Nourish - What You Need to Know About Switching to Natural Deodorant |Pt 2
Welcome back to part two of What You Need to Know About Switching to Natural Deodorant.
In part one we covered:
- What the trouble is with conventional deodorants and antiperspirants
- How to transition and use them
Read about that here. For part two of the blog we’ll be covering:
- More tips on how to switching to natural deodorants and how to use them
- What natural options are available
- Plus some general hygiene tips you may not know about!
No. 4 – Stick with Natural Fibre Clothing
This may sound irrelevant when you’re thinking about switching to natural deodorant. What have clothes got to do with it? Well, natural fibres like cotton, hemp, bamboo or silk because are much better at wicking away moisture than synthetic clothes. Plus, they hold in less odour and wash out better than synthetics (which can start to stink after a while.)
These natural fibres help you to stay odour free, especially during your transition period. Fabrics like polyester and acrylic fibres trap moisture, which may cause mould to grow on clothing, causing a bad odour.
No. 5 – Wash with Natural Soap (with Natural Antibacterial Essential Oils)
Another trick when switching to natural deodorant is to wash your armpits with natural soap and body wash. Especially ones that contain tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, sage, and lemongrass. These are all derived from plants and have wonderful antibacterial properties. They’ll help to give you the additional aid of odour prevention and reduced growth of sweat-digesting skin bacteria.
No. 6 – Eat a Good Diet and Drink Enough Water
This can really help cut down on body odour, so think fruits, veggies, lemon water and herbal teas.
Note that some foods such as curry, garlic, cumin and sometimes cruciferous veggies can make odour worse. That’s not to say you must avoid them, it’s just good to know.
No. 7 – Know That It’s Ok to Sweat!
Sweating is a natural bodily function that helps us maintain our body temperature.
Sweat itself does not in fact smell. The familiar smell of body odour actually comes from normal skin bacteria breaking down the sweat secretions released from the sweat glands.
Also good to know is that damp underarms don’t necessarily mean smelly; it’s just something we’re not used to.
So long as you have your handy natural deo with its antibacterial properties and odour minimising qualities you’re good to go!
No. 8 – Have Patience
Your body needs time to adjust. Patience is key.
Give your body time to transition and don’t expect instant changes. Over time you’ll figure out a way to make natural deodorant work for you.
Perhaps your body works really well with roll-ons as opposed to sprays. Maybe lavender works really well for you but lemongrass isn’t for you. It’s just a matter of patience and persistence.
Choosing a Natural Deodorant
Everyone reacts differently to different products and ingredients. With that in mind, it’s worth trying out a few to find the right one for you.
Yes it may take time to find the product that works best for you, but the health benefits and your skins happiness certainly outweighs the small inconveniences.
To get you started, below is a list of just a few tried and tested natural deodorants that our customers and staff are very fond of:
Salt of the Earth Natural Crystal Deodorant
One of my personal favourites is Salt of the Earth Classic. It is a natural crystal deodorant made from pure potassium alum. It works by leaving a microscopic layer of mineral salts on your skin. These mineral salts inhibit the growth of odour causing bacteria leaving you feeling fresh and scent-free. Alum is fragrance-free, colour free and does not block your skin’s pores.
Simply dampen the salt slightly and apply like a roll-on.
Crystal deodorant stones contain a naturally occurring form of aluminum made up of molecules too large to be absorbed by the skin. This helps make these products effective at preventing bacteria-causing odour found in sweat from developing, rather than artificially clogging pores as antiperspirants do.
See more here.
Pit Putty Natural Deodorant 65g
Another strong favourite is Pit Putty. Their deodorants are a combination of oils, butters, essential oils and naturally sourced powders such as arrowroot and bicarb. These natural powders aid in moisture absorption and odour reduction. The way Pit Putty has been designed, it still allows your body to sweat just like it should do, but the sweat will actually be odourless!
Simply scoop on a small bean-sized amount on your finger and gently massage into your armpits.
Urtekram Organic Rose Crystal Deodorant Roll-on 50ml
The natural mineral salt in Urtekram deodorants minimises bacteria and bad odour. This organic deodorant is delicately scented with rose, and contains natural ingredients so it is gentle on the skin.
Tisserand Tea Tree Deodorant 35ml
A natural and effective deodorant that’s gentle on the skin. This deo has a soothing base that allows the skin to breathe naturally, without blocking the pores.
It combines the wonderful essential oils of:
- skin purifying Tea Tree
- invigorating Rosemary
- refreshing Coriander
- Light Lemon Eucalyptus
To make a fantastic deodorising product. It’s quickly absorbed and non-sticky.
Dr. Hauschka Deodorant Sage Mint 50ml
This Sage Mint Deodorant contains sage and witch hazel essences, which are both naturally antimicrobial and astringent. The deodorising combination of an invigorating mint scent with a natural herbal bouquet of sage promises long-lasting freshness.
Weleda Sage Deodorant
Weleda’s Sage Deodorant works with your body. It helps neutralise odour with natural essential oils of sage, rosemary and thyme essential oils and allows your skin to breathe.
Please be aware that these products do not stop you from sweating. Sweating is naturally and necessary bodily process.
Palm Free Irish Soap Deodorant Bar
Feel fresh all day with this Natural Deo-Bar. This natural deodorant is infused with Organic Lavender, Patchouli and Petitgrain to deliver a light, refreshing fragrance. It’s blended with organic arrowroot and bentonite clay to absorb perspiration and protect the skin. Additional ingredients include organic Shea and Cocoa Butter to gently moisturise and hydrate the underarm area to prevent dryness. Then we have organic essential oils of Lemongrass and Cypress which offer antiseptic and antibacterial benefits to leave you clean and comfortable throughout the day.
And that’s it for What You Need to Know About Switching to Natural Deodorant. Don’t forget to check out part one if you missed it here.
Emily Nöth
Any questions? Drop into your local Nourish store to chat with our expert team and explore our full range of foods, supplements and skincare. You can also find our full product range in our online store.
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*Please note that while we are knowledgeable about our products and nutrition, this blog should never be a substitute for medical advice and attention.
Please remember that you should always obtain the all-clear from your doctor before starting any new supplement plan or diet if you’re on any medication
