Our guide to aluminium free natural deodorants
Just like your skincare routine, choosing a deodorant is personal. What works for one person’s skin and lifestyle may not suit another. From scents and textures to the level of protection you need, it’s all about finding a product that feels right for you. Lots of our customers come to us on the hunt for a natural deodorant that works as more and more are becoming aware of the the ingredients in some deodorants that they might like to avoid, like, aluminium. Here we help answers your most common questions around aluminium deodorants.
Why is aluminium used in deodorants?
It's important to know that aluminium is found in antiperspirants rather than deodorants, and often referred to as aluminium salts, or aluminium chlorohydrate on the INCI list. Deodorants and anti-perspirants work differently. While deodorants help to neutralise odour caused by bacteria on the skin, antiperspirants go a step further by attempting to stop you from sweating altogether.
They do this by using aluminium salts, most commonly aluminium chlorohydrate, which dissolve on the skin and form a temporary plug within the sweat ducts. This blocks perspiration from reaching the surface.
The Natural Role of Sweat
Sweating is one of the body's natural processes that helps to regulate your internal temperature and remove minor toxins from the body.
By preventing this process, aluminium-based antiperspirants may contribute to overheating or imbalance in some people. Natural deodorants, on the other hand, let your body breathe, while still keeping you feeling fresh and odour-free through plant-based actives and antibacterial ingredients.
Aluminium antiperspirants cause health conditions: fact or fiction?
While there have been studies undertaken to find a link between the use of aluminium antiperspirants and diseases such as breast cancer and Alzheimers, there has been no solid evidence to suggest the use of the ingredient has any substantial effect on whether a person develops these illnesses or not.
Recent research carried out by the National Centre for Biology in the US found a link between frequent use of antiperspirants and the amount of aluminium in the breast tissue, but it was also concluded that there is no more aluminium in breast cancer tissue than normal breast tissue.
So while there’s currently no solid scientific proof that aluminium causes disease, the repeated exposure (especially in a sensitive area like the underarm) is enough for some health experts and organisations to recommend caution.
Notably, Breast Cancer UK includes aluminium salts on its list of ingredients to be cautious about and recommend minimising exposure when possible, especially if there are easy swaps you can make.
And that’s the beauty of natural deodorant, it's an easy swap that can put your mind at ease.
Furthermore, while most toxins are flushed out through the kidneys and liver - by blocking the pores under the armpits, they are unable to also escape through the sweat. In addition to this, sweating helps cool the body down, blocking the pores means the body can’t regulate its temperature properly.
Aluminium antiperspirants and their effect on the environment
Even if you’re comfortable using aluminium antiperspirants from a health perspective, their environmental impact might give you pause.
The process of extracting aluminium from the earth is incredibly damaging. Open-pit and underground mining practices can destroy ecosystems, pollute water sources, and release significant carbon emissions. Add to that the energy-intensive refining process and it’s clear that aluminium has a high environmental cost.
So when we choose to support aluminium-free deodorants, we’re also supporting a more sustainable future.
Which are the best aluminium free deodorants?
Are you ready to swap to a natural and aluminium free deodorant?