Natural deodorants are becoming increasingly popular, but not all natural deodorants are created equal. Here are a few things you need to know to choose the best natural deodorant for you.
- What are the ingredients? Natural deodorants should be free of aluminium, parabens, and other harmful chemicals. Look for deodorants that contain natural ingredients like clays, arrowroot powder, and essential oils.
- How effective are they? Natural deodorants may not be as effective as traditional deodorants at preventing sweat, but they can still help to control odour. If you have heavy sweating, you may need to use a natural deodorant more often than ones that contain antiperspirant.
- What is the packaging like? Natural deodorants are often packaged in recyclable or compostable materials. Choose a deodorant that is packaged in a way that is environmentally friendly.
Natural deodorants can be a bit different from traditional antiperspirants, but once you get used to them, you'll never go back. Here are a few things to keep in mind when switching to natural deodorant:
GIVE IT A LITTLE TIME
It can take up to a couple of months for your skin to get used to a natural deodorant. If your armpit pores have been blocked daily by your aluminium based antiperspirant there's bound to be buildup that will need to be flushed out of your system before your skin gets back to its previous state . Have patience and let your body have time to transition even if you feel a little frustrated at first. Some people eventually find that they sweat less using natural deodorant than they did with their previous antiperspirant deodorant.
Natural deodorants aren’t antiperspirants. This means you will probably still get some underarm dampness. Aluminium is the main ingredient for antiperspirant formulas as it inhibits sweat. The aluminium salts dissolve on your skin and “melts” into your pores. This helps plug up your pores and stop the sweat. So switching to aluminium free deodorants will mean a change of outlook especially as you might occasionally feel damp because your skin is allowed to sweat again (which is a natural function of your skin).
BUT I SMELL EVEN WORSE THAN I DID BEFORE!
If you’ve tried natural deodorant in the past and found yourself extra smelly, this is quite common at first. Your skin may need some time adjusting to natural deodorants. Once your pores are unblocked you may get a little more sweaty, don't be afraid to wash and reapply. Formulas containing cornstarch or arrowroot powder are good for absorbing excess moisture.
After your skin becomes acclimated and the deodorant is applied to clean armpits regularly there is no reason to worry you might get BO. It's the bacteria mixed with sweat that makes the smell, so if you begin to detect an odour throughout the day, give your armpits a quick wipe-down and reapply. With most natural deodorants, it isn't enough to simply apply once in the morning then forget about it. You might need to give it a little boost later in the day.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM OUR DEODORANTS
Flowery Whiff deodorants don’t have any bicarbonate of soda in them as some people may find it irritating. We do use arrowroot, kaolin clay and activated charcoal. All three of these ingredients are fantastic powders and clays which absorb moisture.
There are no stabilisers, preservatives or fillers in our deodorants, only ethically-sourced, organic, and fair trade essential oils, plant oils, and butters where available. Natural butters and oils react to the climate like we do. They may get softer hot weather or harder in cold weather. Sometimes they can get a little grainy when the shea butter crystallises. But this is all ok and won’t affect the product. It will still massage and melt into your skin and provide a fresh scent and skin nourishment.
Many natural deodorants have scents we’re not keen on like tea tree or lavender.astringent type of oil like Rosemary. They always smell a bit too clinical and herby. (You won’t find tea tree oil in any of our products!) Our choice of long lasting scents and essential oils have a bit more luxury and depth to them all help with keeping you smelling wonderful for many hours.
Apply gently to pits as much or as little as needed. It may feel a little hard at first but if you rest it against your skin to warm it up slightly for a moment it soon melts the butters and oils which will then let the deodorant apply more smoothly. Rubbing the deodorant balm in is also moisturising your pits which can sometimes be rough after shaving or waxing.
OUR ECO FRIENDLY TUBES
Cardboard tubes are a way that continues the benefits of a natural deodorant. This packaging won’t be around for centuries like a plastic dispenser but should fully decompose within twelve months after you throw it away.
Our paper tubes use a push-pop style design to deliver the right amount of product directly into your armpits. The only “mechanical” part of the tube is the disc at the bottom which just needs pushing up. This might take a little getting used to but once you’ve got it going there should be no problems. Work your thumb around the outer rim of the inner disc to push more product up. If you push it up too far it should push back gently into the tube. In a warm climate it might be more tricky but put it in a cool place or a fridge and it should be fine to use fairly quickly. Natural oils and butters are preservative free so will react if its too hot or cold
It took a lot of experiments to get our formula just right so that it also worked well in card tubes. But a lot of our customers have sent us such lovely comments about them so we’re glad we’ve ditched the plastic.
Our cardboard tubes have to be filled by hand which makes them more expensive than mass produced deodorants. However it means we take care in our production and make sure there is minimal waste of the raw ingredients and also individually check that each one is of a high quality before sending out
A quirky thing about hand poured products is that you often get a little sinkhole in the middle. This is because the oil cools quicker at the edges and contracts leaving a little hole in the middle part.
SO GIVE THEM A GO WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE?
Natural deodorants are becoming increasingly popular as people become more aware of the potential health risks of traditional antiperspirants.
There are some challenges to switching to natural deodorants. Some people may experience increased sweating or odour at first, as their bodies adjust to the new product.
However, the benefits of using natural deodorants outweigh the challenges for many people. Natural deodorants are healthier for your body and the environment, and they can be just as effective at preventing odour as traditional antiperspirants.
If you are considering switching to natural deodorant, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, choose a deodorant that is made with natural ingredients that you are not allergic to. Second, be patient as your body adjusts to the new product. Lastly, try out a few different ones if you don’t find one you like the first time.