We all know them, friends and family, that have decided to go natural and give up their regular antiperspirant with aluminum. And you’ve wondered if you should make the switch as well. You’ve heard all the hype that its better for you, doesn’t cause cancer and it’s all natural, so its got to be better. But, as you know, its never as simple as all that. So we dug back into Dr. Hannah Sivak’s files to find out what her take is on the natural vs. aluminum fad. Hopefully, by the end, you will be able to make an educated decision on what type of deodorant is right for you. 

First, let’s break down the differences between deodorant and antiperspirant. Antiperspirant is a type of deodorant that uses aluminum to reduce sweat or perspiration, thereby reducing odor caused by sweat. Sweat in and of itself does not produce an odor, it is only when it is mixed with bacteria that it causes the odor we know as body odor. Aluminum is an effective way of reducing odor. Deodorant is a broad term for combating odor and there are several ways to do that. As we said, reducing sweat is one way. Other ways to deodorize are to mask the smell with fragrance or essential oils. Some natural deodorants use ingredients to change the pH of your armpits which makes it an inhospitable environment for the bacterial that causes odor, such as baking soda. 

What are the pros and cons of using aluminum antiperspirant?

The main con of using aluminum antiperspirant is that it may contain ingredients that could potentially be linked to negative health effects. Additionally, aluminum antiperspirants can be irritating to some people’s skin, so it’s important to make sure that you are using one that is made for your skin type. However, Dr. Sivak points out that aluminum is one of the most abundant metals on Earth, “Aluminum is so abundant on the earth’s crust (third after oxygen and silicon) that the only way to avoid it is to leave Earth altogether.It is present in our water and food along with most common items, like your shoes…it’s everywhere.” For most people, the body does a pretty good job of dealing with aluminum. The only people who should not use aluminum antiperspirant are people who may have a health problem that inhibits their ability to effectively eliminate it from their bodies or people who have an allergic reaction to it. 

What is natural deodorant?

Natural deodorant is a type of deodorant that is made with natural ingredients, such as baking soda, essential oils, and plant extracts. Natural deodorants are usually free of aluminum, parabens, and other ingredients that are currently deemed as harmful ingredients. However, natural, as Dr. Sivak has said many times, is not commonly defined in the skincare industry. Natural implies that the ingredients are not man-made or created in the lab, but if you do your research and look at the ingredient list of these types of deodorants, you may find there are many ingredients that don’t look natural at all.

What are the pros and cons of using natural deodorant?

The main pro of natural deodorants is that they are thought to be free of potentially harmful chemicals. Some natural deodorants may also contain nourishing ingredients that can help to keep your skin healthy. However, according to Dr. Sivak, “Some work by increasing the pH of the armpit so that it becomes inhospitable for the usual bacterial flora. If the “smelly” bacteria are not there, the sweat is not transformed into a smelly mess. This is an ingenious approach, but there is a fundamental flaw: bacteria that do like the higher pH may not be safe for your skin. One of these bacteria is Propionibacterium, involved in acne, and a slightly increased pH leads to its rapid growth.”

When making a switch from aluminum to natural, most people will go through a period of adjustment where they experience an increase in body odor and may even start to break out or notice a rash. This may resolve over time or it may be a persistent problem. We recommend doing a patch test before trying any new products and see your doctor or dermatologist if you experience a rash or irritation a long with discontinuing any product that is the cause of the irritation. 

Another con of natural deodorants is that they are not as effective at blocking sweat and body odor as aluminum antiperspirants are. Additionally, many natural deodorants can be expensive, so they may not be the best option for people on a budget.

Which one should you use?

The answer to this question really depends on your individual needs. If you are someone who gets really sweaty and struggles with body odor, then aluminum antiperspirant may be a better choice for you. However, if you are looking for a deodorant that is free of potentially harmful chemicals, then natural deodorant may be the way to go. Look for products that contain skin soothing ingredients, emollients and humectants for the best results. If you get into trouble, Skin Actives offers several products to help with sensitive skin, like our Ultra Calming Cream, Every Lipid Serum, Skin Soothing Serum and Post Radiation Cream. Ultimately, the decision is up to you and it’s important to choose a deodorant that works best for you and not just follow the latest trend without doing your research and your own patch testing.