Today’s post is a little different than my usual content. I want to talk about deodorant. I know that’s not really makeup and beauty, but it goes on your armpits so technically I guess it’s skincare, right? Those are made of skin.

As you may have gathered from the fact that I am perpetually testing, using and wearing non-natural products, I’m not the earthy type. I like to look polished. I’m aware of all the synthetic chemicals that are present in my makeup and nail polishes, and I choose to use them anyway. I do choose higher quality and more natural based brands whenever possible, but sometimes that’s just not what works best. We all have to make decisions about these things in life and that’s mine. I do, however try to find some balance. I try to stick to a lot of natural skincare like DIY coconut oil makeup remover and home made masks, and scrubs whenever possible because if it’s effective and it’s natural (and cheaper!) then why not? I think it’s all about finding balance.

As many of you may have read here and there, there is a lot of debate on whether deodorant/ antiperspirant is totally bad for you. I can’t lie, it freaks me out a little that something I literally slather on my skin every single day might be bad for me, but I tend to struggle with these type of debates because the science loving nerd in me want’s to take an objective, non biased view and figure everything out to the best of my ability before I make a decision. The reality is, I’m not educated enough in human biology to form a definitive opinion one way or the other. I have no idea which side of the debate is full of crap, or just plain wrong. So if I can play it safe and choose a natural alternative that works, then why not do that just in case?

That being said, I started trying to find a natural deodorant that works. I feel I need to say this early on A LOT OF THEM DO NOT. This scene from Portlandia really speaks to me, let me tell you.

I have tried a great number at this point, and have been left to feel stinky and uncomfortable halfway through my day far too often. Luckily I don’t need to take crowded public transportation anymore so hopefully nobody noticed. If anyone did notice, I’m sorry and I swear I’m not a stinky hippie.

During this past winter I started using Lavanilla’s “The Healthy Deodorant” and I was pleasantly surprised to find that it DOES work. I didn’t get stinky during the day and the scents are amazing (totally not that over-sweet teenager vanilla smell that I was expecting) and the cute packaging really caters to my non-hippie polished side, so that’s a plus. It’s not cheap but it lasts a long time and overall I’m very happy with it.

Enter the crazy heat and humidity. These last few week’s have been a temperature roller coaster and on those sweatier days my Lavanilla had met it’s match. I think I was basically sweating it right off my pits. I feel like this post is either going to make you think I’m gross or that we’re besties who share everything. I’m hoping for the latter, obviously.

Luckily I found a combination that get’s the job done.

Natural deodorant that works . . .even in the summer

One of the first one’s I tried was Coconut Deodorant Powder from Lush. On it’s own it did not get the job done and I wound up using it mostly as a dry shampoo (which works surprisingly well FYI) But these past few weeks I have been patting it on over my Lavanilla Healthy Deodorant and even on the sweatiest days I don’t feel stinky. I think it adds just the right amount of absorbency to allow the stick deodorant to do it’s job better. I think they stopped making this particular deodorant, but their other powder deodorants work similarly and should have the same effect. The key is really just the powder formula. It’s a little messy to apply, but I can deal with it. Maybe I’ll get one of those powder brushes where you can fill the handle with powder and then tap it on . . .I wonder if that would make it easier. If I try it and it work’s I’ll update this post to let you all know.

Long story short this combination actually keeps me fresh in the summer. I’m not a particularly sweaty person, so if you’re a huge dude who smells bad if he even looks outside at the sun, maybe this isn’t for you, but for the average sweater I think it’s worth a try. I bet you could try layering other types of powder deodorants over whatever natural deodorants work for you and get a good result, I really think it’s the added absorbency of the powder formula that makes the difference.

So that’s my layered up version of a natural deodorant that works. Let me know what your thoughts are on natural deodorant and if you have any that get the job done!