The thing that most people find really repulsive is the ripe scent that your nose can easily detect on a crowded bus in the middle of a scorching hot summer day. Are you wrinkling your nose right now? If you are, it means you are reminiscent of this kind of experience. Knowing how unpleasant a bad smell can be for others, no wonder most of us use deodorants. But these days, in the era of environmental protection programs, consciousness-raising campaigns, and a keen interest in vegan alternatives for so many products, we can observe the shift towards natural vegan deodorants. Are they better than all those mainstream options cuddling up on the shelves of every drugstore? Is a vegan deodorant actually healthy for us? Let’s have a look.
Why a vegan deodorant?
Natural deodorant is the term used to refer to vegan deodorants, ones that are made from natural ingredients, are free of harmful chemicals, and do not contain any animal ingredients or animal-derived products. Ideally, they are also cruelty-free, which means there is no animal testing included in the manufacturing process. Vegan and cruelty-free deodorants are thus considered to be environmentally friendly and more sustainable, both when it comes to using renewable sources to produce them and relying on biodegradable packaging (glass jars, recycled paper, etc.). They are also believed to have much to do with our health, due to a complete lack of harsh chemicals. And this aspect is what we want to focus on today.
Health issues
A deodorant is a beauty product that we apply directly onto our underarms β the exceptionally absorbent areas that are made up of numerous sweat glands and hormone receptors, which is why ingredients do matter, hugely.
Traditional deodorants are frequently composed of substances that are believed to be harmful to our health. Some of them have been reported to cause hormonal imbalance, allergic reactions, skin irritation, and they have been even linked to Alzheimer’s disease (such allegations have not yet been confirmed though).
What’s more, there’s growing concern about the negative influence of using antiperspirants, as their effectiveness lies in the fact that they contain aluminum salts which block our sweat pores and reduce the amount of perspiration. By contrast, deodorants don’t prevent sweating β they help reduce the underarm smell by killing odor-causing bacteria that eagerly feed on our sweat. Antiperspirants are therefore believed to disturb the natural process of releasing toxins from our bodies.
Such deliberations lead to the conclusion that choosing natural beauty products β more often than not aluminum-free, plastic-free, and paraben-free, plus dermatologically tested β seems to be an option that is definitely more beneficial to our health. What ingredients should you look for to make sure the product will best respond to your skin’s needs?
The power of organic ingredients
Although the ingredient lists of vegan products vary depending on brands, there are several powerful and health-friendly components that are frequently found in natural deodorants. These include:
Baking soda (or sodium bicarbonate)
Thanks to its odor neutralizing and moisture-absorbing properties, baking soda is an ingredient that is likely to be found in an average aluminum-free deodorant. However, as this component might be a bit too harsh for delicate skin, you may want to try the sensitive skin formula in which gentle arrowroot is used to reduce the effect of excessive sweating.
Potassium alum
This substance helps create a layer on your skin that successfully prevents bacteria from engaging in their feasting activity and thus fights the odor.
Witch hazel
Aside from having strong antibacterial properties, it acts as an astringent that makes your pores tighten and helps keep your underarms fresh and dry.
Zinc oxide
This compound also has antimicrobial characteristics that help significantly minimize an unpleasant smell.
White clay
This mineral compound is yet another ingredient with remarkable moisture absorbing abilities.
All-natural and smelling fresh
Many vegan and eco-friendly deodorants β instead of being packed with parabens and artificial fragrances β contain essential oils that, aside from possessing antiseptic properties, give off lovely scents. Also, if you look for best smelling products, such ingredients as coconut oil, tea tree oil, shea butter or mineral salts are definitely worth trying out. Of course, since we all have unique body chemistry, we might need to experiment a bit to find the deodorant that will work for us.
Vegan deodorant β your new personal favorite
If you are focused on your own wellbeing while remaining deeply concerned about the environment and animal rights protection, natural deodorant is a product you should definitely include in your beauty treatment set. You can choose a stick deodorant, a roll-on deodorant, a light body spray, or a cream deodorant balm β whatever cruelty-free type you will decide to go for, you will soon realize that there is no better way of taking care of your sensitive skin.