Why choose eco-friendly deodorants over conventional?

When you’re late to those 9am lectures hoping you haven’t sweat through your top on the power walk to campus, the last thing on your mind is what brand of deodorant you are using. But, what if you could protect yourself and the planet at the same time?

Conventional spray antiperspirants prevent the body releasing sweat, preventing a natural, healthy process due to the aluminium salts they contain. They often use single use plastics or tin, which cannot be recycled. This is on top of the fact they release harmful chemicals into the air.

So what should you use instead? Read all about the best eco-friendly deodorants below.

Salt rock deodorants

Many dismiss salt rock deodorants as a hippie fad but this means they’ll fit in perfectly in your crystal collection. There’s also plenty of science to back up using them. They work not by stopping sweat from forming but when applied wet, they create an antibacterial layer on the skin which prevents unpleasant odours for up to 24 hours.

They are one of the most eco-friendly deodorants available as they last a very long time, up to six months. The most popular brand is Salt of the Earth, who are readily available in Boots, and Holland and Barrett.

Refillable deodorants

For those who aren’t ready to part with conventional deodorants, reusables are a great alternative.

Wild is a great option which is aluminium free, has compostable packing, can be refilled and comes in all sorts of bright colours including an amazing lilac.

You can subscribe to their services for convenient deodorant delivery as and when you need it. There’s also plenty of scents available such as orange & neroli, coconut & vanilla and fresh cotton & sea salt.

Deodorant balms

Deodorant balms are applied by rubbing it onto warm skin. Brands such as The Natural Deodorant Co offer various kinds of balm for active lifestyles, sensitive skin and a ‘clean’ range for everyday wear.

If you’re unsure, the brand also offer a trial sample set from £4, the cost of which can be refunded when you purchase a full size option.

Anti-odorant

Nudd is the first ‘anti-odorant’, a deodorant alternative which lasts up to three to seven days after application. Active lifestyles, such as playing sport, does not impact Nudd’s effectiveness, according to their website. 20ml bottle should last up to 10 weeks thanks to their super concentrated patented formula.

Although their packaging is not biodegradable, it is recyclable and each bottle lasts a long time, so overall it is better than a conventional roll-on deodorant.

There’s plenty of options for plastic free, eco-friendly alternatives which are better for you and the planet, so why not make the switch?

Edited by Amy Mullen-Brown