassing when they end up on your yoga mat while you’re trying to relax in child’s pose.
#9: Ineffectiveness
Many people report that natural versions of conventional deodorants found at the health food store are ineffective or only work for a short period of time. This funny video below satirizes this point very well!
#10: Store Deodorant is So Uncool!
Let’s face it. Everything about store deodorant is uncool from the chemicals in the supermarket versions to the hidden baddies and ineffectiveness of the so-called “natural” brands at the health food store.
What Deodorant is Nontoxic AND Actually Works?
Consumers deserve a deodorant that is safe AND effective, don’t we? Is that really so much to ask?
Fortunately, there are nontoxic deodorants out there that actually work and claim to be what they say they are.
I am pleased to say that my family and I use such quality products. They work even for friends of mine who are extreme athletes working out in extreme heat and humidity.
If made properly, natural products really can withstand all sports, endurance races, mud events, WOD (CrossFit for “work out of the day”), and athletic competitions.
Sourcing Quality Deodorant
If you find yourself throwing up your hands about the deodorants on the market that are either incredibly toxic or natural but completely ineffective as shown in this humorous video below, then click over to the Personal Care section of my Resources page to check out brands with vetted products that actually work and won’t harm your health!
In my home, we use activated charcoal/magnesium deodorant and ozonated deodorant. Both of these actually work AND are completely safe to put on your skin day after day.
I had a thermogram back in early September. It showed a lot of heat in my armpit area. I immediately stopped using deodorant with aluminum. I had a second thermogram in November (to establish a baseline) and that area was almost completely clear. Amazing!
Thanks for sharing your story how discontinuing the antiperspirants lead to a better thermography scan. Herbalix makes a seaweed detox deodorant to flush out the underarm of residual old alum salts from air, water ,food and med’s. We used thermography in a clinical for Fibrocystic breast and Herbalix topical detox products to resolve aluminum that stores in breast tissue.
I understand and can appreciate the reasons why you shouldn’t use them — however, what about those of us who perspire heavily? I’ve tried not using anything that wasn’t “natural” and ended up with wet armpits all the time, even after a “detox” from antiperspirants. Seriously unattractive, NOT professional and probably actually detrimental to the career.
BTW — I have never used antiperspirants under my breasts and my white cotton bras are all yellowed from perspiration stains at the front bottom, way far away from the underarm part.
Anyone found makeup that works well and lasts during the work day that is chemical free?
Try Arbonne…
Jennifer, I often see Arbonne recommended, but I can’t seem to find a list of their ingredients online. I do know the smell of the products I’ve opened makes me have difficulty breathing, so I’m thinking it can’t be all good for me, but I don’t know what is in their products. Do you have a link to ingredients somewhere?
If you ask any Arbonne Independent Consultant for the ingredients in a certain product, they can get them for you. I know this because I distribute in the UK. If you want more information please ask. They do sell a deodorant!
I did a lot of research on this a few months back and found 100% Pure to be the best I found. They and every other company I found still had titanium dioxide in their foundation but their lipsticks etc… seemed very clean. I’ve used their lip pencil, lip stick and lip glosses as well as their foundation (only occasionally though) blush and eye shadows. So far their products seem good to me. However I will say I’m a put lipstick on daily but save the rest for Sunday kinda girl.
I think people can over complicate themselves by removing a product then still remaining in the consumer mind set. For example, you remove conventional made deodorant, shampoo, or toothpaste, but still remain fixed on the IDEA that you NEED some version of that product. You believe you need shampoo to wash your hair or toothpaste to clean your teeth.
When you start thinking back where you got these IDEAS, it was just the way you did it as a kid. I would say when you start thinking you NEED something, think back from WHERE you got that idea/belief. You may open your mind to possibilities.
About me, I have stopped using shampoo twice, first a failure, second its been a success. I remember as a kid I would never brush my teeth…. never! Gross, eh? Funny thing was I never had any cavities. Aside from some plaque my teeth were perfect. Come university and I was brushing my teeth times a day with toothpaste. Guess what I got? My first cavity!
From all these stories, I’d say experiment and listen to your body. I find using coconut oil, as many of you ladies suggest, works great, and a pinch of baking soda if needed takes away any chance of smelling for me.
Josh, I totally agree! Once I got out of the mindset of having to have a “product” including the idea that I needed to mess around with a “recipe” to create my own homemade “product,” I was a lot freer!
I had the same experience as a kid — I brushed often when I was little and had cavities. When I was about 12, I stopped brushing with toothpaste (just used baking soda *sometimes*) and no new cavities since then. I am 50 years old.
Synde, makeup is a totally personal choice. I wore makeup myself for many years and felt that I “had to” or didn’t look good without it, or that my job “required” it to look professional. About 5 years go I just stopped. I look fine/pretty without it. My skin is flawless without all that junk I used to put on. I don’t even have dry lips anymore, I just “moisturize” with olive or coconut oil. The glow from that is pretty. Just saying, you might come to a similar conclusion — don’t need makeup. One less thing to buy, and natural beauty really is a beautiful thing. The other thing is…. you don’t need to worry about it lasting through the day! or those awful chemicals.
I like to make my own using coconut oil and baking soda, sometimes with a drop or two of lavender. I also like Tropical Traditions deodorants.
I’m struggling with DIY deodorant. I’ve used the coconut oil, arrowroot, baking soda, and essential oil mix and I sweat like crazy. I can deal with that, but I stink too, and that’s not cool. It’s disgusting! And I’m just sitting at my desk all day, I can’t imagine working out in the heat/humidity!
Increasing your magnesium levels might help reduce body odor.
Thanks for the tips! what is a good way to boost magnesium? I wondered if I had an issue with it because whenever I had ever tried to give up grains to help my PCOS symptoms I got extreme leg cramps and read that it could be magnesium.
I had a friend try the primal pit paste and it didn’t work for her either. Pretty disheartening. all of my products are natural except the deodorant.
Tiffany can you buy Nigari or magnesium chloride from the chemist. I don’t know whether Nigari is safe since the nuclear leak in Japan (any specialists out there?) but it should get you Mg levels up!!! Also very good for the immune system I believe…
I bought my magnesium spray online…..www.absorbatherapy.com…they also have a spray with aloe added for sensitive skin.
Wait so I just looked at my deoderant and it has potassium alum in it? does that mean it has aluminum? I am so frustrated as all this time I thought it was safe.
After trying a number of natural deodorants that don’t work, I’ve been happy with lifestinks (http://www.duggansisters.com/lifestinks/), which is made from aluminum-free sodium bicarbonate and essential oils. I have noticed that if I am detoxing, I have stronger body odor, but lifestinks has worked well for me when I need it.
I’m remain amazed! When I stopped eating grains of any kind, my body odors vanished. I can go 3 or 4 days without a shower, and typically just shower every other day. My morning breath is sweet. My visits to the bathroom are not recognizable. What it means to me is that these smells are toxicity in the body. Something is wrong. It’s just ain’t normal to smell bad. (I also eat very clean:
I realize you posted this almost a year ago, but PLEASE be careful about restricting grains from your diet like you have explained. Grains are the body’s main source of energy and that “sweet breath” that you are experiencing in the morning is a side effect of your body creating ketones. This process happens when your body doesn’t have enough outside energy, so your body starts breaking down your muscles for energy, resulting in an unstable byproduct which are the ketones. Because ketones are unstable, the kidneys can’t properly filter this from the body and the ketones build up and poison the body.
Grains are an important part of body function and there are plenty of healthy natural grains such as quinoa, brown rice, granola, etc that can be eaten while remaining healthy.
Just helpful information coming from a worried college student in the health sciences.