Is it really possible to get away from commercial brands of deodorant for men and use something natural instead? A stick or spray can of deodorant isn’t that expensive, so you might wonder why you should even worry about changing? And do those natural deodorants really work, or are they just hype like so many other natural products that don’t do the same quality jobs as chemical ones?
Many of the popular brands like Speed Stick, Right Guard, Mennen and Axe contain a variety of substances that range from known neurotoxins to those that are controversial because they’re suspected of causing problems. Some brands like Nivea deodorant for men and other Nivea products use far fewer of these types of ingredients and often use none of them, even offering all-natural options for people with sensitive skin. But most main brands contain essentially the same ingredients as all the others.
Men’s Antiperspirant Ingredients
And one of the most common ingredients in antiperspirants and some deodorants is aluminum salts. There are several different aluminum elements that appear in these products because the aluminum salts can keep you from sweating. The deodorant or antiperspirant you buy could be up to a full 25% aluminum. There have been studies that suggest aluminum is connected with things like Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. The connection isn’t proven, however, so the products are still available and deemed to be safe.
Choosing Natural Deodorants for Men
If you’re concerned about smearing these toxic chemicals and potentially dangerous ones on your skin and absorbing them every day, you can switch to a natural deodorant. Sometimes the natural products don’t make the best antiperspirant, and certainly don’t stop wetness anywhere near as well as the aluminum can. But a little peace of mind might be worth a little extra sweat.
Look for labels that state the lack of things like aluminum, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, triclosan, hydroquinone and anything with a name that contains benzene, methyl, ethyl or paraben. These are the elements that worry most researchers who fear that the products could be potentially hazardous.
Not Always Completely Natural
Don’t automatically trust a product just because it calls itself natural, however. Some so-called natural deodorants for men actually still contain various aluminums. Whether or not they’re dangerous is up in the air, but if you choose to avoid it, you have to be on the lookout for it. Many of these natural antiperspirants and deodorants contain it because it works so well. It actually goes into your skin into the tiny openings where the sweat would come out, and through a chemical reaction causes the opening to swell closed. This can sometimes irritate the skin and often accounts for people being unable to use certain types of deodorant for men. If you choose to avoid it, watch for things like deodorant stones that you rub on your armpits and deodorant crystals, as these often do contain aluminum.