Is my Deodorant Safe?
Many of us use deodorant every single morning when we hop out of the shower? Are we sure this is a safe routine? With so many deodorants and antiperspirants on the market, attempting to make a safe choice for our armpits feels overwhelming. We walk into a local store and choose something from the shelf that fits our needs, but are these products really safe for use every single day? Coming Up Rainbows can take a bit of the guesswork out of the decision process, with our safe deodorant guide.
What Ingredients Should One Avoid in Deodorant?
- Fragrance (or “Parfum”) – A catch-all term that can hide dozens (or hundreds) of undisclosed chemicals. Often linked to hormone disruption and skin irritation.
- Aluminum Compounds (like Aluminum Chloride or Aluminum Zirconium) – Found in antiperspirants. These work by blocking your sweat glands, which interferes with your body’s natural detox pathways.
- Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben, etc.) – Preservatives that may mimic estrogen in the body and disrupt hormone balance.
- Phthalates – Often hidden inside “fragrance.” Associated with hormone disruption and long-term health concerns.
- Triclosan – An antibacterial agent that can disrupt hormones and contribute to antibiotic resistance.
- Propylene Glycol – A petroleum-derived ingredient that can cause skin irritation, especially in sensitive areas like underarms.
- Artificial Dyes (FD&C colors) – Unnecessary and sometimes irritating to the skin.
- Baking Soda (for some people) – Not “toxic,” but can disrupt your skin’s natural pH and cause irritation or rashes for sensitive folks.
First off, we think antiperspirants aren’t good. The body sweats for a reason. During this process we are ridding the body of toxins, which helps the immune system perform more effectively. Sweating also allows us to regulate our internal body temperature. Sure, one may ‘pit out’ from time to time, but we’re supposed to. Come to peace with the sweat, and find a safe deodorant, right after you read this.
Sweat Glands:
Will a natural deodorant work for you? Yes! But, it could take a bit of trial and error to find the best one. Body odor happens when bacteria on our skin come in contact with our sweat, usually near apocrine glands. These glands are teamed up with hair follicles, and they release sweat when our temperature rises, but also when we’re stressed.
Some bodies have an offensive odor, some bodies have little odor at all. Why? Diet, health, body care products, excess weight, hormonal shifts, stress and genetics can all be factors in how we smell. As kids reach puberty apocrine glands start kicking into gear. We have apocrine glands in our armpits.
Why don’t our foreheads smell like armpits? The other kind of sweat glands we have, covering most of our bodies, are called eccrine glands. These are the sweat glands on our foreheads. Eccrine glands help our bodies cool off, so we don’t overheat. Since these glands aren’t teamed with hair follicles, and generally not in high bacteria areas on our bodies, they tend to be less odorous.
Protect our Lymphatic System
Food for thought: Our apocrine glands are near our lymphatic system. Our lymphatic system works as another body cleaner. Just like our skin needs to sweat toxins, our lymph works to collect fluid from body tissues and return it to the blood. This is important because water, proteins, and other substances are always leaking out of tiny blood capillaries into the surrounding body tissues. If the lymphatic system didn’t drain the excess fluid, the lymph fluid would build up in the body’s tissues, making them swell. We need to keep our lymphatic system operational to stay healthy. The heart, lungs, intestines, liver, and skin all contain lymphatic tissue. There are more than 20 lymph nodes in each of our armpits. It is important to find a safe deodorant to keep lymph nodes safe.
What to Use Instead:
- Simple, recognizable ingredients
- Plant-based oils and butters
- Essential oils (or unscented options)
- Arrowroot or magnesium for odor support
Ingredients:
Always check the ingredients listed on body care products. At Coming Up Rainbows, we are transparent with our ingredients, and that is exactly the way it should be. If a deodorant/antiperspirant has aluminum, find out why, and how that can affect the body. If a deodorant has parabens, and those enter body systems they can act as estrogen and disrupt hormones. Another ingredient to watch for is “fragrance”, that could easily mean there is a synthetic product used in the recipe. Only the purest products are the safest products for the body.
Our Pit Stick has edible ingredients. What is in our Pit Stick? Baking Soda & Arrowroot Powder to combat that bacteria causing odor, usually found in the kitchen. We use beeswax, to firm up the oils of vitamin e and organic coconut. And, finally we add a drop or two of the purest essential oils of lavender and peppermint. Now that is a safe deodorant.
Baking soda sensitivity is a real thing. Never fear, we’ve got those sensitive armpits covered with our latest and greatest pit products. Our natural and effective Sensitive Skin Pit Stick. And, if you’re not into a scent for your pits, try our Unscented Pit Stick, this product is also baking soda free!
The best part is that our Pit Stick actually works! Give it a try! Check some of our testimonials. Hot tip: If you add a review you get a gift card emailed to you.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am not making any recommendations from a medical perspective. If you have concerns or questions please consult your doctor.
