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 like the salt crystals and Tom’s of Maine.
Chlorella. It’s internal deodorant. It will detox you and rid you of body odor. I have not worn deodorant, store-bought or natural since last July. I keep taking any chlorella supplement daily because it keeps me clean.
We use NOW Organic brand. It is the only natural one that works for us. I tried making my own with baking soda, coconut oil and arrowroot powder, but it broke my underarms out. It did work though and I did not smell. Sarah, do you know about the NOW brand. Is it ok?
Just natural and avalon body washes and shamposs are awesome! They are topping the most natural and I love them! Then I use the conditioner all over as well and something about the natural oils! You are right about the Braggs Natural apple cider vinegar in the shower then use the natural products to follow… Arm&Hammer has an essential line that is natural oils too and it works pretty good…
Toothpaste natures gate toothpaste at health foods is best followed with organic coconut oil, peppermint oil and spearmint oils.. I have been told these oils can work as deodorants as well, they are safe and if they work so well to kill bacteria in your mouth then they will def work to kill bacteria under your arms naturally…
I rarely wear deodorant, but when I do, I use the ones from Trader Joe’s. Probably not any better, guess I should check.
I would love the recipe for the coconut oil, baking soda, and arrowroot deodorant!
I use approximately equal parts of each. I just remembered that I also add some beeswax, maybe a Tbsp (if you are doing about 1/4 cup of each of the other ingredients). The beeswax helps keep it from getting too runny when it’s warm out.
I use two fingers and rub a tiny smear of coconut oil and then dab with a cotton ball that I kept in a small jar of baking soda over my armpits. ( very small amounts of both) It has worked for months now and the b soda helps to kept the pits dry . When I was using just baking soda my armpits developed a sore rash. Very simple and really works!
I use Bubble and Bee’s Pit Putty. They make a stick, but I find it a bit too crumbly. I have to keep it the refrigerator. For the past year or so I have been using their pit putty cream. Love it. Wonderful organic scents to choose from – geranium lime; jasmint; lemon and clove; orange vanilla; spearmint and tea tree; and patchouli.
I’ve been using Primal Pit Paste for a while now. It really works and I love the ingredients!
Anne Shantz, that may have been your body detoxing, or you may need to remove an essential oil (if you added one) or add some cornstarch to balance out the bicarb soda 🙂
I ran out of my Bob’s Red Mill “Aluminum Free” Baking Soda so I went to my local health food store to replace it because I use it in baking several times a week and was extremely excited to make my 1st batch of homemade deodorant. It turns out that Bob’s Red Mill changed their baking soda package and it no longer says “aluminum free.” I was told that Bob’s Red Mill baking soda is made from the deposits of mineralized sodium bicarbonate and therefore contains small traces of aluminum so they can no longer claim it is “aluminum free.” Is this small trace of “natural” aluminum safe or is this a different issue all together? I get so confused and hung up on these technicalities!