We’re always sharing our love of natural deodorants on Instagram! Can you blame us? Natural deodorants are better for people and the planet. They’re made with natural and healthy ingredients, and they often come in eco-friendly packaging!

But we get a lot of feedback that these deodorants don’t work. What’s going on? Do natural deodorants *really* not work?

Often when people first switch to natural deodorant, they don’t give their body time to adjust. After just a couple of days, they decide it’s not for them and toss it in the garbage. And we can understand! If something doesn’t appear to be working, why waste your time? Especially on something as important as this!

But when it comes to natural deodorants, it turns out your body needs time to adjust from a conventional product. So let’s talk about the four stages of detox, and how you can make it easier on yourself!

Week 1/4 – Activated Charcoal

During the first week of transition, you’ll want something to speed up the detoxification process. Reach for activated charcoal! Maybe it’s an activated charcoal infused deodorant, like this one from Kaia Naturals, this one from PiperWai, or this one from Schmidt’s! Or maybe it’s a bar of soap to really cleanse your skin! Or maybe it’s a charcoal mask applied to the underarm area!

Activated charcoal helps to draw out toxins and speed up your body’s natural detoxification process. It’s a great ingredient to use to consistently aid in detoxification and even to clarify the skin!

Week 2/4 – Increased Odor and Moisture

Once your body really starts detoxing, you might notice increased odor and moisture. Unsurprisingly, this is when a lot of people throw in the towel. While you’re not actually sweating more, for the first time in a while you’re not using a conventional deodorant or antiperspirant that might stop the odor and/or moisture. This is what makes you feel like the natural deodorant isn’t working, but I promise you just gotta stick with it!

During this time, we recommend looking into a natural antiperspirant, wearing breathable fabrics, and ensuring you’re not using too much deodorant, as that can exacerbate the problem!

Week 3/4 – Reduced Bacteria Levels

Around the third week, you’ll start to notice less odor and moisture, and this means your body is adjusting to a new way of life!

During this week, you might skip the natural antiperspirant and notice you don’t need deodorant touch ups throughout the day. Keep going, you’re almost there!

Week 4 – You’ve Made It!

By the fourth week, you’ll have made it! You should feel safe and secure with your natural deodorant. If you still feel off, then that particular deodorant product may not be for you. But the upside is that you’ve gone through the detoxification process, so now you can keep trying deodorants without worrying about the four stages!

Our Favourite Deodorants

Below are a couple of our favourite natural deodorants!

• Soapwalla: This is my personal favourite. You only need a very small amount, it lasts all day, and while it’s not an antiperspirant, as long as you don’t apply too much, you shouldn’t need to worry. There’s baking soda free options and a couple of scents. My favourite is the Sensitive Skin Citrus Deodorant Cream.
• Meow Meow Tweet: With eco-friendly packaging, vegan and organic AND fair trade ingredients, you really can’t go wrong with this brand.
• Schmidt’s: Another incredibly well known natural deodorant brand, Schmidt’s deodorants have a very similar texture and efficacy to conventional deodorants at an affordable price tag!
• Kaia Naturals: The inspiration behind this post, Kaia Naturals deodorants are vegan, cruelty free, and infused with activated charcoal to continuously aid in your body’s detoxification process!

For more reviews, check out our Facebook Group, Real Time Reviews!