As we’ve already learned, natural deodorant advocates believe that a detox from deodorant offers a host of benefits. However, most of these claims are unsubstantiated. Below, we outline the alleged benefits and investigate the research supporting these claims.
The claim: It gets rid of ‘harmful chemicals’ left over from deodorants and antiperspirants
There is no scientific evidence that deodorants and antiperspirants are dangerous to health. Rumors about them causing breast cancer have no scientific evidence to support them, either.¹ And yes, these detox masks may help remove any residue, but so will washing your armpits thoroughly with water, soap, and a washcloth.
The claim: It makes natural deodorant more effective
This is an interesting one. There is currently no research to support this claim, but there is evidence that using traditional antiperspirants and deodorants can reduce the amount of bacteria in your armpits. Transitioning to a natural deodorant in a short space of time can cause bacteria to become imbalanced and emit a stronger odor.²
The claim: It drains the lymph nodes of toxins
This is a particularly strong unfounded claim by deodorant detox fans. There is no evidence that toxins can be pulled out of our skin by deodorant detox masks. Our bodies remove toxins naturally all by themselves. The best thing you can do is stay healthy so it can maintain this intelligent cleaning system.³
Side effects of an armpit detox
The first side effect you will probably experience while detoxing from deodorant is increased sweating and body odor. On top of that, some of the ingredients used in deodorant detox masks, like vinegar, can irritate delicate armpit skin. If you do decide to try it and experience irritation, stop using the product immediately.
“Natural” deodorant vs. regular deodorant and antiperspirant
For decades, one of the prime ingredients of antiperspirants has been aluminum salts. How do they work? Get ready for a quick science lesson…
Aluminum salts are soluble when they’re in a low pH environment – i.e. in your antiperspirant spray or stick. When the salts meet our sweat, their pH goes up, they become more ‘solid’ and form a kind of plug over your sweat glands. That’s what stops the sweat from reaching the surface of your skin. Deodorants, on the other hand, tackle the odor-causing bacteria that our armpit sweat attracts. But some products combine the two actions for ultimate protection.
Read next: What’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant (and which is better)?
Recently, more “natural” products have come onto the market, which don’t use aluminum. These products don’t stop you from sweating but instead use natural ingredients and fragrances to mask the body odor that sweat can cause. They usually contain ingredients like coconut oil, baking soda, cornstarch, and essential oils. And some people even make their own at home.
Is natural deodorant better?
People go for natural deodorant because they deem regular ones ‘harmful’ – and this is, in fact, untrue. Some people may also use them because they have allergies.
Unfortunately, the general feedback from customers has been that, although these products may trade on being more “natural”, most are less than effective.
How to combat underarm sweat and body odor
Instead of detoxing from deodorant, why not follow these tips to get your underarm
