Confession: I don’t wear deodorant (or antiperspirant) anymore.
I used to wear it every day. And then I discovered that skipping it wouldn’t mean I’d be revoltingly stinky, and I got scared of the potentially harmful chemical ingredients found in conventional deodorants, so I stopped using it altogether. I figured that even after a long run, while I’m certainly not as fresh as a rose, I don’t have that overwhelming, distinct B.O. smell, either — so why bother?
But with summer fast approaching, and many long, sweaty runs in store, I decided to give natural deodorant a shot. I tested out five different products and found they all worked fairly equally at keeping me as odour-free as one can expect after a run, but there were pros and cons to each. Click through for the scoop.
Lavender Love
The Lavender Tea Tree cream deodorant from Lovefresh has a lovely scent (and there are four other scents, plus Unscented). The product was thicker and more paste-like than the creamy texture I was expecting, so I felt like I really had to rub it in well to prevent any white residue on my pits.
I discovered that I’m not a big fan of applying deodorant with my fingers; it just means I have to wash my hands after, and I’m usually in such a rush. It’s simply more time-consuming than using a stick deodorant.
Like the brand's deodorant stick, which I also tested, the cream has just five ingredients.
I sometimes worry about the fragrance of a deodorant competing with my perfume (on the days I remember to spritz on a fragrance), so I wanted to try one unscented product. I opted for Consonant Skincare's version, which slicks on easily — I’m a fan of the stick format.
This formula features bentonite clay and silk amino acids to absorb moisture and condition skin, and I found it to be most like the conventional deodorants I’m used to, ie. it’s the one I think one could easily switch to if making the transition to a natural deodorant.
Yes, another Lovefresh product because I wanted to try the brand's stick format, too. I had high hopes for this one because, well, I’m a sucker for pretty packaging.
I tried the Lemon Verbena version, and it’s a pretty, fresh scent, but I found myself wondering if the lemony fragrance was too strong.
While I like the stick format, I found the product pulled at the skin a little rather than gliding on easily. I’d stick to wearing this on days I’m not wearing any other scented products so as to not have the scents competing with one another.
This product features just five ingredients, including kaolin clay and sodium bicarbonate to keep you dry and fresh-smelling, and fair-trade shea butter so your armpits stay moisturized.
This deodorant testing has made me realize I’m just not into applying lotions to my pits with my fingers.
I tried this Leaves of Trees product in Lavender Argan, and its scent is lovely — but again, I’d avoid wearing other fragrances with it.
Its key ingredients are sodium bicarbonate and kaolin clay for keeping you dry and odour-free. I like this one most for its moisturizing benefits, and its slim tube makes it handy for travel.
The first ingredient listed for this product is alcohol denat (aka denatured alcohol), so I worried it would dry out my skin, but that wasn't the case. I suppose the aloe included in the formula helps to balance things out.
The scent is slightly medicinal, but it is — as promised on the label — refreshing to apply. It’s like a cool little spritz, which would feel great during a heat wave. The liquid formulation means you do have to wait a few minutes to let it dry before getting dressed.
The Honest Company Honest Deodorant, $14, The Honest Co.
Source: THE HONEST CO.
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Karen Kwan is a writer for W Dish. Marathon runner (she’s completed eight!) and popular lifestyle writer and blogger who’s passionate about fitness, health, food, beauty, and travel.
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