Is Your Deodorant Safe?

Using deodorant and smelling fresh and clean makes you feel great and confident. People around want to be with you. They seek your company and friendship. Likewise, in the workplace, personal hygiene spells your success or downfall. Why? For example, there are two people with the same qualifications. The boss needs one of them to lead a project. Person A has a good disposition, always smiling and smelling wonderful. Person B is unhappy, with unkempt hair and body odor. As a boss, who would you choose to make sure the project is successful? Of course, Person A. But before going out to buy your deodorant, you need to make sure it’s safe because some ingredients are harmful to your health.

What harmful ingredients to avoid in your deodorant? Some of these,  such as triclosan, aluminum salts, propylene glycol, and synthetic fragrances are linked to several medical conditions such as tumors and cancer. Putting your health at risk to smell good is not smart at all.

1.  Triclosan is an antibacterial agent added to your deodorant to eliminate odor-causing bacteria from your underarm. It acts as a biostatic reagent that controls fat synthesis. Why is it harmful? Triclosan mimics hormones or hormonal signaling and disrupts your endocrine functions. This endocrine disruptor can cause tumors, birth defects, increased allergic sensitivity, altered sperm quality, and decreased testosterone levels. Triclosan can be useful at a low dosage,  but many products in the market contain this chemical, so you never know how much you have it on your skin. 

2. Aluminum salts like aluminum chlorohydrate act by controlling the activities of your sweat glands, thus reducing or eliminating wetness in your underarm. They block up your pores, which is why you stop sweating. It can cause skin irritation, itching, or tingling of the skin, darkening on your underarm, and damage the outer layer of your skin. If your deodorant contains aluminum, it should not be applied after shaving and when you have broken skin. 

3. Propylene glycol is made from petroleum, that if used daily in large amounts, can harm your central nervous system, heart, and liver. You’re using your deodorant daily and directly into your sensitive skin so, be mindful. According to safechemical.org, it can be harmful even at a small dosage of 2%.

4. Synthetic fragrances are generally produced from petrochemicals.  They are linked to health issues such as respiratory problems, allergies, and skin sensitivities or irritations. There are also chemicals in synthetic fragrances that can cause more damage, such as phthalates, benzene, aldehydes, and toluene. These chemicals are known to be carcinogenic or have the potential to cause cancer in humans.

Personal hygiene speaks volumes about your self-esteem. However, buy wisely especially, your deodorant. Remember, it stays on your skin for 12 hours or more. Choose organic or as natural as possible. It pays to be cautious because your health is at stake. Even if the price is a little higher than your usual, you gain from switching to a better one. So, be worry-free and try our J&L Naturals aluminum-free deodorant. We offer you only the best product we can make.