Your Guide to Choosing A Natural Deodorant

Your Guide to Choosing A Natural Deodorant

Congratulations! You’ve decided that intentionally exposing yourself to chemicals on a daily basis isn't for you anymore. Awesome. Now, what you need to do is figure out where to start. Now more than ever, it can be a daunting process to find the right natural deodorant for you. Natural has come a long way in the last decade or so and there are so many great options to choose from, so how does one go about finding the right fit? That’s what we’re here to answer today. Let’s first establish what natural deodorant is and then we can provide a guide for different products.

Natural deodorant is a type of deodorant made from, you guessed it, natural ingredients such as baking soda, essential oils, and waxes, rather than synthetic ingredients such as aluminum. Optimally, they’re made exclusively with natural ingredients but that isn't always the case and depending on your tolerance for some natural ingredients over being fully natural, vegan or organic, that may be your starting point for purchasing your first natural deodorant. Many people choose to use natural deodorants for a variety of reasons. Natural deodorants can be much gentler on skin and can be a great choice for people with sensitive skin or allergies. Additionally, natural deodorants are free from certain ingredients that may have adverse health effects, making them a great choice for those who live a more natural lifestyle. Choosing the right natural deodorant for you can be a tricky task, but with some research and trial and error, you can find the perfect natural deodorant for your body and lifestyle.

Considerations when choosing the right natural deodorant for you

When considering purchasing a natural deodorant, there are a few important considerations to make. First, it is important to understand what ingredients are in the natural deodorant, and how those ingredients will interact with your body. Different deodorants can contain different ingredients, such as baking soda, essential oils, or shea butter. Each of these ingredients can affect skin differently and can be irritating to some people. For example, some people have an allergy to coconut oil which is commonly used in the natural products industry. If you know you’re allergic to coconut oil, choosing a product with coconut oil is going to fail. Likewise, many natural deodorants also contain baking soda (including all but one of ours at Green Theory Naturals) due to its strong odor fighting qualities. Baking soda can cause rash, skin irritation and itching in those with sensitive skin types. If you know your skin has a tendency to be irritated easily, its probably best to not select a natural deodorant with baking soda. As a side note, at Green Theory we want you to have the best experience possible and so if you choose one of our baking soda deodorants and it gives you any type of irritation, just let us know and we’ll send you a free stick of our baking soda-free Mojito scent. It is important to do research and read the labels to ensure you are picking an option that will work best for your body. 

The next consideration that comes with ingredients is what your tolerance level for the quality or standards of the ingredients. Many natural deodorants are made with beeswax in them and if you're a vegan, this may not be an acceptable ingredient. Is organic important to you? Some brands only use organic ingredients, some don’t use any and some will even have a mix in them. If fully organic ingredients matter to you, you’ll need to figure out which ones fit those desires. 

Additionally, you may want to think about how much tolerance you have for non-natural ingredients. In general, natural usually also means that it’s also aluminum free but, not always. If you still want to stick with an antiperspirant (and the aluminum), there are options available. Many aluminum free deodorants do contain synthetic ingredients and so this is where reading labels will matter most. There is a huge trend of companies billing themselves as “natural” when they don’t have aluminum but do contain other harmful synthetic ingredients. Here at Green Theory, we value transparency to be among our top priorities and offer products for most needs. Our After Dark (mens) and Evening Wear (womens) collections are scented with fragrance oils instead of essential oils for those that want a more complex scent although these might be irritating to those with sensitivity to synthetic smells. All the rest of our all natural probiotic deodorants are scented with essential oils and the same all natural formula of ingredients.

Lastly, there are so many natural deodorant brands out there and you might be able to help yourself by knowing if there is any specific characteristic you’re looking for, be sure to identify those in your search. Examples of this might include wanting a probiotic deodorant. Probiotics like we include in all our deodorants at Green Theory Naturals compete with the bad, odor causing bacteria for living space while not producing odor themselves. You might want a deodorant that offers some form of detox and so a clay like bentonite clay that we use in our deodorants is an option. Other special ingredients might be charcoal, mushrooms, or even CBD. Know what you want and that will help you refine your search.

Another factor to consider when choosing a natural deodorant is cost and budget. Because natural deodorants are made with naturally occurring ingredients that need to be harvested, processed, packaged and shipped to distributors rather than being industrial made with chemicals, they are often much more expensive than traditional deodorants, so it is important to create a budget and determine what you can realistically afford. If a higher-priced product is out of reach, there are also more affordable options available; however it's important to note that the higher the quality of ingredients you want, the more likely it is to cost more.

Finally, it is important to consider where the natural deodorant can be purchased. Natural deodorants can be found in grocery stores, health food stores, and online retailers. Checking out different stores and comparing prices makes it easier to find a good deal on a natural deodorant. The advantage to purchasing your natural deodorant at a store is that you have access to more accurate and easy determination of the factors you’re looking for such as smell, packaging and ingredient comparison. The downside to retail stores is that there are less options to choose from compared to purchasing natural deodorant online where every product has a page dedicated to it. Choosing a natural deodorant is a personal decision, and it is important to make sure the product you choose is right for your body and your budget. Doing research, reading labels, and comparing prices are all important steps in finding the best natural deodorant for you.

How to research natural deodorants

Finding the right natural deodorant for you can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be! With a few simple steps, you can find the perfect match for your pits. 

First and foremost, you should do some research. That's right, you're going down the rabbit hole of natural deodorant reviews and reading any and all information you can get your hands on. After all, don't you want to make an informed decision? You do. Here’s where the rabbit hole gets a bit more rabbit-hole-y; The internet is loaded with sabotage, deceit and horn tooting. It’s important to know the limitations and experiences of others with natural deodorant. For example, we addressed earlier how baking soda will give some people a rash or skin irritation. Irritation isn’t an indicator that the product doesn’t work but rather, it wasn’t the right product for that person. You’re likely to encounter the best of reviews on a brands website due to two factors, one, the people that loved the product will share their thoughts while those that didn’t aren't likely to go back to the site just to leave feedback and two, it’s likely that the brand is able to curate which reviews are posted and which are not. The cesspool of poor reviews are likely to most often be found on places like Amazon where competitors will often get people to purchase their competition's products for the sole purpose of leaving a one star review. These reviews usually offer blanket statements that would be alarming to anyone reading them like “this smells like gas” but not addressing whether the product worked or not so, take reviews with a grain of salt.

Next, consult the people in your life who have already gone through the process of finding the right natural deodorant. Friends and family who have already been through it can offer great advice on which brands worked best for them and what to look out for. 

Finally, if you're still feeling overwhelmed or confused, don't hesitate to get some expert advice. Reach out to a dermatologist or even an aromatherapy specialist to get their take on the best natural deodorants for you, based on your individual needs. Choosing the right natural deodorant doesn't have to be a chore. With a little bit of research, a few conversations, and a dash of professional guidance, you can find the natural deodorant of your dreams!

Testing your natural deodorant

Ok, so, you’ve considered all your options, did some research and spoken to some trusted people and decided on a brand (hopefully Green Theory probiotic deodorant). Now, its time to test things out!

When it comes to the testing process, you should take into account both the time of day and the environment in which you plan to use your natural deodorant. It’s important to note when and where you use it in order to determine which natural deodorant works best for you. For example, if you plan to wear it to a yoga class, you might want to give it a test run at home first to make sure it won’t start to wear off an hour in - embarrassing you to the point where yoga class is never a thing ever again. We don’t want that. 

There is an acclimatization period for most people when they switch deodorants, no matter what they switch to and from because the pH in the underarms will need to adjust. This is more the case when going from a conventional deodorant to a natural deodorant and even more true when converting from an aluminum based antiperspirant to an aluminum free natural deodorant. Your body will go through a period where it will be flushing out all the aluminum and other toxins in the antiperspirant and it is likely that you will experience about a week of more perspiration than normal. Stick with it. This is normal. Our deodorant at Green Theory contains bentonite clay that serves as a natural detox and helps this process go more quickly. It’s an amazing ingredient that reverses its electrical charge when it contacts sweat and attracts metals and toxins, pulling them out of the body. Your body will thank you!

Studies have also shown that the most effective time to apply natural deodorant is at night before you go to bed. This allows you're deodorant and the ingredients to soak in and do their thing at a lower body temperature and so they're ready to go in the morning. It's also important to note that you should not apply natural deodorant to wet underarms like, when you get out of the shower. The oils in the product and the water remaining on the skin repel each other and thus you will not get as good of skin contact which results in less effectiveness and increases the likelihood of staining your clothes. Avoid this if possible.

You should also monitor your skin’s response when trying out a new natural deodorant. If you notice any irritation or redness Likely, it's the baking soda but if you’re using a baking soda-free version, it may be due to fragrance allergies, so you might want to switch your deodorant to a fragrance-free option if that’s the case. 

When it comes to natural deodorants, you might also find that you need to change your deodorant as the seasons change. For example, if you live in an area where the temperature is above 80 degrees throughout the summer, you may find that your natural deodorant isn’t quite up to the task. In this case, it’s best to switch to a more heavy-duty deodorant that can stand up to the heat. This would be a rare case but not out of the realm of possibility for those with particularly pungent underarms.

It’s also important to note that natural deodorants don’t always provide the same level of protection as traditional deodorants. If you find that you’re sweating more or that your natural deodorant isn’t controlling the odor, you may need to use a stronger product or apply more frequently. 

With a bit of experimentation and monitoring, you’ll be able to find the perfect natural deodorant for your needs.

In conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right natural deodorant for you can be a tough task, but it doesn’t have to be! With the numerous benefits of natural deodorant, such as being free from harsh chemicals and irritation, you can be sure you are staying healthy and smelling fresh each and every day - and feel great about it. Make sure you read the labels and find one that fits your lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to try different brands until you find one that works for you - so long as you give each one a good two week try before switching. Finally, don’t put off switching to natural deodorant any longer. Today is the day to start taking care of yourself and your body in the best way possible.

Since you’ve made it this far and you’re ready to start the process of finding a natural deodorant to try, give us at Green Theory go! They’re handcrafted in small batches, 100% aluminum and chemical free, all natural and harness the odor killing power of probiotics and yet take things one step further towards actually improving your health with the addition of detoxifying bentonite clay. For first time customers, we’re offering you a special opening discount of 25% off your very first Green Theory order with code GTCHOICE25.

If there’s anything we forgot to cover, let us know in the comments below!