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! Where can it be purchased? A lot of the natural deodorants I’ve tried have smelled almost as bad as B.O. Itself! Judging by the ingredients, maybe this one will be better! I love giveaways!!!
I would love to try this! (PS – I’m signed up to get your emails)
Thanks! I was looking for something natural to try. I looked at a few recipes, but I couldn’t find arrowroot in stores around here, so was about to order some of that. This will save me some time!
Will have to look for this at my Weaver St. natural foods market, it appears the Pit Paste folks make sticks woohoo!! I hope it truly works on wetness as their website mentions, not just odor. I try to use Crystal liquid or the solid, but have to admit when I really need to watch the wetness around fancy folks, I pull out the Mitchum……. Thank you!
I subscribe. I would love to try this. I was just looking at some paste products online the other day, but still haven’t bought. I used the salt sticks. I need to give this a try.
I’m a fan on Facebook.
I’ll look into this product!!! Thanks!!!
Hope I win! (PS – I’m a Facebook Fan)
I really want to try this!!! I currently use toms deo but
would like to try something else! Thanks for giveaways!! I really want to win!
I’m signed up to get your emails.
I also liked your FB page 🙂
I would love to win! I love your page Food Babe thank you for all your investigative hard work. (PS- I’m not on FaceBook but if I was I would totally “like” your page!)
I’d love to win! My husband has very sensitive skin and this might be something that won’t irritate him!
I never win anything 🙁
Would love to have some of this to try. 🙂
Ah this sounds so awesome!!
I have always wanted to try a natural deodorant and this is just the push I need!
I would love to win this! Sounds like an awesome product I can add to my beauty regime 🙂
Fluoride is a known toxin! Tom’s does make a fluoride-free ‘paste. Pretty sure that Desert Essence is fluoride-free across the board. Thanks for all the hard work! Keep it up 🙂
I’d love to try this out too. I was also a “Secret” wearer until my thyroid started acting up and I did research into all the toxins we put in and our on body unknowingly. I’ve also made the switch to other deodorants, but not all withstand the Texas summer heat very well!!
I stopped using one product because it was irritating me. Maybe this would work without the same problems?
I stopped using one product because it was irritating me. This might be worth a try!
I am so interested in this product! I have tried other natural deodorants and have yet to find one I like. The crystal kind that you have to wet was possibly the absolute worst giving me a horrible red rash and peeling skin for days… I am currently using Tom’s of Maine but wanting to go even more natural! I get your emails and I am so excited about the awesome work you have been doing lately. Your hard work will not only make a better world for you and me but for my children and the future generations going forward! You are a such an awesome role model and I want my girls to see you and think “Real Life Super Hero!” and “I wanna be like Vani when I grow up!” 🙂 Thanks for making my voice heard and dropping my petition on Kraft’s door! You Rock!!!
Sounds great! Hope to win, but will purchase either way. Thanks for the info!
Would live some pit paste!!!
I’ve been using Arm and Hammer with good results, they’re aluminum and paraben free. Does anybody know if their other ingredients are also ok?
Can’t wait to try this product! (I already “like” your page)
Love the work you do, thank you!
I heard about aluminum last year and made the switch to a brand named “toms.” they also have mouthwash. It costs more but has no dyes in it either. I switched to Tom’s toothpaste too. Also, I’m already on email list and liked on your FB page. Thanks for all the work you do to keep us informed.
Tried desert essence and I smelled like a rock n roll drummer after a 6 hour gig!! Would LOVE to find something that worked.
Sounds like a good alternative. I haven’t used anything in awhile.
I hope I win!!! I’d love to try it :).
Thank you for this article! I’m relatively new to an organic, natural lifestyle and the information I get from your site and emails is so very much appreciated. Because of your articles on Kraft, I even got my husband on board with a Kraft boycott. Thanks so much.
Thank you for all the great information! I would love to win this giveaway!!
I follow your newsletter.
Thank you.
I want to win!! I am a Facebook fan also!
I am an avid reader (subscribed long ago!), look forward to seeing your posts in my facebook feed (liked!) and can’t wait to give this stuff the gym test!
Hi. Thanks for creating your website, it’s really helpful and informative. I just recently started to go Organic and I also changed my deodorant. I now use a crystal deodorant. It’s made of crystallized minerals and it’s in a stick that you wet and wipe on. It’s made of mineral salts and aloe . I just happened to find this on a clearance rack, but I’ve seen them on line also. You can check Theallnaturalface.com. That is my new favorite website for Vegan cosmetics, and some great Vegan body products. They have a NEW Vegan Liquid Crystal Deodorant. It contains crystal, real essential oils, and aloe. It doesn’t stop you from sweating, the crystal neutralizes the bacteria and prevents the odor from occurring.
It really is a process to make a change to everything healthy, but it’s so worth it. 🙂
Great article! Can’t wait to try it!
If someone hasn’t mentioned this already, you can MAKE YOUR OWN very inexpensively. I have been using my own since September (seven months!) and love it.
Looking forward to trying this product!
I would love to win this but more important will buy it my self if I dont win and love all you do for us Thank you so much
I had already liked your FB page and signed up for emailed updates. 🙂 Please put my name in the bucket! I’ve had trouble finding an aluminum-free deodorant that actually makes a working difference for myself an my picky husband here in hot and sweaty Austin. I’d love to give this new (to me) product a go!
Signed up for your blog!
I would love to try this!
Willing to try it!
Would love to try PP! I receive your updates via email and I also like you on FB! Thanks for all the hard work you do to educate the rest of us on making better decisions for our health and well being!
Sounds awesome!
Liked you on FB!
I would love to try this- I actually make my own deodorant using the same ingredients- but it would be convenient to just take a stick on vacation:)