How to Switch to Wearing Natural Deodorant

Switching to natural deodorant is a seriously smart move, but making the transition is trickier (and oftentimes smellier) than you may assume. We’re sharing how to best navigate the process with some simple tips and tricks for keeping your cool while going au naturale. 

Why Switch to Natural Deodorant?

Conventional antiperspirants rely on aluminum to stop sweat in its tracks while masking body odor. But sweating is a perfectly natural function. In fact, it’s necessary for controlling body temperature and eliminating toxins from the skin. And here’s a fun fact: Sweat itself is just salt and water, so it doesn’t actually have an odor — but the bacteria it interacts with on the skin does. 

Aluminum-based antiperspirants block your body’s natural sweat-based detoxification process. Natural alternatives, however, use powerful botanical extracts like inherently cleansing tea tree oil, astringent witch hazel and neem to help neutralize odor-causing bacteria without clogging your pores.

How to Switch to Natural Deodorant Using the Detox Method

When you stop using an aluminum-based antiperspirant, you’re essentially removing the sweat barrier your body’s grown accustomed to — and that can send your sweat glands into overdrive. 

This excess sweat makes most people assume their new natural deodorant isn’t working, but it’s really just your body’s way of adjusting to the change. When switching to natural deodorant, detox takes about two to four weeks and is completely temporary. And while the idea of smelling less than fresh for up to a month sounds unpleasant, the right approach can make all the difference. 

Making the Switch: Tips for Using Natural Deodorant

Transitioning to natural deodorant is admittedly a bit challenging, but implementing the following tips (and exercising a little patience) can make the experience much more pleasant overall:

• Pamper your underarms. Just like your face, the skin on your underarms can always use a little TLC — especially when you’re detoxing from traditional deodorant. Applying a clay or charcoal face mask to the underarm area can help remove previous deodorant buildup and help draw out impurities like dirt, oil and bacteria. Glycolic acid and salicylic acid can also help reduce odor-causing bacteria while smoothing the underarm region. 

• Skip deodorant altogether for a few days. While the idea of foregoing deodorant sounds less than hygienic, it can actually help your body eliminate all the chemicals from your previous deodorant more efficiently.
• Keep fresh with essential oils. When you’re detoxing from your regular deodorant, you may want to consider using tea tree oil to help eliminate underarm odors. Either dilute it with a carrier oil or use our Kinder to Skin Australian Tea Tree Oil, which is gentle enough to be applied topically to skin.
• Opt for lighter fabrics. Natural fabrics like cotton, silk and hemp are all good choices for keeping your underarms as fresh as possible during your deodorant detox. Polyester and acrylic, on the other hand, are more likely to trap moisture. 

Shop the complete Desert Essence natural deodorant collection here.