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
Would love to make this swap. Liked and signed up for updates. Thanks!
Would love to try this product
Great to know! I want some!!
I have been looking ALL over for a natural deodorant and cannot for the life of me seem to find a good one. I love you Food Babe <3 Thank you so much for all your useful information. P.s, I cooked dinner for my friends last week and made you ginger carrot lentil soup, sweet potato and goat cheese quesadilla, and chia seed pudding. It was a HIT!!!!!!
I’ve been thinking of making the switch to natural deoderant for a while – would love to try Primal Pit Paste!
I’ve been wanting to try Primal Pit Paste! I’m a relatively new subscriber and I want to thank you so much for all the work you’ve done to go after Kraft and their ridiculous practices!
I really appreciate the informative articles you write, and the actions you have taken to help inform others and make a change in this world. I have very sensitive skin and have been trying all my life to find some natural but good smelling alternatives for everyday use. I would absolutely love to win this contest so I can try this product!
Thanks Food Babe – I’d love a chance to win – always looking to try something new – and throwing out those old aluminum-based deodorants is VERY important!
Thanks for all you do and for putting this info out there! I’m already a suscriber and follow you on facebook.
I’d love to win this…. Great information!!!
I am definitely interested in replacing chemical laden deodorant with something safe! (& I like your FB page)
Looks like a great product.
Would LOVE to give this product a try! This is the item I am currently focusing on in my toxic rhedup! Have not been happy with any that I have tried!
You are a wealth of information. ..thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing this, I have been interested in trying a natural deodorant but didn’t know where to start to find a good one.
I switched to a cream that Shaklee makes. Their products are wonderful!!
I have been making and using my own deodorant (coconut oil, baking soda, arrowroot powder) with excellent results, but would be interested in trying a more professionally made product:)
Love the information that you give us to live a cleaner life. Keep up the hard work.
Very timely post for me. After not wearing any deodorant for a year I finally threw the container of Secret away that was just taking up space in my bathroom. I need to get this stuff for my hubby who used deodorant all over his body!
I can’t wait to try pit paste! And I love your blog and facebook posts! I’ve shared it with so many of my loved ones. 🙂
I would love to win!!! But I also like the girl from your past, sweat heavily!! Will this really work for me? I sweat so much, I’ve had Botox injections a couple times. And I know that is definitely not healthy!!!
Yay! I am always looking for better ways to handle the whole deoderant issue! I tried baby powder (which I then learned was only slightly less bad than Secret…and I was putting this on my kid. Ack!!) and cornstarch, but that can cause clogged pores after a while. Looking forward to trying this…all the better if it is free!!
I signed up for the updates. Love your blog!
Signed up for daily emails!
Well, at least mine didn’t make the worst list but I’d still like a natural option that works. I just ordered a stick to try it out! Would love to win more! Love your blog, you really help me avoid the junk I sometimes crave.
I follow you on Facebook!
Thanks for providing us this information
I’ll try pit paste:)
I follow you on Facebook.
I’d love to try this! I make my own using coconut oil and essential oils, but sometimes it would be nice to just have some on hand for traveling or when I feel lazy!
Follow on FB
I really appreciate the informative articles you write, and the actions you have taken to help inform others and make a change in this world. I have very sensitive skin and have been trying all my life to find some natural but good smelling alternatives for everyday use. I would absolutely love to win this contest so I can try this product!
Btw I am a subscriber to your e-mail letters, and a follower on Facebook.
Thanks for this great info. Have been looking for alternative!!
I have been making and using my own deodorant (with coconut oil, baking soda and arrowroot powder) with excellent results, but would be interested in trying something more professionally made:)
Like on FB
Would love to win! I’m signed up for your emails.
I have been trying to convert my family to a more healthy lifestyle. As you well know, it is far from easy. I would love to try this!
I already get your updates and like you on Facebook – your posts are always great! I use Desert Essence deoderant now and although I like it, I still feel like I’m not 100% satisfied. I would LOVE to try this Pit Paste!
Like you on Facebook!
I already use Bumble & Bee’s deodorant cream but would love to try a stick deodorant!
I would love to try Primal Pit Paste. Thanks for this opportunity and all of your information!
Already get the updates, just liked the FB page! Thanks, Food Babe! (o;
Would love to give this product a try. Thanks for your info.
My husband and I have used baking soda for years. I mix mine with non-toxic lotion and he mixes his with coconut oil. It works wonderfully and is very inexpensive.
Thanks FoodBabe! I haven’t used deodorant with Aluminum in about 3-4 years. My mom had breast cancer and stopped using it and encouraged me to stop using it as well. I tried TONS of different brands, but nothing seemed to work. I found a recipe to make my own online, but I didn’t really care for the consistency. So I’ve tweaked it since then to make a perfect deodorant powder. It just so happens it’s all the same ingredients as the primal paste omitting the shea butter! Thanks for keeping us educated!!!
I’d love to give this product a try!
I would love to try this! 🙂 Comment left
Thanks for the great info once again. Your research is so important!
Already get your emails, been wanting to try this after I saw it on a blog I read. It’s not cheap but if it works I can deal with it, especially if I get started with a free one!
Would love to try this!! Thanks for the great information!! 🙂