Natural deodorants have come a long way, but one ingredient causes more complaints than any other: baking soda. If you've tried a natural deodorant and ended up with red, itchy or irritated underarms, you're far from alone.
Why baking soda bothers some skin
Baking soda is a great odor fighter, and plenty of people use it with no trouble. But it's alkaline, while healthy skin is naturally slightly acidic. Rubbed into warm, often freshly shaved underarms every day, it can be too much for some people's skin.
What we use instead
Our upcoming Deodorant Stick skips baking soda entirely. It uses five ingredients:
- Single-origin Palestinian olive oil for glide
- Beeswax to hold the stick together
- Arrowroot, a soft root powder, to absorb wetness
- Magnesium hydroxide, a mineral that neutralizes odor more gently than baking soda
- Kaolin, a fine white clay that absorbs wetness and adds smoothness
No fragrance, no aluminum, no baking soda.
Deodorant vs. antiperspirant
It's worth knowing the difference. Antiperspirants use aluminum compounds to reduce sweating. Deodorants don't block sweat; they work on odor. Sweating is normal, and our stick is a deodorant: it neutralizes odor and helps you feel drier, without blocking anything.
Switching tips
- Apply to clean, dry skin, and hold the stick against your skin for a few seconds to warm it before swiping.
- A little goes a long way.
- Patch test first if your skin is sensitive, and stop use if irritation occurs.
The Deodorant Stick is in testing now. Sign up to hear when the first batch is ready.