Deodorant: the Great Debate

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by Sophie Uliano

The following is an adaptation from Gorgeous for Good: A Simple 30-Day Program for Lasting Beauty- Inside and Out  by Sophie Uliano. It is published by Hay House (April 7^th, 2015) and is available at all major bookstores.

Deodorant: the Great Debate

In the green cosmetics world, there has recently been quite a debate about the pros and cons of your standard, store-bought deodorant. There are two super-scary terms that have been linked to ostensibly toxic antiperspirants: breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Now, if you’re like me, you don’t really need to hear anything more, because even if there’s a one percent chance that a family member or I might be struck down with a serious disease from an ingredient, it is not coming into my house.

However, it is important to tease out the Internet rumors here and get to the bottom of the matter. In short, there is currently no reliable evidence that supports a connection between deodorant and cancer or Alzheimer’s. That being said, there are a lot of other suspect ingredients lurking in drugstore deodorants. Many underarm products contain aluminum salts, propylene glycol, synthetic fragrance, and parabens—none of which I want in that delicate area extremely close to my lymph nodes, the system that I rely on to expel toxins and keep me healthy.

However, it’s hard to find a natural deodorant that really works, and the reason is that the natural formulas don’t contain the very substance that blocks your sweat glands: aluminum salts. Although, as previously noted, there is no proven connection between aluminum salts and Alzheimer’s, they react with the water in your sweat to create plugs that block your sweat ducts. I think we need to sweat; it’s one of the important ways in which our body excretes waste and toxins.

It’s important to understand that there are two different kinds of deodorants:

With antiperspirant: As the name implies, antiperspirants aim to stop you sweating. They typically contain aluminum compounds because they are some of the few substances that will plug your ducts. Remember, it’s not the sweat itself that stinks but the bacteria that breeds when sweat has been sitting in your pits for a while. If you absolutely don’t want to sweat at all or have a nerve-racking meeting or special event where you are going to be wearing a silk blouse, you might want to stash away an antiperspirant to keep you as dry as is possible without having the whole area Botoxed (which I don’t advise).

Without antiperspirant: A plain, old deodorant is just as it sounds—it only deals with the odor and won’t stop you from sweating, which in my opinion is way healthier. Most truly natural deodorants fall into this category. I look for deodorants that are formulated with pure essential oils, aloe, and zinc oxide.

Deodorant Paste

Underarm pastes have become really popular. They come in a jar, so you have to scoop the goop and rub it into your pits. Most of them are formulated with baking soda or arrowroot, which helps to minimize wetness, and a blend of essential oils, which help to combat bacteria and provide a beautiful smell. If you want to make your own, check out my DIY recipe from my book, Gorgeous for Good.

Lemongrass Antibacterial Deodorant

This is an outstanding deodorant paste that is my daily go-to.

2-ounce glass jar with airtight lid

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons shea butter

1/3 cup baking soda

1/4 cup arrowroot powder

6 drops lemongrass pure essential oil

Place the coconut oil and the shea butter in a double boiler over low heat and stir until it has all melted. Remove from the heat and whisk in the baking soda and the arrowroot powder. Stir in the essential oil and then pour into the jar.

At room temperature, the deodorant will be soft; if you want it to be more solid, store it in the fridge.

Store in a cool, dark spot and use within six months.