Deodorant Creams: A Safe and Natural Alternative to Your Regular Deodorant

First of all, let’s figure out how deodorants and antiperspirants can be bad for you. The thing is, most commercial deodorants contain active ingredients that have been linked to certain health concerns.

Antiperspirants, for example, are typically formulated with aluminum salts (aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium, etc.) that physically prevent sweating, which is unhealthy since sweating is an important thermoregulation mechanism. Deodorants may contain alcohol that causes dry and irritated skin, triclosan that may increase antimicrobial resistance, parabens that have been linked to breast cancer, etc.

Deodorant creams, also known as cream deodorants, have two major differences from most deodorants that you can in supermarkets and drugstore chains: they have a cream-like texture (obviously) and consist of natural ingredients that fight odor-causing bacteria and take care of your skin. The best deodorant creams are free of aluminum salts or any other ingredients associated with health concerns.

Most cream deodorants usually have the texture of a thick cream, hence the name. To achieve such a texture, they usually contain a mix of vegetable oils (for example, shea butter, coconut oil) and beeswax or other waxes. Thanks to this, deodorant creams absorb very easily, don’t leave your armpits (or other body parts) feeling sticky, and don’t leave streaks on the clothes.

To combat body odor, deodorant creams contain several types of active ingredients, including absorbents and antibacterial agents. Natural absorbents used in deodorant creams include starch, baking soda, magnesium powder, plant-based powders, clay, and even activated charcoal powder. They absorb excess sweat from the skin surface without affecting perspiration, making them safer for your health than antiperspirants.

Antibacterial agents that can be found in deodorant creams are zinc oxide, salicylic acid, and essential oils. Zinc oxide is widely used in medicine to treat various skin conditions, including acne, diaper rash, dandruff, and eczema. It kills pathogenic bacteria, produces a deodorizing effect, and even protects the skin from ultraviolet light. Zinc oxide is approved for use by the FDA; it is considered safe even for babies.

Salicylic acid is a BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) that kills bacteria and gently removes the outer layer of the skin. It is used to treat acne, psoriasis, eczema, dandruff, and some other skin conditions. Salicylic acid can be found on the WHO model List of Essential Medicines, which confirms that it is not only effective, but also safe.

Finally, essential oils are one of the oldest antibacterial agents known to mankind. In addition to killing odor-causing bacteria and preventing inflammation, they give deodorant creams a light, subtle scent that won’t clash with your perfume or personal care products.

Good deodorant creams will keep you odor-free all day long. Although they don’t stop sweating, they absorb at least some of the sweat. In addition, many cream deodorants contain ingredients with soothing and regenerative properties which relieve post-shaving irritation and even speed up the healing of razor nicks. Some manufacturers even claim that their deodorant creams can be used to treat diaper rash.

To put it in a nutshell, cream deodorants are the perfect choice for those who want to get rid of body odor without blocking perspiration or taking chances with less than perfect ingredients that can be found in commercial deodorants. Please mind that your body may need some time to adapt after you switch to cream products. But once it does, you’ll never want to go back to your old off the shelf deodorant.