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 deodrant out! I love how few ingredients it contains!
Ooooohhhhh I would love to try this out. I am already using a natural brand but this looks promising.
I am absolutely going to try this product out. Just two days ago I was about to go out and buy Secret’s Clinical brand and decided I needed to do more research. I was excited to see this article pop up in my inbox. Thank you!
I would love to try their products! Always looking for healthy new products for me and my family…
I am always looking for great natural deodorants that actually work. I’ve been using Soapwalla’s deodorant, but I’d love something that works for men (so I can give people the switch!)
I follow you on FB!
Congratulations! You have been selected as one of the random winners for the Primal Pit Paste Giveaway. Please email [email protected] for further details.
Back in 1996, I read something that showed a link between antiperspirants, breast cancer and alzheimers. Since my mom had breast cancer and my dad had alzheimers, I decided that my best bet was to get rid of the antiperspirant and find something else. I have used a mineral rock ever since. I have not had one time that someone thought I had body odor. Works for me and it doesn’t have any fragrance so it doesn’t interfer with my cologne.
Still trying to find the best alternative to aluminum deoderant sticks. I definitely want to give this one a try! Thanks for letting us know!
Thanks so much for the info. I absolutely love learning about what you find out. I’m trying to switch over myself so your information is very helpful. I will definitely give the primal paste a try! Thanks again!
I love this product! I’ve tried other natural deodorants and they haven’t worked for me. This product works and smells great!
Thanks so much for the info. I absolutely love learning about what you find out. I’m trying to switch over myself so your information is very helpful. I will definitely give the primal pit paste a try! Thanks again!
Well, I’ve been using Tom’s, but will try anything that will work. I do not like being sweaty or smelly! : )
I’ve been trying to use more natural beauty products, this would be a great addition! P.S. the best facial cleanser I’ve found for my skin is organic raw honey. Such a simple solution!
When I first starting wearing conventional deodorant, I definitely noticed that sometimes, my underarms got sort of a weird “ache” now and then, so I totally believe that they can be very harmful. I tried using just baby powder in winter months when I wouldn’t sweat as much, but that was before I knew anything about organic and healthy living. Now, I use the “thai crystal” deodorant stick during the day and I love it because it works! At night, I wear nothing (after a shower) or just rub some jojoba oil in the area. Healthy and not to mention my underarm skin looks smoother too.
Haven’t read through all the comments but for years I have used Tom’s and it works great
Thanks so much for the info. I absolutely love learning about what you find out. I’m trying to switch over myself so your information is very helpful. I will definitely give the product a try! Thanks again!
I use Mitchum!! Need to find something else.
I received your updates thru email
big believer in not using anti-perspirant. Would use and share with others who want to change but don’t know how!
I’ve been looking for a new deodorant to try as I’m phasing out chemically products for my skincare… 🙂
I would love to try it! I have had allergic reactions to different natural deodorants in the past. Hope this one is the one!
I like your fb page
I love natural products, sounds like a great product to me! Would be thrilled to try it. Hope I’m lucky.
I threw out the conventional deodorant about a year or so ago. I still haven’t found a replacement that I like, so I’m excited about trying out the Pit Paste!! I’m still looking for suitable replacements for other things we use on our bodies. Thanks, Vani, for your blog and for fighting the good fight!
Looks amazing.
I’m using a natural salt mineral spray deodorant right now but would love to try this!
Thank you!!
I ‘like’ your facebook page!
I’d give it a go! I usually stand in the personal care aisle and compare options, looking for the lowest aluminum percentage. I feel like it balances my detest of sweaty armpits with my detest of aluminum – not a perfect system, though.
I’m a food science major and I just love your blog… it’s much easier to read than science journal articles.
If this deodorant smells like coconuts I’m in! I’d love a free sample please 🙂
Ditched the antiperspirant years ago! Would love to try this!
I’m a fan on FB and I get the newsletter/email, that’s how I found out about this article! This product sounds really great! I’ve been looking for something like this for my family!
This is the final frontier for me. One of the last things that I know I need to do and haven’t done it yet. Would love to try it!
I’m a sweaty mess with regular deodorant so I’m skeptical, but would love to try this for free! Thanks
I’d love to try this!
I would love to try this deodorant. I am signed up for your newsletter.
I’ve been mostly going without deodorant because I just cant find a natural one that works for me, I would love to try this out, and so would my friends!!
Also like your fb page!
I get your emails and follow you on facebook! Keep up the good work. Have you seen the kraft facebook page lately? Susan
I would love to try this!!! I am an excessive sweater that goes through a ton of the chemical laden stuff. I have tried switching to arm n’ hammer a few times and I always go back to the bad kind.
Hi Vani~ Love your newsIetter, love your determination and hard work even more! I have to admit, I have changed my facial products to go Organic, but not my deodorant. I am always afraid it won’t work, but sure would love to win to give this product a try and become a believer! Ps. I am a fan on facebook too 😉
I like your facebook page!
I’m excited to try this, and would love to win it. 🙂
Making the switch!
I would love to win!
I would definitely like to give this a try and make the switch!
Had been buying Secret natural mineral and thought it was safer. However, I went back and read label and it says it has aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex Gly. I was def wrong about it.
Ooooh, I’d love to try this. I’m using one of those crystal rock things, but I looked at the ingredients last night, and it has something called alum. I’m assuming that’s a derivative of aluminum. 🙁
Anyhoo, I receive your daily emails as well as subscribing to your facebook page.
Thanks, Food Babe and Primal Pit, for the chance to win!
Cheers,
Tracy
I’d love to try this! My husband always tells me to throw out my deodorant because it’s bad for me!
Would love to try this product out! Thanks for the great info about deodorants. My husband actually told me this morning that he was out and needs me to pick some up. Now, I’ll probably choose to go with something more natural.
Emails/Facebook done and done. Would love to try this wonderful new product!!
Currently, Im deodorant free, but summer is approaching and I’d be willing to give this a try!