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
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Just tossed my deodorant recently. I’d love to try primal paste.
I just heard about primal pit paste via 100daysofrealfood and am really excited to try i!
I would love to win this. i am currently in the process of switching over our lives to orgnaic and natural products which has been a hard transition in that i am not always sure what are good or bad choices. i have begun following you and 100 days of real food on facebook. the tips and information are so helpful. i hadnt thought about beauty products until this post. thank you again
I get your updates and Facebook! Love this article! I’ve been wanting to make the switch and I just didn’t know where to start. This is perfect!
I also like your page on Facebook!
Such an informative post! I’ve used Suave and Secret deodorant for a long time and I plan to make the switch to Primal! Over the past year, I have paid closer attention to the ingredients in my hygiene products and the food I buy – I’ve been outraged to say the least. Why does the FDA allow companies to make their products with such harmful substances? They should be protecting American consumers from the harmful substances that cause cancer and other life threatening diseases – not promoting them.
I’m so glad I’ve found your Facebook page and blog to keep me updated on all things healthy and natural!
Thanks, FoodBabe! Keep up the awesome work!
That’s disappointing about Mitchum, though I’m not surprised about most. I want some Pit Paste!
Oh, and I follow you on Facebook.
Would love to try this!
I would love to win this for my husband!! He is so supportive of me initiating our food changes, so I would like to surprise him!!
I would love to try this. I have used Toms for several years now, but this looks fabulous!
Great info! Thanks!
Would love to give it a try
As usual every post leaves me more enlightened than the last! Thank you for all your hard work and helping my family live a healthier lifestyle.
I would love to try this stuff!
I would love to try
I was just realizing that it had taken me awhile to get to my beauty products. I made the food switch easily, and the cleaning supplies quickly followed but switching out beauty products has been tougher. I would love to try this stuff!
Would love to win!! I already like your FB page too. 🙂
I’ve been looking for this! Want something that works.
This looks awesome! I would love to get a deodorant in lavender.
I am a regular dedorant user. However, I didn’t know it as bad as it is!! I would LOVE to try Primal paste out. I now plan on getting the kids version for my girls when they are old enough. Thanks for the informative post!!
I would love to try this product! I haven’t been happy with the safer deodorant/anti-perspirants I’ve tried so far so it would be great if this worked!
I only use organic natural aluminum free and parabens free deodorants but I have never tried this one. Would love to. Thanks
Already get your emails and facebook updates. I have been wanting to try Primal Paste 🙂 Thanks for all the proactive work you do. I appreciate it.
I would love to try this. I gave up antiperspirant 2 years ago when I got pregnant and knew I was going to breastfeed. I have yet to find a deodorant that I just love.
fantastic…yes I would love to try it and find out where to get it and free would be an added bonus….yay
would love to try it
I’m already a fan on facebook and I have signed up for newsletter. Thanks for all you do and the chance to win some great products!
I am IN LOVE with the Bee Silk lotion bar for the entire family(thank you for the recommendation)…now let’s get me hooked on a new product to adore!
Thank you for all the great info. I have just recently started paying more attention to all the chemicals in my daily life after the birth of my first child. I would love to try this.
I am a regular deodarant user currently. I wasn’t aware of all the junk it had in it! I am very interested in Primal paste after reading your blog! Thank you for all the information!!
I would love to try this product. I have use just the coconut oil and I never seem to be stinky! I don’t wear anything when I work out (under my arms! 😉 I have also used coconut oil on me feet regularly and it heals and wards of athletes foot which I am very prone to. Love all your info, thank you for doing all the research and sharing your findings and a BIG thank you for being our advocate for GMO labeling!
This would be very interesting to try!
Wow! I did not know about aluminum in deodorant! Scary stuff! I am going to have to research my beauty products. Thanks for the info!
I receive your updates/newsletters and Like you on Facebook.
I signed up for your newsletter!!
I ‘liked’ your page last week and am glad I did 🙂
Frighteningly insightful!
Wow. Really informative. Growing up I used to sweat ALOT. I was prescribed a super strong aluminum liquid that I used to put on at night and it burned like heck. My issue has corrected itself over the years, but to think that I was pretty much poisoning myself is CRAZY!! I would LOVE to give this stuff a try and you can bet I’ll be tossing my other antiperspirant!!!
I’ve got you on board with email postings, and I have your FB page ‘liked’. Now, have you visited my website?
If you are asking for a website, at least visit it and post there. My street is a 2-way street, :-), okay?
And, I am one who stopped using antiperspirant due to ingredients. It would be nice to limit the pit action!
Cheers, Avis
Would really like to try this product! I’m slowly trying to change over to all natural products!
Thanks for the info! I’ve signed up for your updates and I already “like” you on Facebook. I would love to try this out!
My husband and I are in the process of changing our families lives. We follow your blog and 100 Days of Real Food as well. I have seen this advertised and would love to try it.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Thank you for sharing all of this great info!!
Already signed up for newsletter and like you on fb!
I’ve been working on detoxing since I’ve been suffering from urticaria (hives) for over two months now. This sounds like a great change to make right away!
I already “Like” you on Facebook!
Good to know! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Already getting your newseltter. I really enjoy reading what information you uncover!