Benefits of natural deodorant and why we use it
We investigate and purchase good quality skincare. We invest in hair products to make sure it will stay strong and healthy and we choose body wash or moisturisers which will nourish our body using the good ingredients, but what about the deodorant we use? Do you know what ingredients are in this product you use daily?
When it comes to deodorant it’s a catch 22. Firstly, it has to work. No one wants to walk around with the dreaded BO but the flip side is we also don’t want it to contain any chemicals. So we have tried a few and we are here to tell you that you CAN have the best of both worlds.
We have been using natural deodorant for a few months now and we love it, but if you haven’t thought about making the transition yourself yet you’re not the only one. Rayne only started thinking about natural deodorant when her daughter started enquiring as to whether she needed it or not. It wasn’t until that point that she started thinking about what she should and shouldn’t encourage her daughter to be using on such a delicate part of her body.
On a side note, to be completely transparent there are a couple of downsides. One would be that I’m yet to find one that doesn’t put little white marks on your clothes and secondly, I like to apply it twice a day. Now you might bork at this information and think this natural deodorant thing isn’t for you but for us, the health benefits far outweigh any extra 30-second application and little extra care when putting on your clothes.
How deodorant works
Sweating is a natural process that our body goes through every day. Traditional deodorants use chemicals to block this process ensuring no sweat gets through our pores.
Using mainstream deodorants filled with toxic ingredients can throw off the bacterial balance in your armpits as it blocks the sweat. Sweating is actually one of our body’s primary ways of detoxifying itself, so when we’re using chemical antiperspirants each day, how are we actually maximizing this process? And with the body’s main defence against infection being the lymphatic system it’s the last place you want to be lathering with chemicals every day.
What is it actually made from?
Deodorant is applied to a sensitive area of the body, so you’ll find ingredients used to ensure protection, hydration and also provide a fragrant scent. Our favourite one from Native Co uses;
Coconut oil; to moisturise and help apply smoothly.
Baking soda; to help neutralize odour-causing bacteria.
Acidophilus; a healthy bacteria found in your gut microbiome, with the aim of killing odour-causing bacteria.
Tapioca starch; keep you feeling dry and fresh.
Shea Butter; naturally keeps your underarms moisturized and feeling soft and fresh.
You’ll also find natural deodorant is aluminium, paraben and sulphate free, so only the good stuff is going on your skin.
Knowing how to pronounce the names of the ingredients without any numbers or harsh chemicals is one of the reasons we love it.
Even better is if you have some young ones who are just starting to head in this direction, start them off the right way. Native have a few products made especially for teens. With scents like watermelon, coconut and pineapple, they’ll be sure to love it first try, and introducing them to healthy habits is incentive enough for us.
Steps to make an effecting switch…
Detox
After years of using the same antiperspirant, you might need to give your body a break from the build-up of chemicals and aluminium. Your body will naturally detoxify itself but this a method that people have used when making the switch.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating your skin can help your body with the detoxification process. Your pores have been clogged for so long that they may need a little help opening back up. Use a natural exfoliant like Epsom salts or a mitt to carefully unclog stubborn pores.
Choose natural fibres
Expect to sweat a lot during your switch. Your body finally has a chance to clean itself up, so it’s going to wash all of the toxins away as quickly as it can. Try stick with clothing fibres like wool or cotton over polyester which tends to trap in moisture.
Time time time
You need to give your body a few days to a week let it do its thing. Don’t’ be discouraged! It just takes a little bit of time for the switch to take effect. Our bodies are amazing but you have to be patient! Don’t be scared of going deodorant free for a few days, just make sure to drink lots of water to replace what has been lost through sweat.
Do you use a natural deodorant? Or is it something you’ve been wanting to try? Let us know your thoughts! We would love to try and review some natural deodorant brands so please hit us up here or tag us in Instagram @rayne_ella_
Purchase our current favourite here…it’s so easy to apply, the packaging is sleek and can be taken anywhere and its reasonably priced too!
