I’ve been searching for a truly effective natural deodorant for years. I’ve read with trepidation the possible risks of using conventional sprays, sticks and roll-ons containing aluminium, parabens and who-knows-what-else and been puzzled. It’s hard to get to the bottom of this issue – which ingredients are genuinely a problem and in what way? I decided that in the absence of hard and fast evidence it was better to err on the side of caution. And there began my odyssey. First, I tried that hippy mainstay the Crystal deodorant. I know people who swear by it, but it didn’t work for me – maybe I was using it wrong, maybe I am just more smelly, but it didn’t do it for me. So, I progressed onto Weleda Citrus Deodorant.
It smelled lovely and I soon got used to it being more wet on application than I was used to. It worked a little better, but when my nerves got the better of me, anyone would have been able to smell my fear! Finally, a friend gave me a nudge onto Lush’s Aromacreme. It turned out that this odd, semi-solid stuff in a pot was the one for me. Its main ingredient is sodium bicarbonate which keeps you dry and the other oils, and unguents also keep you sweet-smelling and soft. It has seen me through hot days and nerve-racking moments with no tell-tale wet patches or stink, and what more can you ask then that? Apart from no aluminium and no parabens, naturally.
Great, another one to try. I gave up on the crystal ones too. My boyfriend uses a Lush deodorant and it does indeed work. I actually wrote about this a while back for Green Girls Global and asked for suggestions but we never really got a conclusive answer, everyone seems to say 'tried this, gave up'. Will definitely give this one a go though, thanks!
I've been a huge fan of Lush ever since it first opened (and its sister, B Never Too Busy To Be Beautiful - the best 100% vegan cosmetic range I've ever seen!). I've tried all of the deodorants and to be honest, I don't think much of them.
Yes, they smell lovely but do they do a good job? In my experience, no. I am not a 'sweaty' person but I found that without exception they reacted badly with my skin. Some (Aromacreme was one) actually brought me up in welts - pits of fire some of my friends who'd experienced the same, called it!). Others were too scratchy (the solid deodorants) and others just made me smell horrible - especially at certain times during my cycle...but I have to be careful with perfume for the same reason too!
I've socialized with Mark Constantine (the founder) on a number of occasions and found him to be an incredibly caring, honest and dedicated man...so I feel a bit mean being negative about some of his products but there you have it - they don't work for everyone.
My advice would be to go to your local Lush store, talk to the lovely staff there and ask for a few samples. They'll be only too happy to oblige and then you can try out a few to see which may or may not work for you.
:-)