I’ve dabbled with fringe offerings from the best of hippie, all-natural brands, but have never had real success with aluminum-free deodorants.
The common concern is that aluminum is bad for the body, absorbed through the skin under your arms. Causes cancer…etc. (along with everything else?)
I just don’t like the way my armpits feel with convention antiperspirants. They feel gummy, not smooth. Almost like the pores have been clogged with chemicals.
The problem is, if you switch to a natural, then you stink like BO as soon as you sweat hard. I am an instant sweater, so I know. And it’s embarrassing!
While browsing one of my favorite online stores (Barneys.com), I came across Menscience. Their deodorant stick had great reviews, so I sprung for the $19 stuff.
It’s unscented, and integrates many of the botanical elements that are known to be anti-microbial (tea tree), and good for the skin (aloe).
It does do a nice job of just letting you smell like you, and unless you’re exerting yourself at the gym, keeping BO under control. I do have to reapply throughout the day, and especially before exercise.
I also bought the Menscience Body Powder, thinking I could use both products simultaneously. OK great idea, but how IN THE HELL do you apply powder without getting it everywhere?!
Aside from Menscience, you can find high-end deodorants as extensions of some mainstream colognes. Terre D’Hermès, Tom Ford Neroli Portofino. I’ve had a stick of Dior Homme deodorant for about a year, and use it occasionally in the cooler months when I’m less likely to sweat, but want a nice underarm smell.
Still on my list to try is the Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant Cream. A different application method and consistency may be the key to better all-natural underarm control.
Or, it will fall into the same pile as all the others – nice but not a true substitute.
If you’ve tried products with better results, I would love to hear about them!
6 comments
It’s been my mission for the last month to find a natural ingrediented, non-animal tested deodorant that works and it’s a task easier said than done. I’ve tried 3 brands off the shelf of Whole Foods and they either didn’t hold up the entire day or caused redness. All were sans aluminum as well. Yesterday I picked up a chunk of LUSH’s Aromaco and so far so good but I have yet to give it the test of a full work/gym day. It does contain patchouli which may be too “hippie” for some but I find it pretty earthy and masculine.
I’m a big fan of Te’o from LUSH Cosmetics. The scent is supposedly designed for a man, but I think the lemongrass is unisex. It’s also nice that it’s a powder, but in a solid bar form. (I also struggle with how to apply powders to the awkward pit area.) The thing I’ve found with natural deodorants is that your body goes through about a two-week detox period, expelling all the built up chemicals. After that period, you might find that you don’t have to reapply as often. Remember, it’s natural for our bodies to sweat to release toxins, we just don’t have to be stinky when we do it!
http://www.lushusa.com/Deodorants/deodorants,en_US,sc.html
Thanks Anthony and Jodie for the comments!! I will have to investigate the Lush offerings, not sure why I didn’t think about them before!
You have such a way with words! What an awesome blog you have Alex… seriously, I hope you’re doing well! 🙂
Thank you Sam!! I’m doing great! I am so jealous of your new office 🙂 Hope you’re well too! -A
Try the Keihls next time you dog sit. I think it works great. It’s in my bathroom. :-p