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Saturday, 21-07-2012 01:16

Do Natural Deodorants Work? Our Editors Find Out

News related: Natural Deodorant

The thinking that ingredients in deodorant (namely aluminum) can cause breast cancer has been debated for a while. Applying something so chemical-heavy near that part of our body certainly does give us pause. Still, amid all the controversy, there has yet to be definitive research that concludes that antiperspirant or deodorant can cause cancer.

While we all rely on our respective trusty brands on a daily basis (ahem, Old Spice), we decided to explore the world (and potential pitfalls) of natural deodorant (meaning they don't include aluminum or parabens). And as we found out this week, when a few staffers at the Stylelist office decided to give some "healthier" options a spin, deodorant (and what we expect from it) is a deeply personal thing. From sprays to gels to powdery balms, here's what went down when we wore natural deodorant for a week.

For more on the natural deodorant front, click here.

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Burt's Bees Outdoor Herbal Deodorant,
"I started using Burt's Bees Herbal Deodorant with oil of sage on Friday and immediately felt a difference. Before then I had been using Arm & Hammer's Natural Deodorant which didn't keep me from sweating and a little oily, which left me feeling muckier on very humid days though at least I didn't smell too much of body odor. The Burt's Bee's deodorant is a spray, which is different but not in a bad way. The first time I put it on I was taken by how nice the smell of the oil of sage was, and not over powering or masculine (my other deodorant smelled kind of manly). It felt cool to the skin and immediately dried, leaving me feeling fresh and clean. After a full day of wearing it, I realized that I did not smell at all of body odor, even though it had been a hot humid day on Friday and I had sweat quite a bit during my daily walk to and from work. Although the bottle says that the deodorant does not prevent the body from sweating, I definitely felt as though I perspired less on Friday than on previous days, having done basically the same activities in the same temperature. In fact, I still smelled like oil of sage at the end of the day, which surprised me! I got basically the same results over the weekend and was so happy with how I smelled and how I felt that I even sprayed the deodorant on my feet to see if it would work with post-caught-in-rain-shoe smell...and it did! I'd like to see if Burt's Bees has any other scents of deodorant to mix it up a bit in the future, though I do very much enjoy oil of sage. I recommend this deodorant to everyone and I can honestly say that I think this may be the best deodorant I have ever worn. It leaves me feeling clean and fresh and doesn't leave residue under my arms. I also have no fear that it will rub off on my black clothes because it dries instantly and doesn't streak like most other commercial deodorants." -- Erica Cheung, HuffPost Style Intern.<a href="http://www.burtsbees.com/other/gifts-him/herbal-deodorant.html" target="_hplink">Burt's Bees</a>
Aubrey Organics Calendula Blossom Deodorant Spray,
"Day one was fairly hot outside, but I decided to give the natural deodorant a try anyway. I wasn't completely satisfied, but figured I would give it a second chance. It smelled decent and even though I wasn't used to a spray deodorant that wasn't the problem. Overall, I didn't feel like it eliminated odor. I tried it the second day, which was just as hot and that was it. An hour after applying I felt like I smelled. I'll be sticking with my Secret going forward." -- Sarah Leon, Stylelist News Editor. <a href="http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ProductInfo/083.aspx" target="_hplink">Aubrey Organics</a>
Weleda Citrus Deodorant,
"I'm a clinical-strength deodorant devotee. For years I wore regular old solid deodorant, but then I felt like the stink was permeating the thick application. I switched to clinical-strength and haven't had a problem since. So when our Senior Beauty Editor asked me to try a natural deodorant, I agreed to try it, even though I was pretty sure it wouldn't work. The Weleda deodorant came as a spray -- not the aerosol kind meant for burly men -- and the packaging was as delicate as the bottle itself. I showered, dried off and gave myself an aggressive spritz. The main ingredient is alcohol, so the cooling feeling brought back memories of SeaBreeze from my teen years. The chill was nice, especially since it's 90 degrees here, but I did get impatient waiting for it to dry so I could get dressed. The smell was delicious. I smelled like a citrus grove; if it lasted, I'd be converted. Sadly, I found myself on the bus later that day seated next to a woman and fearing that she would smell me: The stink had overcome. The verdict: If you're out for a few hours and it's not too hot, go for it; it's just as lovely as perfume. But for heavy duty stench-repelling, stick to the tried-and-true." -- Christina Anderson, Stylelist Fashion Editor. <a href="http://usa.weleda.com/our-products/shop/citrus-deodorant-small.aspx" target="_hplink">Weleda</a>
Lavanila Healthy Deodorant in Lavender,
"As I've documented on these pages, I'm a recent devotee of <a href="http://www.stylelist.com/2012/04/13/best-beauty-products-mens_n_1421775.html#s866017&title=Old_Spice_Classic" target="_hplink">Old Spice</a> men's deodorant. Since I sweat so much that no anti-perspirant can stop me, I figure at least Old Spice makes my sweat smell good. Which made me the perfect skeptic going into this experiment. Simone gave me Lavanila and it reminded me of all the powdery deodorants--like Secret--that I used as a teen. It acted like one too. It rolled on in a white streak, which instantly makes me paranoid about raising my arms or touching clothing with my armpits--which is impossible to avoid--for fear of staining. Haven't we evolved past this? Why aren't all deodorants clear at this point. I wore Lavanila during a heatwave, I wore it to the beach, and I wore it to yoga. Did it smell good and like lavender? Sure. But did it actually work? Not really. But to be fair, I doubt anything would have in this mugginess, but I'll still take the smell of Old Spice over perfumed white streaks any day." -- Anya Strzemien, EIC Stylelist, Stylelist Home & HuffPost Style. <a href="http://www.sephora.com/the-healthy-deodorant-P237120?om_mmc=esv108602-GG&om_kwpur=338018309&ppc_crid=11350746017&site=us_search&esvcid=S1342645577_ADOGOE_AGI3891044_CRE11350746017_TID338018309_RFDd3d3Lmdvb2dsZS5jb20%3d" target="_hplink">Sephora</a>
The Body Shop DeoDry Deodorant Stick In Cool & Zesty,
"I started on a Friday. And through the hot weekend, the deodorant performed fine. The scent was alright -- a little more masculine than the Secret I normally use. Think: Mineral with a touch of spice. On Monday afternoon, things took a turn for the worse. It might have been the sweltering humidity, but the deodorant failed me by the afternoon. On the bus ride home, someone switched their seat. I'd like to think that it was the seat itself and not me, but I was paranoid enough to discontinue use." -- Brie Dyas, Senior Editor, Stylelist & Stylelist Home <a href="http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/sale/sale-50-percent/sale-deodry/deodry-dry-effect-deodorant-cool-zesty-stick.aspx" target="_hplink">The Body Shop</a>

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