The Pits! Everything that Stinks about Anti-perspirant and How to Pick a Healthy Deodorant

Being hip to the fitness/wellness/health space makes confronting ingredients in all our products an unavoidable. It can be intimidating how many products that are staples in our daily routines can cause cancer, effect development, reproduction, allergies, or harm the immune system.

“Each day, American women use an average of 12 personal care products that contain 168 different chemicals. Men use an average of six personal care products that contain 85 different chemicals”-ewg(environmental working group)

Using less products isn’t always the issue, the pink tax is often more than financial with endocrine disrupting chemicals that effect health. The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is one of the weakest organizations for consumer product safety in the world, with only 11 ingredients banned opposing similar organizations overseas where the EU has banned 1,600 chemicals. Between the underfunding of the FDA, the Environmental Protection Agency, and Consumer Product Safety Commission companies are given free reign to do what they want with class action lawsuits being a common practice when there is enough damage and public outcry. The power here is always money as the EIN(Employer Identification Number) operates like a social security number making companies people in the eyes of the law.

Sweat is odorless, body odor is caused by bacteria that feed on sweat. Sweating is a natural process that helps regulate body temperature and eliminate toxins, but it can also lead to body odor. The odor is caused by bacteria that thrive in the warm, moist environment of our underarms.

Aluminum works by forming a temporary plug in the sweat ducts that prevents sweat from reaching the skin's surface. This reduces the amount of moisture available for the bacteria to grow, which helps to control body odor. Antiperspirants that contain aluminum are designed to last longer than other types of deodorants, providing all-day protection against sweat and odor.It's worth noting that there is some controversy around the use of aluminum in deodorants and antiperspirants, with some studies suggesting that long-term exposure to aluminum may be linked to health concerns. However, the research is inconclusive, and regulatory bodies such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) consider aluminum in deodorants to be safe for use.

Aluminum is a commonly used metal in various industries and products, including deodorants. However, there have been concerns about the potential link between aluminum in deodorants and the development of cancer. Aluminum is used in deodorants as an active ingredient to control sweat and body odor. It works by temporarily blocking sweat ducts, preventing the release of sweat, which reduces the amount of moisture available for bacteria to thrive. The concern about the link between aluminum and cancer stems from the fact that aluminum is a metal, and some studies have suggested that it may be a carcinogen. Breast cancer risk factors include using antiperspirants and shaving with underarm razors.

Carcinogens are substances that have the potential to cause cancer by damaging DNA and other cellular structures. Aluminum is not a well-established carcinogen, and the research on the potential link between aluminum in deodorants and cancer is inconclusive. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified aluminum as a possible carcinogen, which has raised concerns among consumers.

Many of the statements from cosmetic manufactures state that the amount of aluminum in deodorants is typically quite small, and the body's natural processes can eliminate it. In applying this logic to all consumers products that’s how we get statistics like;

“American women use an average of 12 personal care products that contain 168 different chemicals”

To address concerns about the potential link between aluminum and cancer, many deodorant manufacturers have developed aluminum-free alternatives. These products typically use natural ingredients such as baking soda or essential oils to control sweat and body odor. However, it's worth noting that aluminum-free deodorants may not be as effective as those containing aluminum and baking soda can highly irritate the skin as well. In my own odyssey to avoid using those with aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorhydrate in the formulas I have tried many, here are some of my reviews.

Crystal Stone Deodorant: This has the smallest environmental impact or you can get the version that comes in a stick but I found this worked great and I like that it’s only one ingredient

Lume: I wanted to like this one more than I did, created by an OBGYN who wanted to make a healthier option for women with better texture while retaining long lasting effects. I saw an ad for this and bought some not just for me but for my mother and sister as well.(I read everyone’s products, if I’ve been to your house I could tell you what carcinogens I saw) The consensus on this one was that the paste went on a little too wet but I found it did work rather well and lasted a long time. My mother and sister would put this last in their rating but they never had a chance to try Lavanila so this ranks as my second to last. They have a lot of fragrance options but I found the paste was something I couldn’t get accustom to.

Old Spice: Yes, that Old Spice. One day while I was wandering in the grocery store reading every label I saw the short list of ingredients on the Original scent deodorant and picked it up, it doesn't work wonderful and only lands at a 4(out of ten) on environmental working group’s beauty database scale. This one was the champ until I purchased the rock recently. The smell fades or loses to perfume or lotion I wear while always doing its job. If it isn’t broken, why fix it? When I did my last purge of other people’s deodorants I replaced it with these and we are all still using this one. Some of the other Old Spice scents are higher on the EWG scale but a little better.

Lavanila Sport: Fine, did its job but not for sensitive skin.(last place, loud booing) unscented but it wasn’t great on my skin and the experience soured me on the brand.

Teen Spirit and Lady Speed Stick- This one is effective but given the choice between this and Old Spice, I’m spicing up my life every time. Light on fragrance, high on effectiveness. Affordable, predictable, 3rd place.

I’ve tried some made by Secret but they stunk they most(pun intended) with scents like; “swampy shorts”, “Bog bits", and “stale airplane air”. Secret has also done their best to have a long list of ingredients filled with other carcinogens that make them nightmares to rate. Proctor and Gamble owns Secret and Old Spice which shows they can make a product and limit the ingredients but they don’t market that product to women.

When it comes to choosing a deodorant, it's important to consider your personal preferences, lifestyle factors, and any concerns you may have about the potential health effects of aluminum. It's also essential to read product labels carefully to understand the ingredients used in the deodorant and any potential health risks associated with them. If you have concerns about the potential health effects of aluminum, you may wish to explore aluminum-free deodorant alternatives, but it's essential to carefully read product labels and weigh the potential benefits and risks.

Environmental Working Group’s skin deep database

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Megan SherlockMarch 30, 2023