There are few guys who can get away without using deodorant.
Unless you hardly sweat at all and know a cool trick or two for avoiding pit stains (in which case, care to share?), then you probably need to use it on a daily basis.
But if you’ve been reading some scary headlines about aluminum antiperspirants, then you may be a little hesitant to reach for your favorite pit stick these days.
Fortunately, you have a second option: natural deodorants.
The aluminum-free formulas in natural deodorants are designed to keep you smelling fresh without using potentially toxic ingredients.
Are natural deodorants worth it?
Read on as we take a closer at the pros and cons of a natural deodorant for men.
Here are three things you should know about natural deodorants:
- One advantage of natural deodorants is that they contain no aluminum-based compounds.
- Natural deodorants often have simpler ingredient lists that may cause fewer skin reactions.
- Natural deodorants generally don’t work as well as traditional deodorants.
The Pros
Thinking about switching to a natural deodorant?
There’s no harm in giving it a try.
Here are a few reasons why some guys are choosing a natural deodorant over traditional antiperspirants.
1. No Aluminum-Based Compounds
One of the top reasons why people switch to a natural deodorant is because it contains no aluminum-based compounds or other potentially harmful ingredients.
The purpose of aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants is to block the sweat ducts and reduce overall sweat.
In the past, some researchers have raised concern about potentially harmful ingredients in antiperspirants and their possible connection to breast cancer (which men can get, too, by the way).
But according to the American Cancer Society, there is no scientific evidence to show that antiperspirants contribute to the development of breast cancer.
Even so, it makes some people feel better to err on the side of caution.
Do what you feel is best for your body and health.
TRY MEN’S SKIN CARE2. Simple Ingredients
In addition to their aluminum-free formulas, natural deodorants often have a simpler ingredient list overall.
This is a huge benefit if you have sensitive skin (more ingredients can increase the potential for negative skin reactions) or if you just prefer to keep your personal grooming products simple in general.
That being said, you should still look at the ingredients label on your natural deodorant.
Just because a product is “natural” doesn’t mean that it’s safe for your skin.
3. Goodbye, Yellow Stains
Unless you dress exclusively in dark colors, there’s a good chance that you’ve lost at least one white shirt to yellow sweat stains.
A lot of guys assume that sweat itself is the cause of this annoying, yellow tinge, but that’s not the case.
In fact, sweat on its own is colorless.
The yellow discoloration occurs when your sweat mixes with the aluminum compounds in antiperspirant.
Once you switch to a natural deodorant, you can say goodbye to those pesky pit stains.
The Cons
Natural deodorant has a lot going for it.
But as with any natural product, there’s bound to be a few pitfalls (pun intended).
Here are a few reasons why natural deodorant may not work for you.
TAKE THE SKIN CARE QUIZ1. You May Still Smell
One of the more frequent complaints about natural deodorants is that they don’t seem to work as well as traditional deodorants.
Don’t be surprised if you try dozens of natural deodorants from an assortment of brands, only to find (some $50 later) that nothing holds a candle to your tried-and-true pit stick.
Some proponents of natural deodorant claim that this is because the body needs to go through a “deodorant detox.”
However, there are no scientific studies to back this up, so it may just be that some people have gotten used to their new smell after a while.
2. They Aren’t Available as an Antiperspirant
Even though deodorant and antiperspirant are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing.
Deodorants mask body odor while antiperspirants block sweat glands.
Currently, there is no such thing as a natural antiperspirant.
Put simply, if you sweat excessively and rely on antiperspirant to keep you from looking like Niagara Falls, then you may be out of luck.
3. “Natural” Doesn’t Really Mean Anything
The problem with the word “natural” is that it’s not regulated by the FDA.
In other words, that “natural” deodorant you’re using could contain a slew of potentially harmful additives or irritating chemicals that cause negative skin reactions.
It’s important to read the ingredients label carefully and not rely on the holistic messaging on the product.
The Takeaway
Everyone should take a closer look at what they put on their skin, including their deodorant.
That being said, there is currently no evidence that natural deodorants are better than traditional antiperspirants and deodorants.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to what you feel works best for your body.
References
Darbre, Philippa D. “Underarm Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer.” Breast Cancer Research, vol. 11, no. 3, Dec. 2009, p. S5. BioMed Central.
American Cancer Society.
