Why You Should Switch to Non-Toxic Deodorant Today
Did you know one of the most harmful chemicals that both men and women put on their bodies is deodorant? Deodorant is a product that inhibits your body’s natural secretion of toxins. An antiperspirant and deodorant will clog your skin follicles so that you’re not able to sweat as much as your body requires. On top of inhibiting your body’s natural cleansing and detoxifying process, deodorants and antiperspirants also release tons of harmful chemicals into our bodies. Let’s take a look at the list of chemical ingredients in an average deodorant:
- Aluminum Compounds- Aluminum is the ingredient in antiperspirants that actually clogs your pores and prevents sweating. Aluminum exposure has been linked with development of Alzheimer’s disease and interferes with estrogen levels. When your body can’t process estrogen properly, there’s a higher risk for breast and prostate cancer.
- Steareths- These additives are the product of ethoxylation (weakening of harsh chemical in the manufacturing process), which simultaneously produces carcinogens and dioxanes.
- Parabens- This chemical is used in a lot of products these days as a preservative, but it is possibly one of the most harmful additives. Sometimes parabens act as estrogen in your body, which disrupts hormonal balances and has been linked to breast cancer and prostate cancer.
- Propylene Glycol- If used everyday, this chemical can cause damage to your central nervous system, heart and liver. It is also shown to irritate skin, especially sensitive skin. Propylene Glycol can be harmful at as small a percentage as 2%, yet deodorants generally have a high dose of 50% propylene glycol.
- Triclosan- The FDA has classified triclosan as a pesticide, yet it is in the majority of brand name deodorants. It’s used to kill bacteria in the manufacturing process, as well as when it comes in contact with your skin. When triclosan is combined with water it can also create a carcinogenic gas called chloroform.
- TEA & DEA- Triethanolamine (TEA) and diethanolamine (DEA) are chemicals that can seep into your skin and affect your liver and kidneys. In fact, they’re so harmful that these two chemicals have already been banned from products in Europe because they are known carcinogens.
- Artificial Colors- Some artificial colors and bleaches in deodorants can cause serious allergic reactions and are also known carcinogens.
The cosmetic industry in the US is willfully flawed and downright dangerous at times. Ingredients inside products on the shelves are not independently tested nor are they evaluated by the FDA for safety before they are sold. That’s because the cosmetic industry effectively policies itself. They determine what chemicals are safe and which are not, leaving us far behind Europe in terms of safety. The following list is the top 10 non-toxic deodorants for men and women:
- Soapwalla Original Deodorant Cream
- Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant Stick
- Type: A The Minimalist Deodorant
- Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream
- Every Man Jack Signature Mint Deodorant
- Follain Charcoal Deodorant
- Vapour Organic Beauty AER Next-Level Deodorant
- From Molly With Love Probiotic Deodorant
- Lovefresh Super Strength Deodorant
- Ursa Major No B.S. Deodorant
Switching to clean beauty products like non-toxic deodorant requires some trial and error. Here are a few tips to help you transition easier.
– Try more than one non-toxic deodorant. It may take a few tries before you find the right brand, everyone is different. For example; my aunt uses Joyous Organics Palo Santo and loves it! She says it works just as well or better than the Dry Idea that she used for years.
– Do some research on what ingredients you like or don’t like. Some love a base of baking soda while others are sensitive to it. Some prefer essential oils as fragrance while others want no scent at all.
– See what options are near you besides online shopping. Target, Whole Foods, Ulta and Sephora carry safer deodorant options. With any transition, give your body time to adjust. Your underarms are likely clogged with aluminum salts that prevent sweat and odor the chemical way. As you stop traditional antiperspirants and switch over to non-toxic deodorants, you may notice a “detox” period where sweat and odor are more prevalent. Let’s hope you stick with it, this detox period is worth it in the long run for your health and well being!
Resources:
www.dontmesswithmama.com
www.thegoodfaceproject.com
www.saferchemicals.org
www.mamavation.com