We’re all in need of a deodorant or antiperspirant that gets us through the day without having to worry about bad odors or sweat stains. But there are so many options! What should you be looking for?

First things first—what’s the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant?

Both products tend to look the same and smell the same—which is why many people think they are the same. And in fact, they do share similarities. But they are not interchangeable as they each have their own unique advantages.

Contrary to popular belief, sweat does not smell bad. Bacteria that live on our armpits and feed on our sweat are what create the odor which we’re all trying to avoid!

Deodorants have antibacterial agents that can eliminate those bacteria to leave us odorless. However, deodorants will not prevent you from sweating.

That’s where antiperspirants come into play, as they work very differently from deodorants. Conventional antiperspirants usually contain 15%-24% aluminum compounds such as aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. These aluminum compounds are very small so they’re able to get into your sweat pores to create a plug, which will stop you from sweating. Because there’s no sweat, there’s no food for the odor-causing bacteria. That’s how antiperspirants prevent you from sweating (and from smelling bad!).

Should I be concerned about using an antiperspirant that contains aluminum?

Many studies over the years have theorized links between aluminum and certain diseases, such as breast cancer and Alzheimer’s. Even though there is no official scientific evidence proving the link between aluminum and those conditions, it may not be a bad idea to aim to eliminate aluminum from your personal care and skin care products.

Can you recommend a natural antiperspirant that’s aluminum-free?

Green Beaver’s antiperspirants are 100% natural and vegan—and do not contain any aluminum. They also do not contain any potentially other synthetic ingredients such as parabens preservatives, artificial fragrances or dyes.

To create a product that really works while still being free of conventional (potentially harmful) ingredients, Green Beaver developed a new technology called NaturaDri™, which is composed of jojoba, mimosa flower waxes, and pharmaceutical grade bonding tapioca as well as corn powders. You can be sure that it’s safe for you, and the planet.

The Green Beaver Antiperspirants are aluminum free!

Tested 2 Ways:

Patch Tests
Patch tests are conducted by applying the product to skin under strict dermatological control. They’re used to assess the tolerability of cosmetic products under real conditions of use. Green Beaver’s antiperspirants were delivered to ~300 subjects for a daily use. Clinical results showed them to be skin-soothing, non-irritating, and hypoallergenic, and they provided effective protection from wetness.

Sniff Tests
The “sniff test” (you can laugh!) was developed by specialty labs to test product effectiveness and is widely used by cosmetic manufacturers. Since antiperspirants inhibit the secretion of sweat, the sniff test consisted of using a cotton pad stuck under the armpits of a subject for a defined period following application. The cotton pad picks up the smell of the subject and is evaluated by trained sniffers (believe it or not!). The results for Green Beaver’s antiperspirants proved that they provide effective 24-hour odour protection.