Still using a commercial deodorant? Here’s why you should stop
Underarm sweating and an associated odour are normal and natural, but something that many of us would prefer to avoid, when possible.
That’s why the market for deodorants and antiperspirants is so large. In fact, a 2017 survey conducted by Statista found that in the UK a whopping 90% of 18 – 29 year old women use a deodorant on a daily basis.
Many people rely on commercial deodorants and antiperspirants to keep them dry and fresh and whilst these products can be effective, the bad news is that unfortunately they may also be bad for our health and wellbeing.
Why you should ditch your commercial deodorant
Commercial deodorants contain all manner of chemicals and a quick look at the list of ingredients on the side of the can or stick reveals various scarily-named substances.
Whilst it’s difficult to avoid ingesting some chemicals – many of us will consume some in our food – it’s believed that applying chemicals to the skin may be even worse for us than eating them.
That’s because when we ingest a chemical by eating it, enzymes in the saliva and stomach help to break it down and quickly flush it out of the body. Applying chemicals to the skin however, means that they immediately enter the bloodstream, unfiltered.
Parabens, a class of substances widely used in commercial health and beauty products and commonly given the names methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben, and butylparaben, give particular cause for concern. Research has shown that these chemical preservatives, which are used to prevent the growth of moulds and bacteria, are endocrine disruptors. That means they disturb the body’s endocrine system, potentially causing adverse neurological, developmental, reproductive, and immune effects.
Aluminium is another substance used in many deodorants and antiperspirants which we may be wise to avoid. A carcinogen, aluminium is used because it effectively blocks the ducts under our arms and stops us from sweating. It’s also a substance that’s been found to mimic the female hormone oestrogen – and it’s been proven that oestrogen promotes the growth of breast cancer cells.
Whilst scientific studies have not confirmed the link between aluminium and breast cancer, it’s certainly a substance that we might consider avoiding, especially when we can avoid it by simply switching to a natural, organic deodorant.
Which natural deodorant should I use?
It’s clear that to avoid damaging our health we should stop using commercial, chemical products and switch to using a natural, organic deodorant. But which should you choose?
There are various different products available, though unfortunately here at Heavenly Organics we’ve found that many of them are not particularly effective…and we’ve tested a lot! We’ve also found that even natural, chemical-free deodorants and antiperspirants can irritate the sensitive underarms, because of the way in which the products have to be applied by rubbing them onto the skin.
That’s why we’ve created a unique deodorant powder which not only tackles odour brilliantly, but is also really gentle on the skin. The powder can be applied delicately, much like a talc, which helps prevent the underarm irritation associated with rub-on sticks or bars.
Our deodorant powder is created entirely from three natural, organic and vegan-friendly ingredients – bicarbonate of soda, a natural deodoriser and cleanser; arrowroot, which absorbs moisture and sebum and eliminates toxins; and bentonite clay, which draws toxins out of the skin as well as eliminating odour and absorbing moisture. Added essential oils such as lavender and tea tree help to deodorise and naturally kill bacteria, boosting dryness and freshness.
What’s more, our deodorant powder comes in a glass jar which can be easily refilled with our refill packs, which are packaged in paper. That means they’re environmentally friendly and perfect for those who strive to follow a zero waste lifestyle.
Why not try our fantastic organic, 100% vegan deodorants today and experience natural underarm freshness and dryness?