When we think about good health, most of us don’t immediately think of our armpits. Considering all the benefits of natural deodorant though, maybe that’s something that needs to change.

Natural deodorants mean less aluminium, parabens, and harmful chemicals clogging up your system. The underarms are a natural exit point for the body, meaning that when we sweat there’s a good reason for it! Our bodies use sweat to excrete toxins, chemicals and all kinds of nasty waste products. When we muck around with that system, there are some pretty serious consequences.

Like most things in the world of beauty and body care though, there are some awesome natural alternatives out there. Switching to natural deodorants straight from synthetic ones can be tricky, but it’s always worth it. Here are some facts, tips and gorgeous natural brands to help you out. Change smells pretty sweet, doesn’t it?

Why is natural deodorant so important?

Simply put, it’s better for your body.

Chemical deodorant used to be marketed as good for you because it kills off bacteria, but in reality that’s the opposite of helpful. One of the pitfalls of chemical-based antibacterial cosmetics is that the product itself can’t tell the difference between good and bacteria. Our bodies rely on certain strains of bacteria and microbes to function properly. When you strip them away, you strip away that functionality too.

As well as eliminating helpful bacteria, anti-perspirant deodorant also acts to block sweat completely. It might sound like a good thing at first but a certain degree of underarm sweat is actually beneficial. Sweat helps to get rid of toxins and harmful viruses, something we definitely need to think about going into winter. Natural deodorants let the body perspire a normal, healthy amount so you stay free of nasties 24/7.

Another worrying aspect of conventional deodorant is the amount of aluminium in it. Because most people use their deodorant every day, it’s easy for this potentially dangerous metal to accumulate in the body. It’s especially concerning for women as more and more research points to potentially cancer-causing aluminium building up in the breast tissue over time. When aluminium builds up within tissue it can interfere with estrogen receptors, and may even cause DNA alteration and epigenetic effects.

Making the switch

Once you decide to swap to natural deodorant it’s important to give your body time to adjust. Believe it or not, your underarms have to get used to sweating properly again which can take anywhere from 2 – 4 weeks. Essentially, this process is your body ridding itself of the chemical build up in that area. It’s normal, it’s healthy, and it might look a little like this.

• WEEK 1: You’ll hardly notice any change in moisture or odor. The body hasn’t started its natural deodorant detox just yet.
• WEEK 2: Odor and wetness will start to creep in just a little. This is absolutely fine and normal, it’s your system getting rid of chemicals and toxins sitting underneath the skin.
• WEEK 3: There’ll be more sweat and odor than Week 2 and possibly a little skin irritation. Thankfully though it’s only temporary, this is mainly due to your sweat glands working hard and creating heat that let bacteria thrive for a short time.
• Week 4: Congratulations! By this stage your body should be totally adjusted with little to no odor or wetness.

Our top 3 natural deodorant picks

Eco by Sonya Driver Coconut Deodorant

Eco by Sonya Driver Coconut Deodorant is a great smelling natural deodorant that lets toxins release naturally rather than clogging and blocking pores. It’s got no synthetic ingredients, parabens or aluminium – only the good stuff! Its amazing scent comes from a fusion of lavender oil, coconut oil and chamomile, all ingredients that are gentle on sensitive skin. Eco’s Coconut Deodorant also helps keep you dry by adding cornflower to their unique mix. Clever right?

Zoo Deodorant

Zoo Deodorant uses arrowroot, coconut oil and shea butter to absorb moisture, stop odour and nourish the skin. It’s palm oil free and completely vegan, with 50c of every pot they sell donated to The Orangutan Project. They also make all of their deodorant in comparatively small batches, ensuring the product itself stays far fresher for far longer.

Lavanila Natural Deodorant

To Lavanila, sweating is one of the most healthy functions a body has! They’ve created a gorgeous natural deodorant that allows the body to excrete toxins while still keeping you fresh all day. We’ve got it stocked in Vanilla Grapefruit and Fragrance Free, and they both work like a charm. Lavanila pick all their ingredients using a rigorous 4-step process that assesses performance, safety, sourcing, and environmental impact. What’s left is a wonderful blend of vanilla oil, coconut oil, aloe vera, green tea, kakadu plum and lemon oil for a delicious natural scent. 

Switching to natural deodorant is such an easy way to stay healthy, it’s a wonder more people haven’t done it already. As far as wellbeing is concerned, here at Belle & Sage we definitely think it’s time to start sweating the small (but very important stuff). Explore your natural deodorant options this week, and don’t forget to report back on your own sweet-smelling detox!