Have you ever caught a whiff of something and wondered, “Is that my deodorant or a chemical lab down the street?” If so, you’re not alone. In a world where we’re increasingly aware of what we put into and onto our bodies, the shift towards non-toxic deodorants is gaining momentum. Traditional deodorants can be a cocktail of chemicals. They might effectively stop sweat and odor, but at what cost? The best non-toxic, eco-friendly deodorants embrace natural ingredients and offer a kinder alternative for your body. Read on to discover why this change is good for you, and see our list of the 11 best deodorants for your skin and the environment.
What’s wrong with traditional deodorants?
While they might be the norm, traditional antiperspirants and deodorants come with hidden costs. They often contain harmful ingredients such as:
❌ Phthalates: Hidden under “fragrance” in cosmetics, personal care products, and plastic items. Phthalates can cause skin irritation and increase the risk of asthma and allergies. They are also endocrine disruptors, potentially affecting hormones and fertility.1
❌ Aluminum: Commonly found in antiperspirants, aluminum can block sweat ducts, reducing perspiration. Concerns include blocked pheromones and potential links to breast cancer, though more research is needed.2
❌ Sulfates: Such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. Often found in shampoos, body washes, and toothpaste, sulfates are effective cleansers but can cause eye, mouth, lung, and skin irritation. It can also strip the skin and hair of natural oils, leading to dryness.3
❌ Parabens: Widely used as preservatives in cosmetics, skincare, and personal care products, parabens can disrupt hormones, including estrogen, harm fertility, and potentially increase the risk of breast cancer.4
What ingredients are in non-toxic deodorant?
The clean ingredients in toxin-free deodorant often include:
✅ Baking Soda: Sodium Bicarbonate (baking soda) is a natural odor neutralizer, though it can irritate some. Look for a baking soda-free deodorant if you have sensitive skin.
✅ Coconut Oil: An anti-bacterial, skin-soothing superstar. Reduces odor-causing bacteria.
✅ Essential Oils: Providing pleasant scents without the synthetic effects of fragrance oils. Some, like tea tree oil, have anti-microbial properties to reduce odor.
✅ Arrowroot Powder: Naturally absorbs moisture and helps neutralize odor-causing bacteria, keeping you dry without blocking sweat glands.
✅ Magnesium Hydroxide: Its anti-microbial properties help neutralize odor-causing bacteria.
✅ Tapioca Starch: Naturally absorbs moisture without clogging pores.
✅ Cocoa Butter: Used for nourishing and gentle moisturizing.
✅ Shea Butter: Moisturizing and skin soothing.
What makes a deodorant eco-friendly?
Characteristics that make a deodorant eco-friendly include:
🌿 Natural or Organic Ingredients: Natural, plant-based ingredients.
🌿 Cruelty-Free and Vegan: Many eco-friendly deodorants are cruelty-free with no animal testing and are vegan.
🌿 Eco-Friendly Packaging: Eco-friendly deodorants are often packaged in sustainable and biodegradable low-waste or no-waste materials, reducing plastic consumption and lessening environmental impact.
🌿 No Harmful Substances: Made without toxic chemicals harmful to the body and the environment.
🌿 Fair Trade: The ingredients and labor involved in its production adhere to ethical and sustainable practices, ensuring fair payment and safe working conditions.
Choosing the Right Product: Finding the best aluminum-free, natural eco-friendly deodorants can be a process of trial and error. What works for one person may not work for another. Consider your skin type, preferred scent, and lifestyle when selecting a natural deodorant. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different brands and ingredients until you find the best natural deodorant match.
The Best Non-Toxic and Eco-Friendly Deodorant Brands
1. Wild
- Wild offers their stick deodorants in a refillable applicator that will last a lifetime. Each time you refill your case, you save an ounce of plastic from going to a landfill.
- Their base formula includes quality ingredients like tapioca starch, baking soda, cocoa seed butter, and coconut oil.
- It’s available in 7 scents.
- They have a baking soda-free line for sensitive pits.
- Their deodorant is vegan and cruelty-free.
- Wild is a certified B Corporation, which means they improve their industry, limit negative impact, and continuously aim to do good.5
- They have partnered with Onamission: every purchase plants trees.6
2. Ethique
- Ethique’s deodorant sticks are crafted with bamboo powder, zinc oxide, and magnesium hydroxide.
- Available in three scents.
- Their stick is cruelty-free and vegan.
- It’s also plastic-free, home-compostable, and recyclable.
- Ethique is a certified B Corporation and donates 2% of its sales to charity.
3. Eco Roots
- Eco Roots has two types of natural deodorant: a cream and a stick.
- Ingredients include arrowroot powder, coconut oil, and unrefined shea butter.
- The cream is packaged in a zero-waste, plastic-free glass jar with a recyclable metal lid. The stick is in a compostable, recyclable paper tube.
- It’s made in small batches in the U.S. with vegan ingredients and is cruelty-free.
- Their deodorants are baking soda-free.
- The cream is available in six scents, and the stick in three.
- Eco Roots is a woman-owned small business with over 50 low-waste products.
- Dedicated to bettering the planet, they donate a portion of every sale back to the environment.
4. Little Seed Farm
- Little Seed Farm’s baking soda-free deodorant cream has clean ingredients like arrowroot powder, coconut oil, beeswax, and essential oils.
- It’s packaged in a glass jar with a recyclable metal lid and wooden scoop stick.
- The cream is family farm made using 100% solar-powered electricity.
- They are cruelty-free, and their packaging is zero waste, biodegradable, and recyclable.
- It’s available in nine scents, including unscented.
5. Native
- Native offers their deodorant in traditional and plastic-free packaging.
- Ingredients include coconut oil, shea butter, baking soda, and probiotics. They also offer sensitive skin baking soda-free options.
- It’s available in eleven scents, including unscented.
- They are vegan and cruelty-free.
6. Routine Natural Beauty
- Routine offers a variety of natural deodorants in jarred and stick form. Some with baking soda, some with reduced baking soda, and some without.
- Their glass jarred baking soda-free formula contains nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, calendula, shea butter, and olive oil.
- Their paper and post-consumer recycled plastic tube stick deodorant contains earthy ingredients like reduced baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, olive oil, and calendula.
7. Each and Every
- Each and Every baking soda-free deodorant is made with clean ingredients, including coconut oil, tapioca starch, dead sea minerals, and essential oils.
- It’s available in nine scents, including unscented.
- They use sustainable packaging from sugar cane.
- Each and Every is cruelty-free and vegan.
8. HiBar
- HiBar’s deodorant stick is made with natural ingredients, including baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, lime seed butter, and arrowroot powder.
- There is a baking soda-free version as well.
- The stick is packaged in a recyclable cardboard tube.
- It’s available in four scents, including unscented.
- HiBar’s goal is 100% plastic-free bathrooms. All HiBar products are cruelty-free and packed in paper with printed vegetable-based ink.
- The packaging is recyclable and compostable.
9. Papr
- Papr’s mission is to create conscious beauty products with as little impact as possible on the planet.
- Their deodorant stick is made with natural ingredients, including coconut oil, baking soda, tapioca starch, shea butter, and candelilla wax.
- It’s packaged in a biodegradable paper tube and is available in nine scents.
- It’s vegan and cruelty-free.
10. Schmidt
- Schmidt’s deodorant stick is made with natural ingredients, including magnesium, coconut oil, arrowroot powder, shea butter, baking soda, and essential oils.
- It’s cruelty-free and vegan with recyclable packaging.
- Schmidt’s is available in eleven scents.
- Schmidt’s is 100% transparent, disclosing their full ingredients via Smart Label.7
11. Cocopits
- Cocopits stick deodorant is made with 100% certified organic, all-natural ingredients, including coconut oil, arrowroot, baking soda, shea butter, candelilla wax, and essential oils.
- It’s available in three scents, including unscented.
- Cocopits also makes a jarred paste with 100% organic ingredients, including coconut oil, arrowroot, baking soda, beeswax, and essential oils.
- The paste is available in seven scents, including unscented.
- All Cocopits products are cruelty-free.
Help me get started!
Do you want to live a less-toxic, more eco-friendly lifestyle but have no idea where to begin? Here’s our “Non-Toxic 101” guide to get you started today!
Do non-toxic deodorants actually work?
The answer is a resounding yes! They reduce odor and absorb sweat.
However, they are not antiperspirants. Antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which block underarm sweat ducts. In other words, aluminum blocks the natural sweating process.
Opting for aluminum-based antiperspirants is like putting a ‘stop’ sign on your body’s natural cooling highway. Yes, they prevent sweat, but ignore the body’s built-in thermostat — sweating.
Sweating is our natural way to regulate temperature, and underarm sweat, specifically, may even play a role in non-verbal communication through pheromones.8 Who would want to stop that?!
Choosing natural aluminum-free deodorant is a more body-friendly approach that keeps your system functioning as nature intended.
Transitioning to non-toxic deodorants: What to expect and how to do it
Help! My natural deodorant is not working!
We have heard from people who have made the switch, and then when they think their natural deodorant is not working, they switch right back.
Big mistake! Your body needs time to adjust to natural deodorants. Understanding what to expect and how to navigate the transition can make all the difference.
Expect a Detox Phase:
When you first switch from traditional to non-toxic deodorants, your body undergoes a detoxification process. This is normal and a sign that your body is adjusting.
During this phase, you might notice an increase in sweat and odor. This occurs because the aluminum compounds in traditional antiperspirant deodorants no longer block your sweat glands. Don’t worry – this period is typically short-lived and stabilizes as your body adjusts.
Tips for a Smooth Transition:
- Detox Your Pits: Consider using an armpit detox mask to expedite the process. These masks can help ease the transition. You can also wash thoroughly a few times with your regular body soap to remove all traces of aluminum and other toxic chemicals.
- Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water helps flush out toxins more effectively.
- Wear Breathable Fabrics: Natural fibers like cotton allow your skin to breathe, reducing sweat and odor during your transition.
- Exfoliate: Gently exfoliating your underarms can remove dead skin cells and residual product buildup, aiding in the adjustment.
- Patience is Key: Give your body time to adapt. The transition period can last a few weeks, so be patient and don’t get discouraged when you think your natural deodorant is not working. It will!
- Mind Your Diet: Certain foods can affect body odor. Reducing intake of strong-smelling or spicy foods can help during the adjustment period.
Embrace the Change: Switching to non-toxic deodorants is a commendable choice for your health and the environment. The transition can be a smooth and rewarding journey with the right approach and expectations.
Why Your Skin Will Thank You
Your skin, your body’s largest organ, absorbs much of what you put on it. Choosing non-toxic deodorants means applying ingredients that are more in harmony with your body’s natural processes.
Final thoughts on eco-friendly, non-toxic deodorants
Switching to non-toxic deodorants is more than a personal care choice; it’s a commitment to healthier living and environmental responsibility. Be sure to give your body time to adjust before declaring that your natural deodorant is not working. Once it begins to function effectively, and you’re no longer absorbing chemicals through your underarms, you’ll be so glad you did!
Your turn
Have you tried eco-friendly, non-toxic deodorants? What differences have you noticed? Share your experiences and let us know in the comments.
Related posts
5 Toxic Skincare Ingredients to Avoid for a Sustainable Glow-Up
Does Cruelty-Free Mean Vegan? What You Need To Know
7 Best Non-Toxic Wax Melts & DIY Beeswax Melt Recipe
Sources
- Zero Breast Cancer ↩︎
- Environmental Working Group ↩︎
- Healthline ↩︎
- Breast Cancer Prevention Partners and Environmental Working Group ↩︎
- B Corporation ↩︎
- Onamission ↩︎
- Smart Label ↩︎
- ABC Science Online ↩︎
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