It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost seven years since I made the decision to switch to simpler, more natural choices for my skincare needs. At that time, with a new commitment to choose more consciously in all things that comprise my day-to-day, I knew ditching conventional personal care products would be a key step for long-term change.
Enter, the natural deodorant.
I was in an era of evaluating everything I consumed, from food and drink to every product I owned and used regularly, and defining how it all measured up to my personal standards for health and well-being.
The Swap
Unsurprisingly, and like most people, I had a lot to reconsider. What was actually in my shampoo, and is it healthy for my scalp? Why was my skin still feeling irritated when I was using the most recommended brands and products? Why was I feeling bloated, foggy, and fatigued even when I thought I was eating healthy? Why do I always feel like something was just, off?
Along with these and many more questions, I decided to dissect everything and begin my research on how everyday household and personal care products impact our health from the inside out. What might sound like a harmless ingredient, could be what’s irritating your skin or affecting your hormonal health without us even being aware. This was an especially important task for me as I was trying to navigate my long known thyroid condition and recent experience with overburdened adrenal glands, both a product of hormonal imbalance.
It was an evolving game of, the more you know.
One of the first items I swapped out was conventional deodorants and antiperspirants. I had read too much about the negative effects of aluminum-based products, and felt it would be a small yet impactful step in overhauling my routine. I won’t sugar coat it, it was a bit intimidating to make the switch since personal hygiene is very important to me, and I had little knowledge about what ingredients would make for a safe and gentle formula that would still keep me feeling fresh and dry.
With a lot of product testing, a few disappointments, and several formulas later, I’ve found ones that have consistently been game-changers in my routine. These products are not only safer choices when it comes to overall health, but help elevate your whole personal care game.
The Natural Deodorant
I love a product that has straightforward ingredients in a simple and effective formula. Naturally, I was steering clear of anything that contained potentially harmful or irritating ingredients like aluminum, parabens, baking soda, artificial dye, and fragrance to support my healing. My journey led me to many different brands including Agent Nateur, EveryOne, Sukin, Weleda, and Wildcraft.
The product I’m most drawn to is the deodorant spray by Saje Natural Wellness, formulated with mineral salts and essential oils to protect against odor-causing bacteria for a clean, fresh feeling. My personal favorite is Goddess, a blend that instantly transports you to a divine citrus-rose euphoria. It’s more than just deodorant, and truly a sensorial experience. I haven’t had any adverse effects, and absolutely love the convenient spray formulation.
The More You Know
Using aluminum-based antiperspirant products can be concerning as they block sweat from reaching the surface of your pores to provide better protection against wetness. Frequent use can cause aluminum to accumulate in the body, and while the metal is filtered out through the kidneys in healthy individuals, it can pose a problem for those with weak kidney function.
Parabens are controversial ingredients that are used as preservatives in personal care and makeup products, and are known as endocrine disrupters. These estrogen mimickers are absorbed through the skin and can cause hormonal imbalances. With continuous high exposure, they may lead to more serious health problems.
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is a natural ingredient that has many uses in household cleaning and cooking. It is also often used for odor protection in many antiperspirant and deodorant products. Since it is an alkaline agent and raises the pH of the skin, baking soda is known to cause skin irritation, redness, sensitivity, and skin discoloration.
The Change
Making lasting change for your well-being is all about personal choice, not about being right or wrong according to anyone else’s standards. It’s about what feels right for you, right now.
For me, taking small steps to optimize my personal care and skincare routines has been worth it over the years. I’m more confident knowing that my favorite products are simple, consistently perform as intended, make me feel beautiful and wholesome, and most importantly, are a small step in supporting my body.
If you’re considering making changes to the ways you have always done things, remember that it takes just one small decision to change your whole direction. It’s deciding you want something different. Something more fulfilling, and something truly aligned.
Set the intention and make your move.