One hears a lot of scary stuff from the rumor mill and all the urban legends making the circuit. That anti-perspirant is linked to breast cancer has not been proven (http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo) but I heard it enough to ask myself: why not find a more natural product? Why not, indeed?
I switched to all-natural lotion after all the hoopla about methylparaben (http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/Newsletter/articles/v9rc.parabens.cfm). Whether methylparaben is a genuine health threat, I found the (albeit more expensive) all-natural lotion to be well worth the extra expense.
Supposing I might be equally pleased with natural deordorant, I gave them a try. There are a handful on the market, and for several years I swore by Burt’s Bees Herbal Deordorant (http://www.burtsbees.com/natural-products/outdoor-protection/herbal-deodorant.html). I’ve long endorsed Burt’s Bees lip balm and lotions, and found I liked the sage-scented, spray-on deordorant. And, for the most part, it worked. It wasn’t always up to the task on the most brutally hot summer days, particularly after an extended afternoon of yard work, but by and large, it sufficed. I will add that though I liked this product’s fragrance, not everyone is a fan of sage and, though the product is advertised to both genders, its scent is perhaps more masculine than not. (Frankly, I’m not sure women really want to smell like baby powder or flowery funeral parlors, but since the rest of the hygiene industry labors beneath that assumption, some women are reluctant to wear other fragrances.)
Not too long ago, I decided to try Crystal Body Deordorant (http://www.thecrystal.com/) and, though I did so with some doubts, I have been quite pleased. This product, entirely fragrance-free, works even better than the Burt’s Bees deodorant, and I’m not sure how long ago I bought it, but it looks like it’ll last halfway to forever. (It’s a mineral salt. You run water over it, rub it on, and that’s it.) I used this product throughout the summer and it withstood the hottest weather, the hardest workouts, and is billed as being safe for those with sensitive skin. This is by far one of the best all-natural products I’ve ever found and I recommend it not only for anyone troubled by the health-hazard-rumor-mill, but anyone just looking to save money (one purchase will far outlast ordinary deordorant sticks). It looks like the company has now added a ‘lightly scented’ version to their line – which maybe one day I’ll get to try, when (if) the stick I have ever runs out.
Tags: all-natural products, Burt's Bees, Crystal Deodorant, methylparaben