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Wellness Wednesday: Do Natural Deodorants Stand the Test?

Today on the blog we are getting real... about deodorant.

The warmer months are approaching and having a great product to keep you cool and fresh is essential. 

Not All Deodorants Are Equal

Everyone one is different and pH and genetics rule what will work on you best. Over time your body can get used to the formula of your deodorant and actually become more resistant to it.

Deodorant Vs. Antiperspirant

A key point to keep in mind is that deodorants fight body odor, not wetness. Antiperspirants fight wetness but also can contain extra chemicals. The underarm discoloration you have on clothing is often a chemical reaction to what is in your deodorant/antiperspirant.

Keep It Natural

We prefer to keep it simple. Sweat is orderless, what does smell is the activated bacteria that lives on your skin. Staying with our organic trend in beauty and health, we decided to test our a few all-natural deodorants to see how they stand up to the heat..and smelling like a rose.

Stay Fresh,

M&K


NATIVE

Made in the USA in small batches, Native is both paraben and aluminum-free. It claims to actively protect against odors for 24 hours, thanks to ingredients like baking soda and arrowroot powder.

PROS: We are both sensitive to strong smells, but Native wasn't overpowering at all. Kimberly LOVED the seasonal Grapefruit Bergamont scent. It felt clean when applied (just wait a bit after shaving) and didn't goop up like other deodorants can. 

CONS: While it provides odor and some wetness protection, it did not last the full 24 hours. It held up to long runs, but needed reapplication midway through the day or before bed. Too much reapplication caused the product to bead up at the end of day. Another sticking point is the size and price. At $11 a stick, we want something that works and is more mobile!

CRYSTAL DEODORANT

One of the longest standing and best selling natural deodorants on the market. Light weight, it contains no harmful chemicals, aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium, parabens or phthalates. The base of the deodorant is a mineral salt that is odorless.

PROS: Clean application, but the rollerball does need "priming" in the morning. Neutral scent and didn't have build up with reapplication. Needed reapplication at least twice a day.

CONS: It took a while to dry requiring outfit planning in the morning. The staying power was great and the small size made it easy to add to your work bag.

LAVANILA

Known as "The Healthy Deodorant", Lavanila is made with pure essential oils and antioxidants without the use of aluminum, paraben and other commonly used harsh chemicals. 

PROS: The smell is wonderful (we tried the Vanilla Lavender)! It goes on smoothly and leaves a soft powdery finish.

CONS: This product did not stand up to warm or hectic days at all. Reapplication was necessary 2-3 times a day and at $14 a stick if felt more like a solid perfume. Once you got to the end of the stick the product fell out of the holder. We'll save this for no stress or winter days.