All Natural Deodorants: What’s The Big Deal?

So if you are reading this, you are probably seriously considering switching to a cleaner simpler natural lifestyle. Swapping conventional deodorants with more natural ones is often part of the process. Most people find themselves on the fence, unsure of what all the hype is about and most importantly whether this type of deodorant will actually do the job. The reality is that though we might want a so-called "natural" product, we actually need the stuff to work effectively. In the vernacular of today’s youth: “ Don’t nobody got time for smelly armpits!”

To decide whether a natural deodorant is the way to go, let’s understand the differences between conventional/commercial deodorant, antiperspirant and natural deodorants. People tend to use these terms interchangeably but the truth is that although they all work to mask bodily odors, they function very differently.

Antiperspirant

As the name suggests, anti-perspirants are designed to inhibit sweating . Often times aluminum hydrochlorate is added to the formulations with the purpose of temporarily blocking your sweat pores.

Deodorant

Deodorants attempt to block body odor but do not prevent sweating. Did you know that underarm odor is caused by skin-residing bacteria which feed on compounds located within your sweat? Sweat itself is sterile and scent-less when it leaves your body. In many cases, conventional deodorants achieve odor-blocking by trapping smelly molecules and in other cases by actually killing odor-causing bacteria. You’ll find that many conventional deodorants are alcohol based. The alcohol changes the pH levels on your skin which temporarily kills the bacteria.

Natural Deodorants.

These work to prevent body odor but the twist is that safer, cleaner ingredients are employed to get the job done. They don’t prevent sweating like anti-perspirants do because they don’t contain aluminium chlorohydrate. Instead, much safer ingredients like arrowroot powder or cornstarch are utilized to minimize wetness due to sweating. At Lang & Ivy, controversial ingredients such as aluminium chlorohydrate, alcohol, phthalate and parabens are all eliminated. (Read why these ingredients should be avoided here.). Instead, we use a unique and well balanced combination of natural ingredients such as bentonite clay, arrowroot powder, zinc oxide , precious plant oils, butters, waxes and essential oils . These ingredients work together to nourish the skin, absorb wetness and prevent odor in the safest possible way.

Here are the benefits of the main ingredients used in our natural deodorants:

Coconut Oil

This light weight oil nourishes the skin while providing mild antibacterial properties.

Shea Butter.

Thick, rich and firm, this natural plant butter is rich in vitamin E, Oleic and Linoleic acid. Shea Butter deeply conditions and soothes dry skin

Castor Oil

Rich in ricinoleic acid, this natural moisturizer has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Bentonite Clay

Derived from volcanic ash, Bentonite clay absorbs excess moisture and toxins. It also soothes and promotes wound healing by creating a barrier between the skin and any irritant. Bentonite clay is perfect for those with sensitive, irritated armpits

Arrowroot powder

Natural and effective, this powder absorbs moisture.

Zinc oxide (non-nano)

Zinc oxide is a natural mineral that is well known for its use in sunscreen because it protects against UV rays. A lesser known fact is that it zinc oxide is also anti-bacterial. Zinc oxide kills a range of bacteria including Staphylococcus homini, the main culprit responsible for armpit odor. Our formulations with zinc have 48 hour odor protection!

Essential oils

Not only do our pure essential oils provide amazing fragrance, but they also possess anti-bacterial properties. Essential oils like Tea Tree, Lemongrass, Patchouli, and Lime have all been scientifically proven to kill bacteria.

Transitioning to a cleaner lifestyle is rewarding yet challenging as the learning curve is steep. With a plethora of natural ingredients filled with hundreds of unfamiliar compounds, choosing the right ingredient to solve the right problem is key. Lang & Ivy takes the guess work out of natural skincare and our effective deodorant is just one of several products that is formulated to meet your specific needs.

Ready to try out our super effective 48 hour protection all-natural deodorants? Click here.