It’s the great debate: Can a natural deodorant keep you as fresh and dry as a conventional deodorant? In a word, yes — even during a tough workout. You just have to know the best ones to try. Below, Us rounded up eight of the most effective options, including some tried-and-true celeb favorites.
But first, what makes a deodorant “natural”? Most of the time, it means the product doesn’t contain an antiperspirant, which is typically an aluminum compound. Though the theory has largely been debunked, aluminum was, at one time, linked to Alzheimer’s disease. More recently, concerns have been raised about a link between aluminum and breast cancer, largely due to the proximity of the underarm to lymph nodes and the breast. There’s also the theory that it’s best to let the body go through the natural process of sweating since it helps release toxins. Experts are divided on these topics and so are deod users — which is why it’s great to have (effective!) options!
While natural deodorants typically let you sweat, they contain natural ingredients like baking soda that help absorb wetness to keep you dry. They also utilize natural, plant-based ingredients that fight or kill body odor-causing bacteria. Some people say that, once the body adjusts to the new formula, clean deodorants keep them, well, even cleaner than their old ones. And many are scented with delightful essential oils rather than chemically derived perfumes. All this to say, the right natural deodorant will keep you fresh and clean on a run, at your dance-based workouts or while going about your day.
Without further ado, here are our favorite, hard-working, odor-killing natural deodorants. Toss ‘em in your gym bag, and clean up your routine! Oh, and some are even celebrity approved. Find out which formulas Jessica Alba and Hilaria Baldwin are into below!