Did you know that antiperspirants are actually over-the-counter drugs?
I didn’t know either—until I interviewed Melanie Avalon for the B.Rad podcast and learned more about the importance of using clean skincare products and the dangers of chemicals commonly used in beauty products. I may not wear makeup or lipstick, but I do use soap, sunscreen, lotion, and deodorant every single day—and I’m betting you do too. Our skin is our largest organ, so it is imperative that we pay attention to the ingredients that we use on it.
As an athlete, one of my staple products has always been deodorant—but I have to admit, it used to be antiperspirant. In case you didn’t already know, the problem with antiperspirants is aluminum, which works by literally blocking our sweat ducts. Our sweat ducts then absorb the aluminum ions, swell, and squeeze closed. And then anything that needs to get out, cannot get out….which doesn’t sound healthy at all. But it gets worse: aluminum is a neurotoxin that has been linked to serious health issues like liver toxicity, Alzheimer’s, other degenerative diseases, and breast cancer.
Reading these scary stats was enough to spook me into using a new deodorant—I made the big switch, finally left antiperspirant chemicals behind, and sought out a clean deodorant. Of course, I knew how bad aluminum can be, but I thought I needed antiperspirant—that is until I noticed that when I stopped using it, my body seemed to learn to not sweat anymore. The best part? Not only does natural deodorant work just as well as an antiperspirant, it actually works better.
Even if this isn’t the first time you’re hearing that it’s healthier to use a clean deodorant instead of an antiperspirant, it’s also important to note that even the most healthy and natural-sounding deodorants still have offensive agents in there. Look at Tom’s or any other “clean” brands and you usually see “fragrance” or “natural fragrance” on the label, which, unfortunately, is code for hidden chemicals and other undesirable ingredients.
I tried out a few different clean deodorants in my quest to find a natural product that was actually effective, but the only one that has worked for me so far has been the CleanDeo, one of my favorite products from clean beauty line BeautyCounter. I love that it’s 1) refillable (eco-friendly!), 2) totally masks any odor and absorbs sweat, and 3) is made without aluminum. No white cast, no weird fragrance, just a mixture of non-GMO cornstarch and baking soda, plus a little coconut oil, shea butter, and beeswax to make it glide on smoothly and leave you smelling fresh all day.
If you have yet to make the switch to all-natural skin care products, please remember this: MOST skincare contains all manner of toxic ingredients, endocrine disruptors, obesogens, and carcinogens that can harm your health and compromise other devoted diet, exercise, and lifestyle practices. While we don’t want to get overwhelmed or too freaked out, cutting back on environmental toxins must be a priority, as what you put on your skin gets direct access to your bloodstream. It’s especially important to be vigilant if you don’t live in Europe, for example, where they have banned thousands of compounds found in conventional skincare and makeup. Compare that to the number of banned compounds in America? Just 11.
Unfortunately, the truth is that there is most likely lead in your lipstick, endocrine disruptors in your perfume or cologne, and toxins in your cleansers, lotions, and antiperspirant. And while there may be a lot of clean beauty brands out there, I have yet to find one that matches BeautyCounter in terms of quality and transparency. They don’t just claim to use only natural ingredients, but they go a step further and test every single ingredient extensively for safety. As someone who tries to be as healthy as possible in every area of my lifestyle, I appreciate how easy they have made it to make these simple switches away from toxin-laden mainstream products. I’ve been enjoying trying out some of their amazing skincare offerings, like the Vitamin C facial serum, soap, and deodorant (my favorite is the Sequoia scent), and I think you’ll love their stuff too. To check out their wonderful range of clean beauty and skincare products and for some special treatment, head over to Beautycounter.com/
