The Underside of Toxic Deodorants and Antiperspirants: They Stink!

​Does your deodorant stink? The underarm sticks on store shelves are loaded with toxic chemicals that are designed to be absorbed into your skin. Today's the day your family switches to a much healthier alternative!

​On average, women use 12 personal care products a day, exposing themselves to 168 chemical ingredients. Men use six, exposing themselves to 85 unique chemicals. However, the FDA does not even require safety testing of the ingredients in personal care products before they are put on store shelves. And, a large chunk of those chemicals may be in the underarm products you regularly use. I'm calling foul! (pun intended) (source)
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​The worst ingredients to avoid

Aluminum is used in antiperspirants to block pores, and without sweat, bacteria cannot produce odor. However, aluminum is a particularly troublesome ingredient in many store bought underarm sticks. It is absorbed through the skin. And aluminum has been recognized as a known neurotoxin since 1886!  It has been well established that the accumulation of aluminum in the brain can cause neurological disorders. In fact, a new study was just published that proves the link between Alzheimer's disease and exposure to aluminum. (Source)

Aluminum has also been linked to breast cancer when toxins are in close proximity to breast cells and cause damage. Reducing your use of aluminum is of crucial importance for your health. It's is used in the kitchen and in many other products, too. Take steps today to rid your home of aluminum! (Source)

Propylene Glycol is another ingredient found in many so-called "natural" aluminum-free deodorants found at the grocery store. It's often the first ingredient listed. It comes in many formulations including a pharmaceutical grade, but... it's a toxin - no getting around it!

Propylene glycol is used as an active ingredient in engine coolants and antifreeze, airplane de-icers, polyurethane cushions, paints, enamels and varnishes, and in many other products as a solvent or surfactant.  While there is debate around this chemical concoction, I don't want to take the risk of putting it on my armpits.  No thanks! (Source)

Phthalates are reproductive toxins used in a wide range of beauty products including shampoo, hair spray, nail polish, deodorant, and lotion. They also show up in PVC plastic, toys, and plastic wrap. These chemicals are linked to early puberty in girls and other reproductive harms. In animal studies, they are linked to birth defects of the male reproductive system, including undescended testicles, absent testicles, and a physical defect of the penis known as hypospadias. Unfortunately, phthalates are not required to be tested by the US government, and cosmetic companies can continue to market products that contain them to women of childbearing age. (source) (Read much more.)

"Fragrance" seems to be found everywhere, not just in perfumes and colognes.  It's in lotions, deodorant, shampoo, plus many, many household products like laundry detergent and air fresheners. But do you know what’s in it? US Federal law doesn’t even require companies to list any of the chemicals in their fragrance mixture on product labels. In fact, the average fragrance product tested contained 14 secret chemicals not listed on the label. What we do know, is that fragrances commonly contain hormone disrupting chemicals (endocrine disruptors) and are among the top 5 allergens in the world. Fragrance scores an 8 on the EWG Skin Deep database - really bad. Fragrances STINK!  (Read more on ewg.org)
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You can look up over 60,000 store-bought skin care and beauty products (including deodorants and antiperspirants) on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep database. The products are given a score from 1-10 based on toxicity. 10 is the worst. Aim for products ranked 1-3. Go check your items at home!

​You'll definitely want to install EWG's Healthy Living Ap on your phone, too, and use it right at the store.

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​Antiperspirants are double trouble

The skin is one of our main detoxification organs.  We're supposed to sweat when we get hot, or exercise, or are sick.  It's natural and normal. So, in addition to the toxic chemicals, preventing the perspiration process by using antiperspirants hinders the natural cool-down process and toxins can then accumulate in your armpits.

​But, no one wants to small badly, of course, so the easy solution is a natural deodorant.

Some bonuses of going natural:

• Once your underarms are antiperspirant-free for a while and allowed to perspire normally, the average amount of sweat actually lessens over time.  Yay!  (My husband really had a noticeable difference with this.)
• I also noticed that once I began wearing natural deodorant, and eating healthy food, my sweat naturally had less odor anyway. (Sweat actually has no odor itself. The smell comes from bacteria that metabolize the proteins and fatty acids from our sweat.)
• The deodorant recipe below really works just as well for me as anything from the store!

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Healthier alternatives

All of the ingredients in this homemade deodorant recipe are easy to find and perfectly natural. It's for both men & women. It takes about 15 minutes to make many months worth of deodorant. And best of all, it really works!

Make the Recipe

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Lastly, if you'd rather simply buy a natural deodorant instead of making your own, I like Primal Pit Paste. It comes in sticks or jars, like the one seen here. They offer unscented or a variety of natural scents. They even carry a product for kids!

Buy on Amazon

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