Alright ladies, let’s be honest—sometimes natural deodorant ain’t it. And that’s not to say that antiperspirants made with aluminum are better, but sometimes the healthier, safer options seem to be missing a little something.
However, there are a few aluminum-free options out here that are not only working hard to keep harmful chemicals out of your bloodstream, but they’re actually making you sweat a little less and adequately keeping the funk away. Can you really be mad at that? Nope.
Considering that warmer weather is here to stay for a while, a good all-natural deodorant is a must-have right now. But before we get to the recommendations, let’s go over a few tips to improve the effectiveness of your natural antiperspirants and deodorants.
- Detox. You can’t switch from one product to another without detoxing your armpits first. You don’t need anything special to do it, either. Grab some bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar, make a 30-minute armpit mask, rinse, and then make the switch.
- Wash and exfoliate. There is no deodorizer in the world that will effectively mask unpleasant smells that are already present. Make sure you’re washing your armpits thoroughly and exfoliating the dead skin to prevent clogged pores.
- Make sure your bras and shirts are clean. Bacteria likes to latch on to damp areas on our bodies and clothing, so in some cases, the cause of odor could be your clothes and not a deodorant issue. Switch into clean, dry clothing when appropriate.
Now that we’ve got some tips out the way, check out 3 of the best aluminum-free options that are so good, they’ll easily withstand the hottest of summer heat.
NATIVE Classic Scent Aluminum-Free Deodorant
Simplicity is the name of the game with Native’s shea butter-infused formula. Because we tend to gravitate toward the ingredients we trust and are familiar with, Native made sure to implement a whole bunch of rich, effective ingredients in their Coconut Vanilla scent.
Baking soda, coconut oil, and tapioca starch all come together to create a soft and feminine smelling powder deodorant that blocks wetness and odor all day long. Plus, they’re 100% vegan and cruelty free.
Garner’s Garden Maximum Strength Magnesium Deodorant
If you’ve been wearing aluminum-free deodorant for a while, but have been interested in investing a black-owned product, now’s your chance. Garner’s Garden Maximum Strength option is one of the best for those of you who struggle with excess sweat and/or ingrown hairs.
It’s formulated with magnesium and baking powder—both of which are known for naturally blocking odor without clogging pores. And if you’re worried about the scent? Don’t be! They use essential oils like lavender and citrus mint to keep you smelling right.
Kaia Naturals’ Bamboo Charcoal Takesumi Detox Deodorant
Unlike the other two options, this deodorant from Kaia Naturals ditches the tapioca starch and baking soda for another ingredient that we know and love—charcoal. Charcoal is known to draw out toxins and create a healthy balance of the “good” bacteria under your arms.
Both aluminum and aluminum-free antiperspirants alike tend to use ingredients that lead to your cracking and irritation at the armpits. This one in particular, however, uses cedarwood oil and aloe vera to keep this issue (and any odor) at bay.
As you can see, all hope is not lost! Natural deodorants have a bit of a reputation for being made out of nothing but shea butter and faith, but honey I’m here to tell you that there are real products out there made for real people—and these three are just a few of many.
So, what do you think? Are you ready to give aluminum-free deodorant and antiperspirant another try? Comment down below and let us know.