But in the natural space, brands have gotten creative largely because of the self-imposed restrictions on questionable actives and ingredients (necessity is the mother of invention, no?). Sure you have the natural brands that mimic the classic deodorant stick just with plant-based alternatives, but you also have herbal tonics you spray on, charcoal pastes you apply with your fingers, creams that come in squeezable tubes, and crystals. Uhh, what was that last one? “As mineral salts such as potassium alum have natural antimicrobial properties, applying these can decrease the number of bacteria on the skin and therefore reduce odor produced by these bacteria,” board-certified dermatologist Lisa Airan, M.D., tells mbg. However, unlike antiperspirants, these are not thought to disrupt the microbiome (however, more research is needed on this front.) As for sensitivities: “While any ingredient can irritate the skin, the fewer ingredients someone is exposed to, the less risk there is of an allergic reaction. Traditional deodorants contain more ingredients, which puts the patient at increased risk for skin irritation.” If this sounds too good to be true, here’s the problem: This is not a widely studied ingredient (even though most groups, including the Environmental Working Group, deem it safe), and thus we don’t know how effective they are outside of anecdotal evidence. And even those testimonials range from high praise to not-so-much. So there’s not much we can definitively say about how well it works other than: Give it a go yourself and see. And listen: Everyone’s body chemistry is different, so not everyone is going to respond to natural deodorants as well or in the same way. Ultimately, if you are curious about using mostly natural ingredients in general, making the switch to a deodorant is a worthwhile endeavor. It just might take time, trial, and error to find one that works for you.
