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Hey everyone! We love finding natural beauty products from small businesses, so when our Editorial Director, Ashley , was looking for a natural deodorant brand that wouldn’t irritate her skin, we reached out to some awesome companies for help. Check out their work below and how they worked for Ashley, snag a discount code, and find some healthy alternatives for your routines. We have more amazing products like these in our Mantra Box®, so if you’re on the hunt for more consciously made goodies, order yours here! xo - Candace
I’m super low maintenance when it comes to getting ready in the morning. Every once in a while, I’ll indulge in a little extra time putting on make up, but I rarely wear more than mascara and maybe a bit of bronzer or blush. A swipe or two of deodorant, run a brush through my hair (leave it if it’s not crazy, braid it if it is), and I’m done. Perfume usually gives me a headache, so I’ll dab some essential oils mixed with coconut oil on my wrists and neck, and call it a day. I’ve always had pretty sensitive skin, so I stick to natural products as much as I can, but the past year or two, I’ve noticed an increase in my reactivity to new deodorants, shampoos, toothpastes, etc. I have a hunch my upcoming parasite cleanse will help me uncover the root cause and heal from some of these sensitivities, but in the meantime, I’m grateful for the opportunity to really pay attention to what I put on my skin.
In my quest to reduce my funk in travel, active yoga practices and workouts, I’ve tried many a deodorant that left me either: 1. still stinky 2. irritated and itchy 3. red and bumpy 4. some combination of the above. After much frustration, I just decided I’d be the musky girl in the room and own it. But I wasn’t really owning it - I was making jokes about it when I felt self-conscious, and then complaining about it to Candace. Thanks, girl, for suggesting I do some research and ask for help. I found some winners!
1. Still Free Farm
I found this company at the Renegade Craft Market in Austin, and lingered over their organic, sustainably-sourced natural skincare products asking questions for so long they threw two deodorant sticks in my bag and encouraged me to share my thoughts. They’re a company out of the piney woods region of East Texas, where I call home, so it felt serendipitous that I loved their brand! I reached first for the Lemongrass and Tea Tree scent, but the owner nudged me toward the Pine and Tea Tree, too. They also make a Lavender In The Woods scent that smelled so subtle and sweet. I love that they all come in these cardboard containers (yay for no plastics!), and work much like a push pop, where you press up on the tube from the bottom to apply. Made with very few organic ingredients: clay, arrowroot powder and essential oils, the scent and dryness truly did last me all day. I could even smell the essential oils after teaching my evening hot yoga class.
Pro tip: You only need a little bit. Read that again. You only need one or two swipes. My first application, I used way too much, and immediately my armpits were on fire. Don’t be alarmed - I told you I have very sensitive skin. But it wasn’t until I was flapping my arms like a chicken in my bathroom that I remembered very specific instructions: “A little goes a long way.” My second application was much more conservative, and voila - no firepits, no irritation, just a sweet scent and freshness that lasted me through the day.
2. Megababe
Megababe has been featured in Glamour, Vogue, and on Huffpost, so I was excited to try their Rosy Pits Daily Deodorant. Their formula has a few more ingredients, but no alcohol, aluminum or parabens are included, and they chose key natural ingredients for their anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties: coconut, green tea, vitamin E, sage, sandalwood and horsetail plant. I also really appreciate that they don’t use any baking soda in their deodorant, so it truly glides on smoothly without any gritty friction feel throughout the day (something I’ve struggled with in baking-soda based deodorants). They’re a cruelty free business and never test on animals, and the way they market to women as boss babes totally gets me. They even make an anti-friction stick for between your thighs. Can I get an amen?!
I tested this one with a hot yoga practice, too, and the results were great. The scent is more shower fresh than rosy, to my nose, but it goes on easily and feels like the traditional deodorants you’ve probably tried before. Megababe definitely designs their products with women’s specific needs in mind, and I’m a fan.
3. Blume: Hug Me
I LOVE the story behind Blume. It was founded by two sisters who decided the stigma surrounding periods and puberty that leads to body-shame is done, and they created a business to empower and instill confidence and community in young women. Their message is all about thriving with self care and encouraging women to support one another through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Swoon.
Their Hug Me natural deodorant is un-scented, which I really appreciate for skin sensitivity, and one swipe truly will last you all day. They infuse their product with probiotics to combat odor, and use a base of coconut oil (It’s the stuff of miracles, and I put it on everything). This one does have baking soda in it, but surprisingly, their balanced formula doesn’t have the rough texture I would expect. For a vegan, cruelty free, paraben free, aluminum free, alcohol free, pregnancy safe, travel friendly, gluten free deodorant option - use code YBC15 for 15% off!
4. Lume Natural Deodorant
Lume sent two different applicators of the same product: their cruelty free, aluminum free, baking soda free (whoop!), naturally scented, vegan deodorant “for underarms and private parts.” I love their two options for applying the deodorant, which is quite wet and has the consistency of lotion rather than a traditional deodorant, because you can easily use it in other sensitive areas if needed (I’m talking to my fam on the chafed thigh struggle bus. You are not alone.). You can use the tube style applicator like you might a liquid or gel deodorant, or grab the tube to squeeze a small amount (pea-size) into your hand. Lume claims one application will last you 72 hours, but I didn’t wait 72 hours before showering and applying again - because habit, but I did feel dry and fresh all day.
They have an unscented option, which again, is my favorite, and their products are developed by an OB-GYN. A little goes a long way with this one, too, but I learned my lesson the first time and never experienced an overdose sensation with Lume. If you try them out, be sure to watch this cute video on getting started with their products. It also gives you a guide to de-funking your clothes and interesting info on how the waxes and oils in deodorants and fabric softeners can leave bacteria in the pits of your shirts! Lume is water-based, so with continued use, you are supposed to have less and less build up on your clothing.
5. Freedom Natural Deodorant
Freedom is a women owned business I saw featured in Forbes, and they’ve been on the Today Show, in Cosmopolitan, and partner with some big name hotels to bring us natural deodorants that really work. The founder decided to start her business when a friend was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she became determined to find non-toxic solutions to health and beauty routines. I love that they offer roll-ons, travel minis, an all-over spray and traditional tubes in their deodorants. They’re all aluminum free, paraben free and phthalate free, made only with natural ingredients that you could eat (but you probably shouldn’t), and are never tested on animals. They have 6 different scents, including an unscented version for sensitive skin, and they sent me their Lavender Citrus and Coco Van varieties. They both smell incredible, but the Coco Van is definitely my fave, plus that formula is baking soda free and recommended for sensitive skin.
I thought they worked great! They look and feel like a traditional deodorant from the outside. I wish there was a little less plastic in their packaging - they even use a plastic stopper over the top of the stick, underneath the lid, but it might be necessary to keep it packed during shipping in case the temperature varies widely in transit. Application was smooth and easy, though I can definitely tell they’re made with beeswax. If it’s really cold wherever you’ve stored them, you might need to warm it up a bit to get that feel good glide. One or two swipes is all you need, and the protection really did last me all day. They also recommend waiting a couple minutes after you apply before you put your clothes on, to help prevent the transfer of oils. They have bundle gift sets on sale for the holidays, and if you order something from them now through December 15th, they’re including a free lip balm with purchase! Score! You can use code YBC15 for !5% off when you give them a try!
I hope this was helpful to anyone suffering from underarm discomfort, the dreaded BO, or just can’t find a natural brand you feel comfortable using regularly. If you have any questions or other natural deodorant recommendations, I’d love to hear from you in the comments!