| Fun fact: my best friend calls me “Stink” — to be fair, we call each other Stink and these days it’s more accurately, Auntie Stink. Yes, our boys call us that too. It’s a very long story dating back to 2002 and having something to do with stinky cheerleading shoes. Neither of us remember the details of how we landed upon our eternal nickname. But nonetheless we have carried it with us for the last 2 decades, for better or for worse. All this to say, I have gotten used to answering when someone calls out “Hey, Stink!”– even in public. So, it took me a minute to realize what he was saying when my husband awkwardly tried to tell me that… I stink… 😳 I was on my 3rd attempt at switching to a clean deodorant and well, you can guess how that was going. Turns out I’m not alone! Want to know the number one question I get in my dm’s? You guessed it — “what is the best clean deodorant? I keep trying and I just stink. I can’t handle it!” Mmmhmmm, I feel you! But lucky for you (and my dear husband) I have finally landed on an incredible deodorant and I’ve picked up a few survival tips along the way! I’m breaking it all down for you today with the cliff notes version for those of you who value efficiency and get-to-the-point-ness (I made that up🤷🏼♀️). 🥁 drum roll please 🥁 The Brave Beauty Mama Definitive Guide to Clean Deodorant in 500 Words or Less 1) Why switch? Conventional deodorants contain a toxic cocktail of ingredients: Aluminum – Linked to Alzheimer’s and heavy metal toxicity Parabens – This Endocrine disruptor was found in 99% of breast cancer tissue sampled in this study Propylene glycol – skin irritant Phthalates – Endocrine disruptors linked to birth defects Triclosan – Linked to liver toxicity and thyroid dysfunction Formaldehyde contaminated synthetics – carcinogenic Fragrance – Cocktail of chemicals linked to skin irritation, endocrine disruption and cancer We don’t want these toxins hanging out by our lymph nodes if we can help it. 2) What to switch to? First, check the labels on any deodorant before you purchase. If the above listed ingredients are on it, put it back on the shelf. Greenwashing is rampant right now and just because the label makes it look clean doesn’t mean it actually is. I’ve tried about 10 different deodorant brands. If there is one universal truth it’s that everyone’s body reacts a little differently and one brand won’t necessarily be right for everyone. That said, I’ve been able to identify a few brands that have had the most success with the majority of the people I help navigate this clean swap. The greats: Beautycounter* Primally Pure Stinkbug Naturals The no-so-greats Schmidts – lots of people get bad reactions Native – sneaky fragrance Tom’s – just doesn’t work I prefer the charcoal versions of any of these brands; they work best. If you find that a deodorant irritates your pits, it’s likely the baking soda. It doesn’t mean you have to avoid baking soda completely, but be careful with the levels in the deo’s you try. *Beautycounter launched the limited edition mini deodorants with our holiday collection. Full size coming January 2021. 3) How to switch with minimal stink. The brutal truth is that you’re going to smell at first. There is about a 2 week detox period where your body is adjusting to being able to sweat again (because aluminum blocks sweat). That means your armpits are able to do their job of detoxification for the first time since you started puberty. That’s a long time, friends. 1) Sweat it out- the faster you can get your pits back to their natural detoxification state the better. Exercise, use a sauna, etc. This can help speed up the transition period. 2) Drink a ton of water! Again.. flush it out! 3) Wash with charcoal! Charcoal helps draw out dirt, bacteria and smell from your pits. I use the Beautycounter Charcoal Cleansing Bar on my face and pits every morning. 4) Do a detox mask on your armpits. Yup. It seems silly, but it helps! I use the Beautycounter Charcoal Mask because I am not the DIY type, but if you are here is a recipe for ya. *bonus tip: swipe some Force of Nature cleaner as a deodorizer once in a while. Totally works! It’s also important to know that stress, hormones and even some food you eat can cause you to get smelly again. Pay attention to what could be causing it, but don’t worry; you’ll get back to smelling like roses soon. There it is! My quick and dirty guide to switching to clean deodorant in 500 words exactly. I’m so curious about your own clean deo experience– what have you tried? What worked? What didn’t? You know I’d be happy to help you get your hands on the new Beautycounter mini does. They are adorable and they work. |
