When perusing the store aisles or online offerings for underarm refreshment, you’ll notice so many options that you may become overwhelmed with the choices. While we don’t want you to be overwhelmed, we do want you to know why deciding what you apply to your underarms is a very important choice indeed.
Because underarm skin is very thin and extremely sensitive, constantly exposed to friction, sweat, and bacteria, as well as the damage caused when removing unwanted body hair, it’s important to pay special attention to this area.
The two most common products used for underarms are antiperspirants and deodorants. What’s the difference? What it comes down to is sweat control vs odor control, which means a serious difference in ingredients.
Did you know? Sweat doesn’t have an odor. But it combines with the normal bacteria on your skin to produce a body odor that is completely unique to you.
However, as unique as it may be, many are not a fan of body odor. So, they turn to antiperspirants to reduce their sweat production.
Antiperspirants work by blocking sweat ducts with the most common active ingredient, aluminum salts, to prevent sweating. Aluminum is a toxic ingredient that can cause irritation to your skin and has been linked with breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. And yet, the FDA still approves 18 different aluminum compounds for use in antiperspirants. Antiperspirants are classified by the FDA as drugs and should not be applied more than once per day (if at all!).
Deodorants, on the other hand, are classified as cosmetics and are not regulated by the FDA. These products absorb moisture and odor with ingredients like baking soda or potato starch. To neutralize odors, they may contain toxic fragrance (an ingredient to avoid) or pure essential oils. They may also contain ingredients with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties such as organic coconut and tea tree oils. A non toxic deodorant may be reapplied as often as needed throughout the day.
For those who strive to live a low-tox or non-tox lifestyle, a deodorant is the better option for your underarms, but it’s still important to read the ingredient label and know which ingredients to avoid. The easiest to spot is fragrance, which legally hides an untold number of toxins as a “trade secret.” When you see fragrance in a product’s ingredient list, put it back on the shelf. Other toxins commonly found in deodorants and antiperspirants are triclosan and propylene glycol.
Ask your Pure Haven Consultant about our 100% non toxic deodorants in two different formulas, baking soda and non-baking soda, and a variety of fragrance-free scents. They’ll be happy to help you find the one that’s right for you. Also, during the month of October 2024, in honor of breast cancer awareness month and domestic violence awareness month, for every Pure Haven deodorant you buy, one will be donated to a survivor of domestic violence to help support them in their transition to a life without toxic influences. Your deodorant purchase during this time will help contribute to this very worthy cause.
Source: Pawlowski, A. (18 Sept 2024.) Deodorant Vs. Antiperspirant: Which Is Healthier? (today.com)