In today's world, where a wide range of products is available on the market, it is important to choose carefully and with regard to health. Non-toxic deodorants are gaining increasing popularity, and it's no wonder. Consumers have the option to choose between classic sticks, roll-ons, sprays, or creamy deodorants. These products contain not only butters, oils, plant extracts, and essential oils but also non-toxic sorbents that help eliminate unwanted odors. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of these deodorants?
1. Natural vs. Non-Toxic Deodorants: What's the Difference?
While both natural and non-toxic deodorants aim to provide safer alternatives to conventional deodorants, the terms are not interchangeable.
- Natural Deodorants: These products primarily focus on using ingredients derived from natural sources, such as plant extracts, and natural starches. However, the term "natural" can be somewhat misleading, as there are no strict regulations governing what qualifies as natural, which sometimes allows for the inclusion of potentially irritating or less safe natural ingredients. Typical example of such ingredients is fragrance/perfume, because some brands use synthetic fragrances or their derivatives instead of pure essential oils to either strengthen the scent or bring a trendy scent that is difficult to achieve by using only essential oils.
- Non-Toxic Deodorants: Non-toxic deodorants, on the other hand, take a broader approach by not only using natural ingredients but also focusing on excluding any ingredients that could potentially harm your health, including certain natural compounds. They are formulated to avoid any known toxins or irritants, regardless of their source. Example here might be Alum (we will mention more about it later in this article).
2. Safe Sorbents in Non-Toxic Deodorants
Non-toxic deodorants often contain various types of plant starches, such as corn starch or arrowroot (powder from the root of the tuberous plant Maranta arundinacea). Other common ingredients include baking soda, magnesium hydroxide, or triethyl citrate. These ingredients are considered safe, but for sensitive and very young individuals, we recommend choosing a deodorant without baking soda, as its high pH can irritate the skin.
Why Prefer Deodorants Without Added Baking Soda When You Have Sensitive Skin?
While baking soda is a safe substance, its high pH can cause an imbalance on the skin. The optimal pH value for the skin is 5.5, while baking soda has a pH higher than 8. With long-term use of such highly alkaline deodorants, the skin can become tender and more susceptible to various skin reactions.
3. The Problem Named Alum: Is There a "Safe Aluminum"?
Alum is a popular alternative to regular aluminum in cosmetics, but its safety is not unequivocal. In non-toxic care, we recommend avoiding aluminum salts in deodorants in any form. According to experts like Dr. Christopher Exley, there is no difference in safety between antiperspirants made from aluminum chlorohydrate and the so-called natural product "crystal" (alum). Aluminum applied to the armpits has been detected in urine, indicating that it is absorbed through the skin into the body.
Risks of Aluminum
Aluminum can act by tightening the keratin of the skin, which closes the sweat glands. And this is the reason why we do not consider it as a non-toxic ingredient. Although this effectively prevents sweating, it causes sweat to accumulate in the lymph nodes and the body cannot effectively get rid of harmful substances. Sweating is a natural detoxification process, and preventing it is undesirable. Deodorants should help absorb or suppress the odor caused by bacteria breaking down sweat.
Why Are Heavy Metals Undesirable?
Aluminum belongs to the category of heavy metals, which have the potential to cause allergies and other health problems. Accumulation of heavy metals can lead to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and more serious chronic diseases, including cancer. It is difficult to completely eliminate heavy metals, but it is important to minimize their intake so that our detoxification systems are not overwhelmed.
4. Conclusion
Choose deodorants with regard to your health and prefer those that do not contain baking soda or aluminum. Non-toxic deodorants are a great alternative that not only protects your health but also respects the natural processes of your body. Try different types and scents to find the one that is right for you.
Are you also interested in other non-toxic topics? You might like:
Sources:
- Pavlistova, Pavla and Hrivnakova, Katarina. Svet non toxic: mene je vice, CPress, 2021.
- Hyun Soo Kim, Yeo Jin Kim, and Young Rok Seo. An Overview of Carcinogenic Heavy Metal: Molecular Toxicity Mechanism and Prevention. Published online 2015 Dec 30. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4699750/
