Even before I started my journey into clean beauty which began when I was pregnant with my daughter, I had already made the switch to clean in terms of deodorant. It is known that the aluminium in deodorants and anti-perspirants are highly toxic and disrupting to our hormones. Additionally, they often contain other potentially harmful ingredients that we want to avoid, like parabens and phthalates. Our skin is our largest organ and what we put on it matters, because it gets all absorbed into the body. Deodorant is a non-negotiable for most people and we use it every day. So, making the change to a clean deodorant was a clear decision for me. Turns out, there are many products out there but finding one that actually offers the same protection as conventional deodorants took a lot of trial and error. Since aluminium works by clogging the sweat glands, products without it more or less only mask the odor with perfume. A natural alternative to aluminium in deodorant is sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking soda), a naturally occurring mineral that has the ability to neutralize acidic substances (e.g. sweat). The one and only natural deodorant that lived up to my expectations is Agent Nateur Deodorant. It protects all day long, smells good and the packaging is pretty and minimalist so it matches the aesthetic of my bathroom cabinet. The Agent Nateur formula contains moisturizing coconut oil, anti-inflammatory and nourishing avocado and sunflower butter and baking soda to absorb moisture. The scent is light and grounding with notes of honey, eucalyptus and lavender.
Note: Some people’s skin can be sensitive to baking soda, if you don’t tolerate it Agent Nateur offers a sensitive formula without sodium bicarbonate.
The Agent Nateur Holi (Stick) can be purchased via Net-A-Porter.
