How to transition to a low-tox deodorant and the best low-tox deodorants that work: for teens, men and women!
Why It’s Time to Ditch Conventional Deodorant — For Everyone in Your House
If you’ve been using a conventional deodorant or antiperspirant for years, this is your sign to switch. And if you have a preteen or teen who’s just starting to use deodorant for the first time, this matters even more for them — I’ll explain why further down.
This is meant to be a full guide: the science behind why the switch matters, exactly which ingredients to avoid, how to actually make the transition without weeks of smelling bad, and the specific deodorants my whole family — including my husband and teenaged son — actually uses and approves of.
ANATOMY:
understanding the anatomy of the armpit will help you understand why Finding a low tox Deodorant should be high on your priority list
• The outer layer of skin in the armpit (the axilla) is much thinner than on your back, arms, or legs.
• Glands and follicles: It contains dense sweat glands and hair follicles that create pathways for substances to penetrate.
• Blood flow: The area has close proximity to blood vessels and lymphatic tissue, increasing local exposure.
COMMON HABITS THAT INCREASE ABSORBTION
Deodorant is a product most of us use daily for years, decades!
Shaving or irritation: Tiny cuts or broken skin make it easier for ingredients to enter your body.
Skin moisture and warmth: While sweat itself does not pull chemicals inward, damp or warm skin can slightly increase overall skin permeability for certain substances compared to cool, dry skin.
WHY THIS MATTERS EVEN MORE FOR PRETEENS AND TEENS
Puberty is a period of major hormonal development, which makes the endocrine system particularly sensitive to outside interference during these years — right when most kids are starting to use deodorant for the first time. Add to that the fact that preteens and teens often begin shaving around the same time, which can create micro-abrasions that make underarm skin even more permeable to whatever’s being applied. And because this is likely the age when a lifelong daily habit is forming, the deodorant chosen now often sets the pattern for years, even decades, of repeated exposure — which matters more with ingredients like aluminum and parabens that are believed to accumulate in the body over time. Choosing a lower-tox option early is about reducing unnecessary exposure during a developmental window when the body may be more vulnerable to it, at the exact moment a habit is being set for good.
INGREDIENTS TO AVOID
We know that the ingredients in your deodorant aren’t just sitting on the surface; a portion of them are likely being absorbed into your body, day after day, for decades. Conventional formulas often rely on ingredients like synthetic fragrance (which can hide phthalates), parabens, and preservatives with endocrine-disrupting potential — meaning they can interfere with your body’s natural hormone signaling. And when it comes to antiperspirants specifically, the goal is to physically plug your sweat glands with aluminum compounds — but sweating is a normal, healthy function your body uses to regulate temperature and support detoxification through the skin. Blocking that process altogether, just to stay dry, is worth reconsidering when there are effective alternatives that let your body do what it’s supposed to do.
When reading an ingredient list, avoid the following:
• Aluminum
• Propylene glycol
• Parabens
• Phthalates
• PEG’s
• Fragrance
• Talc
• BHT
• Butane
• Triclosan
• Steareth-n compounds (Steareth-20, Steareth-100)
• PFAS (unfortunately, this will never be listed — it’s usually a contamination issue, but we know that deodorants have tested positive for detectable levels. If you want to read more, you can read my latest Substack on this topic.)
TIPS FOR TRANSITIONING TO A LOW-TOX DEODORANT
(If you’ve been using conventional deodorant for years)
It can take up to 30 days for your body to learn to regulate itself after years of using conventional deodorants and antiperspirants. Those first few days and weeks, it’s completely normal for your armpits to smell a little pungent — in fact, it’s really common for there to be an initial increase of smelly bacteria in the underarms of antiperspirant users when they stop using these. The good news is that with time, this bacterial growth will slow down and fade. Usually after 2 weeks, you’ll see low-tox deodorants start working and you smelling less.
MORE TIPS FOR MAKING THE SWITCH
Some things you can do to help “detox” your armpits and help them regulate and stop smelling:
• Shower more often — at least twice a day
• Exfoliate underarms — this will help slough off bacteria (that’s the reason you might stink) and make sure your underarms are clean
• Sweat without any deodorant or antiperspirant on — really let those pores breathe and naturally detox. Just shower soon after to avoid bacteria growth after sweating (which is what causes the smell)
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat a light, healthy diet
APPROVED DEODORANTS
But first: a note on baking soda. Baking soda is often used in non-toxic deodorants and is a totally non-toxic ingredient. Many people, however, are allergic to baking soda and will get skin irritation or a rash in their underarms within the first week of using deodorants that contain it. Be vigilant, and if this is you, stop using it and switch to a baking soda-free deodorant (options identified below) — I’ve seen underarms that look like they’re burned, so it can get bad if ignored!
I personally don’t have a problem with baking soda, so I usually use deodorants that contain it because I find they work better on me — however, my husband is allergic, so we found baking soda-free options for him that both of us have used and like.
Some deodorants we use at home and approve of (I’ve personally tried all of these — my husband and teenaged son use deodorants from this list too):
1. Primally Pure (discount code: 3LITTLEPLUMS)
2. Rowe Casa Organics
3. Attitude Sensitive Skin Deodorant