Deodorants and anti-perspirants, which ever you may use are essentials for our daily hygiene routine. These are commonly sold as aerosols in aluminium spray cans or as roll-ons in glass bottles. Whilst the aluminium cans and the glass bottles are recyclable, the plastic spray caps, or roller balls and these caps are not recyclable or biodegradable and will add to the ever-increasing plastic waste problem that takes hundreds of years to start to breakdown!

In our effort to reduce plastic waste, our recommendation is start using plastic-free natural deodorant instead of aerosols or roll-ons.

Before we rush into the plastic-free natural deodorants on offer its useful to understand the difference between both deodorants and anti-perspirants and how they work.

Deodorants are used to keep the armpit area smelling good by increasing skin acidity and preventing bacterial growth. They also mask the smell of odours by the artificial fragrance they are made with. However, these common deodorants often contain ingredients which can be harmful to the body in the long run. This alone is a good reason to switch to using plastic free natural deodorant.

The chemicals found in common deodorants are:

• Butane and Isobutane: these are gasses used as propellants in aerosol deodorants and anti-perspirants. Some countries have imposed restrictions on these ingredients due to being linked to cancer and reproductive toxicity.
• Diethanolamine- is an ingredient commonly used in deodorants and other personal cosmetics which often appears on labels as DEA which is a known carcinogen.
• Parabens – these are forms of preservatives found in a lot of personal care products that has been shown to mimic estrogen in the body’s cells, interfering with the way your body produces hormones. Parabens have also been linked to skin irritation, neurotoxicity, and some reproductive issues. These often are named ingredients ending with the word ‘paraben’ like butylparaben, methylparaben and ethylparaben!
• Phthalates – these are fragrances used in deodorants and anti-perspirants such as dimethyl phthalate these are sometime hidden under the word “fragrance”. The primary concern with phthalates is their ability to disrupt the endocrine system. These have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and breast development and also is said to possibly cause reproductive birth defects in both males and females.
• Triclosan – is an endocrine disruptor common in cosmetic products like deodorants and anti-perspirants. It can alter hormone regulation in the body. It can also cause irritations in the skin. When combined with water, it can stimulate the formation of the gas chloroform, a probable human carcinogen.

Anti-perspirants, on the other hand, serve as a sweat-inhibitor by blocking skin pores in the armpit area to totally prevent underarm sweating. We all know that sweating is a natural way of balancing body heat and relieving wastes through the skin and blocking the skin’s pores could therefore prove unwise and unhealthy for us. Again, anti-perspirants also contain ingredients which can be harmful to the body in the long run.

The chemical ingredients found in common are often the same as those above found in deodorants however anti-perspirants have the added addition of:

• Aluminum compound – a metal, is the basic ingredient in anti-perspirants that is responsible for blocking the ducts of the sweat glands in the underarm to prevent sweating. It can also increase the cells’ tendency to mutate thus creating the possibility of tumour growth. Exposure to this compound has also been linked with the development of Alzheimer’s disease.

The ingredients often found in the plastic free natural deodorants however are not damaging to the skin or your health as these include natural oils as well as absorbent ingredients like baking soda, corn-starch, bamboo extract, and zinc as well as natural fragrances and perfume extracts from natural sources.

The plastic free natural deodorant options also come completely plastic free as they are produced as deodorant sticks or bars which are often packaged in cardboard, or as deodorant creams in tin or glass jar and pots.

So why not switch from common forms of deodorant and anti-perspirant sold with non-recyclable plastic materials and which potentially have damaging chemicals in them and opt instead to use plastic free natural deodorant!

Click here to see some great options of plastic free natural deodorant!