We investigate one of this year's biggest beauty buzzwords...
One of the biggest wellness trends for 2018 is natural deodorant, as more and more of us ditch chemical formulas in favour of a gentler choice.
To see if they’re worth the hype, I wore natural deodorant for a week to see how it fared in comparison. I went in expecting to feel a little more sweaty than usual, but hoped that it would at least live up to the de-odourising part.
What is natural deodorant?
Traditional, chemical deodorant usually contains aluminium, which blocks the sweat glands and prevents odour, as well as alcohol. These can be irritating on particularly sensitive skins or those prone to eczema.
According to the American National Institute of Health, scientists believe that there may be a link between the chemicals in deodorant and cancer, although no specific, conclusive evidence or definitive causal link has been found yet.
That said, some people prefer to play it safe and stick to natural formulas. Natural deodorants differ from chemical formulas in that they don't block the pores, allowing the good bacteria in your underarms to keep working.
Malin + Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant, £19, Space NK
To look at, Malin + Goetz's deodorant looks a bit like a giant, fancy Pritt Stick; the formula is a comfortable gel roll-on that twists up from the bottom.
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The thing you need to know about natural deodorants is that their primary function is to stop you from smelling, not sweating. I was fortunate enough to be testing the formula during the hottest week of 2018 so far, so I knew it was going to be put through its paces in the odour deparment.
The Eucalyptus not only smells great but feels gentle cool on your underarms upon application. The formula has a consistency a bit like a thin, non-greasy lip balm and doesn't leave behind a thick residue once applied.
Full disclosure: I was a little sweaty as a braved the likes of the Central Line – but less than I was expecting. The important thing was I didn't smell, even post-commute, and the neutralising formula delivered as promised.
When you wash it off in the shower you feel it lather up, meaning that the formula has stayed put for the day.
I think I might just be a natural deodorant convert. Keep scrolling for the other buys that get the green light from team Marie Claire.
For those days when you know you'll need extra protection, try one of the Active Balms from The Natural Deodorant Co. The 'Active' cream formulas contain sodium bicarbonate as an active ingredient to keep you protected all day long – though if you have sensitive skin, you should use it only when you really need to; use the Clean balm on a day-to-day basis. Who said you couldn't wear natural deodorant to your hot yoga class?
As well as masking any bad odours with a fresh rose scent, this one contains moisturising jojoba oil and rose oil to soothe the skin (because underarm heat rash is the worst). If you're not keen on the scent of roses, try the brand's Sage alternative instead.
This 100% natural, gender netural deodorant is packed with anti-microbial and astringent properties to prevent any unattractive odours from creeping through. The scent is so good that it doubles as a fragrant body mist too. Perfect for summer.
What could smell more fresh than the zingy scent of lemon? This gentle roll-on neutralises odour with an uplifting citrus aroma without any aluminium salts and is vegan-friendly.
The gentle smell upon application melts down while you use it, while essential oils get to work throughout the day to ensure you stay odour-free for as long as possible.
Cowshed's aptly named 'pit spray' has a very pleasant, slightly citrus scent that doubles as a refreshing body spray. While there are more powerful formulas out there, this one has you covered for most day-to-day life activities, still smelling fresh and citrus-y at the end of a day in the office.
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