I’m a major fan of skincare. Mostly the kind that goes on your face. But with the whole natural deodorant craze going on, I decided to start caring about my underarm skin too. Because of that decision, I thought it would be fun and insightful for me to do a natural deodorant review. But before that, here are some things you should know about natural deodorant.
What’s Different About Natural Deodorant?
Most anti-perspirants contain an Aluminum compound that supposedly clogs your sweat ducts, which is what prevents you from sweating. Studies have found that Aluminum compounds are toxic and can lead to anything from skin irritation to cancer. Some people go so far as to say that the Aluminum compounds seep into your skin and can cause dementia. Yikes!
Why Did I Switch To Natural Deodorant?
I’m personally not sure about all of those scary Aluminum claims. But I decided to start the transition last December while it was cold and I wouldn’t be too sweaty. I noticed in the shower how I had to scrub off my anti-perspirant. It would sometimes get stuck on there and felt kind of dry and rough, which seemed a little off. I was newly pregnant and hoping to breastfeed, and decided that I didn’t want anything potentially yucky on or around my daughter’s feeding source.
But it was sad! I really loved my anti-perspirant! It worked well and I had been using the same one for so many years. But one thing made the switch easier: pregnancy made my skin very sensitive. Lotions and creams that used to work just fine suddenly starting giving me trouble. In addition to my beloved anti-perspirant, I had to switch out my body wash, clothing detergent, shampoo, face and body lotion. The anti-perspirant that I was using was simply too harsh on my skin, so that was another reason I was pushed to try a more natural product.
The Transition to Natural Deodorant
You might have read or heard that the transition away from an aluminum-based anti-perspirant is…unique. And that’s totally true. For the first couple of weeks I felt like I stunk a little bit more. They say the stench is your body pushing out and detoxing from the aluminum, which happens to smell funky. I tried using a bentonite clay + apple cider vinegar mask a couple of times (here’s how) to speed up the detox, but didn’t really keep up with it because the apple cider vinegar smell made me gag (oh first trimester woes).
Instead, I jumped right in and made the switch. Since I was skeptical of what would happen, I kept my favorite anti-perspirant on the shelf just in case I chickened out.
The Four I Tried, and the One I Fell In Love With
Here are the four natural deodorants I tried, in the order that I tried them, and my thoughts!
My Natural Deodorant Review
 | Tom’s of Maine Natural Long-Lasting DeodorantI tried Tom’s first since I had it lying around. My mom bought it for me awhile back and I stuck it in a drawer where reject beauty products go to die. I really loved the smell, but when she bought it for me I was really into the traditional anti-perspirant that I was using and was too stubborn to make the switch to natural. I dug it back out to start my underarm experiment. Pros: The lemongrass scent is SO refreshing. I was in down dog at a yoga class and couldn’t stop smelling my underarms. It glides on easily and I noticed it doesn’t make your underarms feel tacky when you’re trying to wash it off in the shower. Great for sensitive underarms. Cons: I had to reapply a couple times a day, so the long-lasting claim isn’t so accurate. Towards the end of the day or after a tough work out, it would feel slightly sticky. Verdict: 7/10. I keep it in my gym bag and swipe it on to invigorate me before a workout. |
 | Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Natural DeodorantI heard about Schmidt’s deodorant on one of my favorite podcasts, so of course I had to give it a shot. While they have lots of scents, I opted for charcoal + magnesium for the detoxifying properties. Pros: I like the refreshing smell, and it isn’t sticky at all. The formula is really effective; I only had to apply once during the day. I love that is is a cruelty-free brand. Cons: The formula is a bit rough and irritated my underarms. I also didn’t like the darker color because it would come off on some of my clothes. Verdict: 4/10. My skin was too sensitive for the rough texture of this deodorant. However, it was effective before I found out I couldn’t use it anymore. |
 | Kopari Coconut DeodorantKopari makes some of my favorite products. I love the coconut melt and lip gloss, so I was really excited to try their deodorant. Pros: The smell is lovely! I like that it is free from all the yucky ingredients, glides on easily, and the packaging is very cute. It comes in a mini size which is great for travel. Cons: It doesn’t last very long. I felt like I was reapplying it a lot throughout the day. To be fair, by the time I started using it I was about 7 months pregnant and it was June, so I was pretty sweaty. I wanted to love this, but I had an adverse reaction to the formula and ended up getting an underarm rash, so I had to toss it. Verdict: 2/10. I rate it low because of my personal reaction, but I honestly liked it until the rash happened. I’d give it a try for yourself. |
 | Native DeodorantI was shopping for more prenatal vitamins at Target and came across Native. I was about to swear off natural deodorants since my last experience gave me a bad reaction, but after reading the ingredients and finally settling on a scent, a stick came home with me. Native advertises that they are gluten-free and cruelty-free, too. Pros: The Lavender & Rose scent is divine. It reminds me of waking up early and going for a walk on a gorgeous spring day. I like that they have a lot of scent options, including unscented. I tried the Eucalyptus & Mint which is nice as well. It holds up during sweaty workouts, glides on easily, and doesn’t irritate my underarms. Cons: One morning swipe doesn’t last me all day. I sometimes have to reapply in the afternoon and I like to put more on before I exercise. Verdict: 9/10. Natural deodorant is rarely going to be 100% perfect, but this one nearly is. |
So yes, Native natural deodorant is my favorite. I’ve been converted to the natural deodorant craze and can confidently say: I survived, and I’m happy. I let my anti-perspirant sit on the shelf during my entire experiment, just in case I relapsed. But I’m happy to say that I stayed strong; I never touched it and finally, after a whole year, happily tossed it in the trash.
I think finding the right product for you is often a trial and error process. It took me a full year to experiment and finally settle on my favorite. I’m sure that other brands will come along and I’ll have to try those, too!
Did you find this natural deodorant review helpful? Do you already use natural deodorant? Tell me in the comments!
–Roxanne
Shop Natural Deodorant:
Lush is my favorite these days because it’s packaging-free! I was going through WAY too much of the schmidts (I used the rose one) and I had the same problem…it was scratchy. I loved meow meow tweet, but you have to apply the formula with your fingers and it would always get caked under my finger nails (not cute). I have a sample of native from Target and liked that too, but it was too small to really get a feel for how it works over time.
I need to go to Lush and check it out!
The only one I haven’t tried is the kopari. Currently Native is my favorite as well, however I’m always open to trying new ones. I saw a launch for Wildwood from the Essential Oil Company I worked with last year. That one has me curious. Thanks for sharing!
I haven’t heard of the Wildwood one. I need to give that a try!