GO NATURAL: 5 reasons to switch deodorants right now

If you look at the top five toxic ingredients in your deodorant, you’re probably wondering why this industry isn’t better regulated. I know I did. But personal care manufacturers have tons of toxic stuff in their products and the FDA just looks away whistling, so it’s up to us as health-conscious consumers to figure out what to do.

Luckily we have websites like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and another website they operate called Skin Deep. Skin Deep is a database devoted to health and beauty products, and subsequently the pros and cons of each brand. Want to see where your deodorant stacks up? Do a search in that group.

But to make it easier for you, I’ve excerpted parts of their website for you. Thanks to Why Don’t You Try This for condensing the info!

Here’s what Skin Deep (and their parent EWG) says about their mission:

“Skin Deep pairs ingredients in more than 25,000 products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases, making it the largest integrated data resource of its kind.Why did a small nonprofit take on such a big project? Because the FDA doesn’t require companies to test their own products for safety.”… Read More: http://www.whydontyoutrythis.com/2013/02/how-safe-is-your-deodorant.html?m=1

Let’s look at some of your best choices:

Deodorant with a score of 0 having a “low hazard”:

Crystal deodorant stick, roll-on, and spray

Deodorant with a score of 1 having a “low hazard” (the chemical after the name indicates that the product DOES have that one in its formulation):

CVS Ultra Dry Anti-Perspirant Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chloride

Ban Antiperspirant & Deodorant Original Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chlorohydrate Ban Classic Original Antiperspirant & Deodorant Original Roll-On Unscented – Aluminum Chlorohydrate

Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Clear Gel; Fragrance Free – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol

Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Clear Gel – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol

Almay Antiperspirant & Deodorant Fragrance Free (Powder Fresh and Soothing Aloe) – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Gylcerin, Diproplyene Glycol

Lady Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant & Deodorant Unscented – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol

Mitchum Antiperspirant & Deodorant Clear Gel – Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol

Almay Stay Dry Hydro Solid Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Fragrance Free – 1 PEG-14 Dimethicone, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Diproplyene Glycol

And here are some products you should avoid:

Deodorant with a score of 7 having a “high hazard”:

Right Guard Sport Deodorant – fragrance, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured

Right Guard Sport Deodorant

Aerosole, Original – fragrance, Triclosan, Propylene Glycol, Butane and Propane

Dry Idea Antiperspirant Clear Gel Powder Fresh – fragrance, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured

Dry Idea Antiperspirant & Deodorant Clear Gel Powder Fresh – fragrance, PEG/PPG – 18/18 Dimethicone, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured

FDS Feminine Deodorant Spray White Blossom and Baby Powder – fragrance, Benzyl Alcohol

Propylene Glycol Deodorant with a score of 8 having a “high hazard”:

Secret Platinum Antiperspirant & Deodorant Invisible Gel Powder Fresh Scent – fragrance, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol, Alcohol Denatured

Dove Invisible Solid Antiperspirant & Deodorant, Powder Fresh – fragrance, Silica, PEG-8 Distearate, Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Glycine, Propylene Glycol

YIKES!

Naturally, I looked up the two I use. The first, a product from Tom’s of Maine, was not in the database, but I bought it originally because it was aluminum free. I just looked at the ingredient list, and it all checks out except propylene glycol, which appears to be nearly impossible to exclude from deodorant ingredients, based on what I’ve seen.

The second, a crystal deodorant (which is almost always a good choice) called Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal is aluminum, paraben, and fragrance free, so that strikes off two of the five bad ingredients right off the bat. But where did it rate? It gets a 3, but when I compared the ingredients list on my package with the one EWG/Skin Deep had, I found that their main concern was not part of the formulation I was using. Maybe they took it out when they found out it was harmful. Anyway, without that ingredient this deodorant should score a 0 or 1.

I hope you’ve found this post informative. The way I look at it, there are easy things you can change and more difficult things. This is one of the easy choices. Now I challenge you to not check all your products through that database! Good luck!