When I made the switch to organic living years ago, my (mostly toxic) personal care products were the last thing to go. Once I figured out what toxic industrial chemicals in food were doing to my body – I knew I had to get rid of them from every part of my life. I think this progression is how most people figure out how to detox their life too. First I cleaned out my fridge and pantry, then it was figuring out a natural way to clean my house, and then I went on to look at what I was putting on my body. The very first personal care product I switched out was what I rubbed under my underarms every day – right where some of my lymph nodes are, glands that plays a huge roll in the immune system.
The reason I started there was because as soon as I flipped my “Secret” anti-perspirant over to read the ingredients I noticed it had contained “Aluminum zirconium.” Right then, a memory I had when I was a child smacked me in the face. There was this neighbor of mine growing up who always had sweaty armpits. I mean her pits were so wet, that you could see it through her clothes ALL THE TIME. I didn’t quite understand why she had such sweaty armpits and others I knew did not. Because I was young and crazy inquisitive, while playing in the yard one day, I just straight up asked her- why do you sweat so much? She told me that she didn’t like using aluminum under her armpits. This information at the time totally didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t know what aluminum was or why I should care but I realized right then, she wasn’t wearing the anti-perspirants my brother or my parents were wearing for an obviously good reason. A good enough reason that she wasn’t concerned about the public embarrassment of sweaty pits.
Well, after my memory flashback, I researched the ingredient Aluminum, and found out it is linked to all sorts of diseases, including 2 that I sadly personally have witnessed in close friends and family members – Breast Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease. The link of aluminum to these diseases is hotly debated, some studies find a low risk factor (probably those funded by the chemical companies) and some find horrible results, like those studies that find aluminum accumulating in breast tissue or breaking the blood brain barrier leading to Alzheimer’s.
The reason chemical companies put aluminum in anti-perspirants is to “dry out sweat by injecting aluminum ions in the cells that line the sweat ducts. When the aluminum ions are drawn into the cells, water flows in; the cells begin to swell, squeezing the ducts closed so sweat cannot get out,” according to the Julie Gabriel, The Green Beauty Guide. I don’t know about you but this reaction is really unnatural. Preventing sweat from exiting my body doesn’t seem like a good idea, considering humans sweat for a reason. Sweating actually has a lot of benefits – clearer skin, lowers body temperature and fights off sickness – so why would I want to prevent my body doing what it needs to do to stay healthy?
Just to give you a sense of how much aluminum is used in typical products – the FDA requires that all anti-perspirants decrease the average person’s sweat by 20 percent – so manufacturers usually use anywhere between a 10-25 percent concentration of aluminum in products. That is just crazy, isn’t it? Especially for an ingredient that is a potent neurotoxin.
So this is the ingredient that caused me to make the switch and should hopefully get you too (if you already haven’t) to run out and buy deodorant without Aluminum. (FYI – Some of the most toxic brands according to the Environmental Working Group include English Leather, Mitchum, Suave, Secret, Gillette, Right Guard, Soft & Dry, Tussy)
Let’s be honest though, knowing which personal care products to choose without toxins is tough and getting access can be even tougher. You can’t exactly just pop into an everyday drug store and always find a safe brand without aluminum and other harmful chemicals.
When you look at some of the most popular deodorants, you’ll notice they rarely have the USDA Organic Seal. This makes zero sense.
Think about it. If you’re going to make a deodorant with great ingredients like arrowroot powder (which can help keep you dry) and coconut oil and shea butter and MCT oil… the ingredients should be USDA certified organic. Plus, the skin under your arms is sensitive and can be vulnerable to irritation.
But I struggled to find deodorants that had this seal of approval. So, I created one myself.
The best part? It actually works.
Truvani Organic Deodorant: No aluminum. No other weird ingredients. Just deodorant that works. And it’s USDA certified.
Hope this post was help for you – please share with your friends and family, so they can know the truth!
Xo,
Vani
P.S. Here are some posts for more information about which chemicals to avoid in beauty products, how to find safe ones and some swap out products that I use…
- How to Avoid Chemicals in your Beauty Products
- Skin Care Tips and My Daily Skin Routine
- Holistic Hair Care Part 1
- Holistic Hair Care Part 2
- My Five Favorite Beauty Obsessions
- My Top Picks for Mascara
- The Ingredients In Sunscreen Destroying Your Health
I would love to try this! Is it available at whole foods?
Would love to make the change, this product looks promising.
Will have to give this stuff a try! Haven’t found another substitute that my hubby will use!
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I am a fan on your Facebook page
Would love to try this…I switched to Tom’s brand, but not really liking it. It’s been hard finding something that isn’t harmful to my body but also works….
Really interested in trying this product out!
Would love to try some!!
This is one thing that I am very nervous to change. I know the benefits but I am very self conscience about my smell and how much I sweat.
P.S. I already receive your email updates and Like your page on Facebook 🙂
Congratulations! You have been selected as one of the random winners for the Primal Pit Paste Giveaway. Please email [email protected] for further details.
Would love to win this! Cannot wait to try this product, already a follower!
I would absolutely love to try this! I’ve been looking for a natural approach, but I sweat A LOT, and I sweat even more when I’m stressed and I work a stressful job 🙁 Today I tried “Crystal”, and it’s 11:14 and so far I’m not stinking. I’m sweating, but not stinking. Yesterday, with Secret I was stinky by 9:30.
Been wanting to switch to a natural deodarant. Would love to give this a try.
Is there a good men’s deodorant out there? My speedstick doesnt show Alluminum, but shows other things i can’t pronounce lol
This sounds great! I would love to try it.
I would love to try the Pit Paste! I am in the slow process of switching out all of my personal/ beauty products. 🙂
I have signed up for your newsletter
I would love to try this deodorant! And I subscribe to your newsletter
I have recently started incorporating organic foods in my lifestyle. It is so crazy to know I have been using those same types of anti-perspirants my whole life. If I don’t win I will buy my own!=) Thanks Food Babe
I subscribed AND “liked” you! May go ahead and get some for the boys to use since DH had to quit using the bad stuff because it caused him to break out. May DS would use it just because of the name. 🙂
Thank you for this article. I already get your updates and like your page on Facebook. I would really like to try this product out!
Already signed up for your newsletter and follow your FB! I just ordered a jar of the lavender deodorant from PPP, but I would really love to win some too! 🙂 Thanks for all of your wonderful information and great giveaways, Vani! 🙂
I already get your updates via e-mail (which I love, BTW) and “like” you on Facebook… any chance they sell this in a store like Whole Foods or Sprouts or even Trader Joes…?
Not this product, but I love the Crystal rock deodorant. It is wonderful and I have used the same stick for several years and plenty left. I have never had a trouble with smell etc. I haven’t gotten the lumps like I used to since I switched.
I love reading your updates and news both in email and on Facebook. I currently use Tom’s but would love to try primal paste!
I would love to win this!!! My husband and I both need an overhaul on our personal care products! I subscribe to your blog.
I recently have started incorporating organic foods into my life. It is crazy to know that I have been using those same anti-perspirant my whole life. If I don’t win, I will buy my own! lol Thanks food babe!
I “like” your fb page! Would love to win this!!!!
Very interesting…I can’t wait to try some out. I am subscribed to your updates…also, I liked you on Facebook. Thanks!
I’m making the switch!
Awesome post!! I’m definitely going to share it, and I would LOVE to win 🙂
This sounds like a great first step to converting my toxic personal care items to safer products. One step at a time…
I would love to try this product!
I have been meaning to change out my deodorant but there are so many good ones to choose from I couldn’t make up my mind. I think primal pit paste is the way to go 🙂
I would love for my husband to try this to see what he thinks. He is very picky about his deodorant and so far has refused to switch from his “brand”.
I am your current subscriber and support your efforts wholeheartedly by sharing your discoveries about food dyes with my friends and family. Change IS possible!
I am following you on facebook already.
Liked you on Facebook as Elena Vo 🙂
I use Tom’s deodorant currently, but would love to try this!
I would love to win this. I ditched deodorant years ago and try to find stuff that works..nothing yet. Haven’t tried this stuff..I usually just use witch hazel and some lavender oil, but nothing helps with sweating.
I would love to try this. Just started following you a few weeks ago and I am very excited about making these changes for my family!
I’ve been looking into new options and have tried a few that I just feel don’t work.
1. done
2. doing
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Lately I’ve been into using coconut oil for oil pulling and have liked the results! I purchased the brand you recommended and love it so far! I’m excited to go off of this yeast elimination diet, so that I can practice using it in the kitchen.
Thanks for everything you do!
Thanks for the giveaway! I’d love to try this! I recently threw away my Secret and grabbed a Toms brand deodorant and I have been pretty happy with it. I’ve been having fun researching and finding natural beauty/hygiene products!
I currently use Tom’s, but I would love to try this!
I already subscribe to both also. I would love to try this product though. I haven’t had much luck with other brands.
Hi all! We recently purchased Primal Paste and love it! I was concerned how well it would protect while working out, but it is great! We have the “strong” version and it works great for my husband and myself. Planning to buy the stick version also.
Vani,
Such a timely article as my 13 year old son has started using deodorant.
Thanks!
I am so excited to learn about this new product. I just recently started learning about all the things in our food and beauty products and was unsure where to start- this is the prefect place.
This has been one of my struggles for a long time, trying to find something that really works and without aluminum. If love to try this Primal Pit Paste!!
Thanks for the recommendation! Slow process of conversion, but you definitely help me out. Thank you!
I tried Tom’s and it really made me smell worse! These ingredients sound better though.