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With wellness and self-care all the rage these days, it makes sense that guys are switching their deodorants to the natural stuff. After all, the benefits of a natural deodorant are amazing!
If you’re still using cheap and nasty deodorant from the supermarket, this article might just change your mind. Read on to discover why.
What is natural deodorant?
Natural deodorants are free from the chemicals that make up most ‘off-the-shelf’ deodorants. They’re typically made with natural ingredients like coconut oil, tea tree oil, arrowroot, and cornstarch. Compare this with traditional deodorants, where you commonly find toxic ingredients like aluminum, alcohol, parabens, and triclosan.
Unlike their chemical cousins, natural deodorants absorb moisture and mask body odor, rather than simply preventing your body from sweating. And that’s inherently a good thing. After all, your body needs to naturally sweat (within reason of course).
Natural deodorants help to keep body odor at bay by preventing natural bacteria from blending with salt and water on your skin. At the same time, they allow your body to sweat — which is essential for regulating your body’s temperature and releasing toxins from your system.
You can also check out our blog where we go into detail about the difference between natural and chemical deodorants.
What are benefits of natural deodorant?
There are a host of benefits to be had by swapping regular deodorant for the natural variety. While these benefits are predominantly for your skin, they also extend to the environment. Here’s why you should add natural deodorant to your shopping list:
Benefit 1: Simpler ingredients
Water, lemongrass, rosemary, witch hazel, baking soda: What do these ingredients have in common? They’re pronounceable — which makes them lighter, safer, pleasantly scented, and more effective!
Chemical-laden, traditional deodorants tend to block your skin’s pores. These deodorants can also contain aluminum compounds that prevent your body from sweating. While you might think that a lack of sweat is positive, sweating is actually necessary to detoxify your body. So, if you prevent your skin from sweating, this can trap bacteria and cause worse body odor.
Natural deodorants are free from aluminum and allow the natural process of sweating to occur in your body. At the same time, they help to keep you fresh, with essential oils like lavender and rosemary containing antibacterial properties that prevent body odor, while moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera help to soothe sensitive skin.
Benefit 2: Keep your pores clear
Sweat on your body doesn’t cause odor on its own. It’s when the sweat blends with the natural bacteria in your skin that it can lead to an unpleasant smell.
Traditional deodorants clog your pores and prevent you from sweating. This might keep you dry in the short term, but it also causes the build-up of both good and bad bacteria. However, unlike traditional deodorants, natural deodorants keep your pores open and allow your skin to breathe.
Natural deodorants treat bacteria rather than blocking your skin’s pores. This is particularly important in combating those nasty smells that tend to stick around for longer.
Benefit 3: Avoid skin irritation
Natural deodorants contain ingredients that are free from harmful compounds and artificial fragrances. These ingredients, which include vitamin E, arrowroot, coconut oil, and shea butter, are safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin.
Because they’re free from chemicals, natural deodorants are far less likely to cause skin irritation. With ingredients that nourish your skin, natural deodorants instead leave your skin soft, smooth, and smelling fresh.
It would also help to get educated on different types of skin irritations and more particularly, armpit rashes. You can check out our blog on how to get rid of armpit rash.
Benefit 4: No more T-shirt stains
Aluminum and other chemicals found in traditional deodorants can cause a reaction to a variety of fabrics you may wear. This has the potential to leave gross, ‘yellowish’ stains on your T-shirts and other clothing.
Since natural deodorants are aluminum-free, your clothes stay cleaner for longer. And this means your favorite shirts remain stain-free!
Benefit 5: Kinder to animals and the planet
Triclosan is an ingredient that is frequently added to traditional deodorants because of its antibacterial properties. However, some short-term animal studies have shown that exposure to high doses of triclosan is associated with decreased levels of thyroid hormones.
Triclosan is also toxic to certain types of algae, leading to contamination of waterways and oceans, which endangers all marine life.
In addition to containing chemicals like triclosan, many traditional deodorants are also tested on animals. Conversely, most natural deodorants are vegan certified and cruelty-free.
If you're concerned about protecting the environment, you have even more reason to switch to natural deodorant. In fact, choosing a deodorant made with natural and sustainable ingredients ensures that it won’t harm you, wildlife, or the environment.
What is the best natural deodorant?
Now that you’re up to speed on the benefits of natural deodorant, you’re probably asking yourself: What is the best men’s natural deodorant? The answer is VITAMAN’S award-winning range of men’s natural deodorants.
Made with organic Australian botanicals and essential oils, VITAMAN’s skincare and grooming essentials are free from preservatives and scientifically formulated to provide you with all day protection. Most importantly though, they’re proven to have you looking, smelling, and feeling your best.
