Your Top 3 Questions about Deodorant Answered

Your Top 3 Questions About Deodorant Answered

If you’ve ever done a Google search for “aluminum in deodorant,” you were faced with more than 30 million results, and what seems like just as many different opinions! There is a whole internet full of information (and misinformation!) out there, and much of it can be confusing. What exactly is aluminum? What is the difference between anti-perspirant and natural deodorant? Which one is right for my sensitive skin? Here are the straightforward answers to these Top 3 questions about deodorant.

Q: What is aluminum?

A: Aluminum salts (ie- aluminum zirconium, aluminum chloride, etc) in an antiperspirant function as a sweat gland blocker. As the active ingredient, the aluminum goes into the sweat ducts of the underarms and seals it shut, preventing sweat from leaving. How long the sweat ducts are sealed depends on how much aluminum is in the antiperspirant, but to be considered an “antiperspirant,” the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires a product to show a 20% reduction in sweat production over a 24 hour period.

Q: What is the difference between antiperspirant and natural deodorant?

A: In a nutshell, antiperspirants work to keep an underarm from sweating, deodorants work to keep an underarm from smelling.

Here is a simple formula to make B.O.:  Sweat + bacteria = body odor

While antiperspirants use aluminum + synthetic fragrance to prevent sweat and mask odor, natural deodorants use anti-bacterial ingredients to prevent bacteria from forming.

How? Some typical anti-bacterial ingredients used in natural deodorants are baking soda aka sodium bicarbonate and magnesium hydroxide. (Keep reading to find out why LB Love Organics doesn’t use baking soda in our deodorants.)

A person will still perspire when using it but will not have body odor. With either antiperspirant or natural deodorant, the product works best when applied to freshly cleaned, dry skin.

Q: Anti-perspirant vs Natural deodorant: which one is right for my sensitive skin?

A: Antiperspirants have several ingredients that those with sensitive skin need to be cautious about:

#1 
Aluminum- especially aluminum chloride, is a known irritant to sensitive skin.
#2 Parabens- a synthetic preservative to prevent bacteria growth on the product.
#3 Synthetic fragrances- sometimes listed as “parfum” are documented aggravators to sensitive skin, especially in the tender, thin skin of the underarm.

For these reasons, antiperspirants are not ideal for people with sensitive skin.

Natural deodorants are typically formulated with skin-soothing ingredients such as coconut oil and shea butter, and often are scented with essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances. Some natural deodorants are even unscented and are still just as effective. This is because natural deodorants prevent bacteria from forming—recall our B.O. formula: sweat + bacteria = body odor.

Remember we said before that we don’t use baking soda in our deodorants? Here’s why: while baking soda is a powerful anti-bacterial ingredient, it is also a known irritant to sensitive skin. Consider using a magnesium-based natural deodorant instead, which has all the same bacteria fighting properties without the irritation.

LB Love Organics natural deodorant is formulated with no aluminum, no parabens, no synthetic fragrances, and no baking soda. Our magnesium and probiotic deodorant is   effective at preventing body odor AND ideal for sensitive skin.

Interested? Try one of our natural deodorants today!

To find out more about our deodorant, read more here.

How about you? Have you tried natural deodorant?