What's the best aluminum-free deodorant and/or anti-perspirant?
Please disregard any suggestions of using "The Crystal." The Crystal, sold at local grocery stores or pharmacies, will leave your armpits irritated and you smelling like a Frenchman. Its odor neutralizing capabilities last about 2 hours in good weather and less in the hot summer sun. Please trust me when I say I know this from experience.
INSTEAD, head to a Sephora, Macy's - or similar department store - and pickup a stick of Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Deodorant.
The Issey Miyake deodorant has a crips, clean smell, contains none of the chemicals which result in stained underarms, and applies to your skin well. I've been using it for about a year and feel comfortable at a summer wedding in a white dress shirt sans undershirt. You'll still sweat, as you would with any deodorant, but you won't stink or stain your clothing.
8 Answers
Please disregard any suggestions of using "The Crystal." The Crystal, sold at local grocery stores or pharmacies, will leave your armpits irritated and you smelling like a Frenchman. Its odor neutralizing capabilities last about 2 hours in good weather and less in the hot summer sun. Please trust me when I say I know this from experience.
INSTEAD, head to a Sephora, Macy's - or similar department store - and pickup a stick of Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Deodorant.
The Issey Miyake deodorant has a crips, clean smell, contains none of the chemicals which result in stained underarms, and applies to your skin well. I've been using it for about a year and feel comfortable at a summer wedding in a white dress shirt sans undershirt. You'll still sweat, as you would with any deodorant, but you won't stink or stain your clothing.
I've been using Tom's of Maine this summer. Spending the summer in Florida, and have no complaints at all! Smelling decent, and I've seen little to no white on my shirts since switching. I'm very happy with it.
I've been using Tom's of Maine this summer. Spending the summer in Florida, and have no complaints at all! Smelling decent, and I've seen little to no white on my shirts since switching. I'm very happy with it.
I'm just going to chime in and say there is absolutely no good reason to avoid aluminium in antiperspirants. The aluminium in antiperspirants has never been shown to have negative health consequences (contrary to what some might have you believe). Furthermore, aluminium, though much maligned in the past for its possible connection with Alzheimers, has received a clean bill of health. Most of the initial studies making the claim were methodologically flawed, and the conclusions drawn were fallacious.
The consensus among the scientific community is that aluminium is perfectly all right for you, unless you start eating it by the ingot.
I'm not sure there is any such thing as an aluminum free antiperspirant, I believe that is the active ingredient in any antiperspirant.
The crystal might work for some people . I tried the liquid roll-on version and odor wasn't a problem but the red rash that developed within a week of use was. I have pretty sensitive skin though so it may work for some people, I had no problem with its odor fighting if you use it as directed. (Applied after a shower BEFORE you start to smell.)
I use an Rx antiperspirant once a week so I'm just looking for odor protection day to day. While I would prefer not to smell like anything, especially a teen on a date dipped in AXE body spray, I've settled on Arm and Hammer natural unscented deodorant for the time being. It has no aluminum or parabens and I doubt it is anything close to "natural" nor is it unscented (smells citrusy) but it goes on clear and is mild. Gets me through a day in the office without smelling the deodorant or myself.
I do not use aluminum, i see no good reason.
I do not use the crystal, it doesn't work for me.
I use Burt's Bees
, its inexpensive, 6 or 7 dollars at whole foods.
on friday, i had a sweaty day, and a first date to attend. I put on the burts bees, and got complemented on how nice i smelled (like lemon verbena?)
If I'm not mistaken, most deodorants don't contain aluminum which is a base for many anti-antiperspirant's anti-perspiring agents.
That said, pick out a deodorant that you like the smell of and you've got a winner.
If you're looking for a more natural form of deodorant, there's a popular alternative to the sticks and sprays that is actually a crystal, called... The Crystal
It uses mineral salts, instead of the typical smorgasbord of chemicals, to neutralize odors, but it doesn't have anti-perspirant properties.