12 Reasons to Chuck Commercial Deodorants/Antiperspirants

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Last year I was on a quest to find a natural deodorant; it was a very challenging task. If you’ve been reading my blog you’ll have gathered I’m a huge fan of anything natural. Whenever I can help it, I limit my use of chemicals to the minimum. Not an easy task in our world.

There are so many studies, debates and counter debates about whether or not aluminum and parabens found in most commercial antiperspirants/deodorants really do cause breast cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, as well as other ailments. According to the FDA both are “safe”. [1] [3] [6]

However, FDA regulation does not mean that a drug is without danger. That’s right; antiperspirants are classified as over the counter (OTC) drugs in the US! [1][5] Nobody thinks of it as a drug but it is.

In Canada, as of Spring 2009, "regular" antiperspirants are classified under cosmetics. 

There are many products, or their ingredients, which are controversial because of possible negative health effects but these products are not taken off the shelf, until proven unsafe.[1] [3] 

Often, the FDA and Health Canada do not consider the evidence of danger to consumer’s health strong enough to take action. (Remember the Johnson+Johnson scandal?)

It took me 10 months to find a natural deodorant that works. I tried baking soda and Druide natural deodorant, neither was successful. To add salt to injury, during this period, I had many embarrassing moments.

A tale for another day…

However, every cloud has a silver lining. Lately, I’ve been getting ready to send my brother [who lives in Hungary] a parcel of all natural products. Once again, I found myself standing in the aisle of Grassroots looking for natural deodorants. After much consideration, I finally decided on Lafes deodorant stick. I’m currently using it and cannot believe the effectiveness! I’ve been using it since Christmas.

Lafes Deodorant stick is made up of natural mineral salts. It contains no aluminum chlorhydrate, parabens or fragrance. Additionally, 1% of all profits go towards breast cancer awareness and prevention.

Once a day [every morning] I wet the stone and apply it liberally to my underarms, there is NO smell throughout the day. Lafes also has a roll-on deodorant, but I find the mineral salt stick works better for me.

12 Reasons to Chuck Commercial Deodorants/Antiperspirants

• Aluminum was first recognized as a human neurotoxin in 1886, before being used as an antiperspirant. A neurotoxin is a substance that causes damage to nerves or nerve tissue.[1]

• Most of us don’t know the difference between deodorants/antiperspirants – we make our selection based on smell. Antiperspirants try to prevent sweating through aluminum –most antiperspirants have deodorants! [5]

• Although there is a relatively small amount of aluminum in any application. Nevertheless, the amount of exposure cumulative over time, and daily, use can lead to chronic exposure to aluminum. There are established links… [1][7]

• Studies have found Aluminum absorbs better through the skin than orally [1]

• Limiting your aluminum usage will only benefit your health [1]

• Deodorants deal with smell by neutralizing and killing bacteria, however, in the past decade, parabens, a preservative ingredient in deodorants have become very controversial. [1][5][7]

• Several recent respected studies have shown the relationship between antiperspirants/deodorants and breast cancer – yet all government and breast cancer organizations will tell you antiperspirants are safe. [1][3][6]

• Only 5 – 10% of breast cancer is genetic, 90% are from the environment and lifestyle. [1]

• Applying parabens to the skin is one of the most effective ways to get it into your system. [1]

• Do not assume that products that are labeled “natural” or “organic” do not contain parabens, [also study small or fine print]. [1]

•  Unfortunately most cosmetics  we use contain parabens. A 1995 survey of 215 cosmetic products found that parabens were used in 99% of leave-on products and in 77% of rinse-off cosmetics.[1]

• How to spot parabens on labels [1]

          Methylparaben (E218)


          Ethylparaben (E214)


          Propylparaben (E216)


          Butylparaben


          Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid

          Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid


          Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid


          Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid

          Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid


          Parahydroxybenzoic acid


          Parahydroxybenzoate

Did you know?

The average person has about 2.6 million sweat glands’; sweating is your body’s mechanisms to cool down. [1] Sweat glands are in our forehead, hands, feet, armpits, and genital areas. [1] Sweat has no odour; bacteria cause the familiar unpleasant odour we know [4].

In conclusion, there is nothing wrong with being an active and concerned consumer. Knowledge is power and education influences change. Vote with your wallets! By researching we will not only make better  & healthier choices, but also hold cooperation’s accountable for their actions.

References:

1. " ControlYourImpact.com: Solid Information on Controversial Health Topics” Deodorants, Antiperspirants and Your Health; Antiperspirants – Aluminum & Alzeheimer’s Disease; Antiperspirants – Aluminum & Breast Cancer; Deodorants, Antiperspirants, Parabens & Breast Cancer. N.P., N.D. Web.  4 Jan – 6 Jan 2011. http://www.controlyourimpact.com/articles/deodorants-antiperspirants-and-your-health/
2. Product Assessment Against Criteria: Antiperspirants. Health Canada. N.P., N.D. Web. 6 Jan 2012.http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/indust/cosmet-antiperspir-sudorif/index-eng.php
3. Health Effects of Aluminum powder. Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety. N.P., N.D. Web. 6 Jan 2012. http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/aluminum_powder/health_alu.html
4. Antiperspirant/Deodorant Stick: How Products are Made, ENotes.Com, Web. 6 Jan 2012. http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/antiperspirant-deodorant-stick
5. Annie B. Bond, Deodorant or Antiperspirants? Green Living At Care2, March 26, 1999. Web. 6 Jan 2012. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/deodorant-or-antiperspirants.html
6. Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer: Questions and Answers, National Cancer Institute, Web. 6 Jan 2012.  http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo
7. Concern Over Deodorant Chemicals. BBC News 11 Jan. 2004. Web. 06 Jan. 2012. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3383393.stm

Shampoo. Absolutely not!

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Now your reaction might be: “you don’t shampoo! Now that’s just gross!”

I’ve always believed that if we knew half the truth about a lot of cosmetics we buy, it would undoubtedly change our outlook.

Recently Johnson & Johnson were in the news for having “chemicals of concern” [human carcinogens] in their iconic baby shampoo. While all the focus is on their baby shampoo nothing is being said about their Aveeno and Neutrogena brands, which still contain harmful toxins. The company came out with a statement promising consumers that it would be removing quaternium -15 and other formaldehyde – releasing preservatives from all of its baby products worldwide within 2 years. http://tinyurl.com/3guhv3r

Personally I think 2 years is a while.

Five months ago, I made a decision to stop using shampoos. It came like a brainwave. In the old days our grandparents and their parents before them did not use shampoos, they used soap, so why the shift?

In a few words, our water became hard, which made using soap increasingly difficult; so shampoos were invented.

Shampoos are detergents; while they are very effective they are a lot harsher, striping one’s hair of its natural oils. Conditioners - made up of artificial oils - were developed to mask this damage. After doing some research on this issue I’ve simply eliminated shampoos altogether.

My routine involves using the following:

Dudu Osun or “Ose Dudu” [as we call it back home in Lagos, Nigeria] is an age long black soap made by hand, using only pure natural ingredients. I often say all of its ingredients you can pronounce!!

The soap is made using pure Honey, Shea butter, Osun (Camwood extract), Palm kernel oil, Cocoa pod ash, Palm bunch ash, Aloe Vera, Lime juice, Water and fragrance. It contains no artificial colours or preservatives and is biodegradable.

I find that it has a deep cleansing effect; I’ve also used it in treating acne and dark spots.

Raw Ghana Black soap is more organic than Dudu Osun. It has NO fragrance. If you’ve ever tried to buy this soap you’ll see that it’s not fancy at all!

It is handmade by local women in Ghana using Plantain skins, Shea butter, native Honey, virgin Coconut oil, cocoa pod ash and Palm kernel oil. Its benefits are immeasurable.

Neither soaps have alcohol or petroleum-by-products, and they lather really well!

Rule of thumb: If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin.

Recently Dr. Bonner’s Magic Soap has become one of my favourite substitutes for shampoo. It’s made with Fairtrade certified & organic oils. I’m a huge fan of the peppermint liquid soap!

Dr. Bonner’s Magic Soaps contains olive oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and peppermint oil. You can purchase this at any health food store or online. http://www.drbronner.com

Baking soda: I’ve discovered you can use it for pretty much anything! Its environmentally friendly, in-expensive and can be bought anywhere!

What to do?

Mix 1 Tbsp of baking soda with 8 oz of lukewarm water and wash your hair.

At first it might seem weird because baking soda neither lathers nor has a scent, but it’s a healthy alternative that works rather well. It will remove odor plus any build up from oil and dirt, leaving you and your hair feeling fresh.

Lastly, condition only. This may seem radical, but the results are incredible.

The process?

Wet your hair first, and then gently massage conditioner into your scalp and hair. You will have to work at it to remove dirt and oil build up, then rinse out with lukewarm water. I recommend you do this twice.

The third time you apply your conditioner let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse out with cold water, to seal your pores. This final step is necessary because it gives your hair a healthy sheen.

Conditioners I’m currently using:

Carina's Organics & Uncle Funky’s Daughter Richee Rich Moisturizing Conditioner. It’s free of Mineral oil, Paraben and Synthetic Dyes.