Toxin Reduced Deodorant Review

Since I'm staying home, it's a great time to do a little product testing! Especially if that product is deodorant. I'd hate to be mid-shift lifting my arm to pull a tap handle and find out my deodorant isn't doing it's job!
Here is the line up...

(I did not feature the popular Native brand here because, although I've tried it, I personally wouldn't recommend it. The formula was too harsh for my skin.)

**I will link all the brands to their websites if anyone wants to deep-dive into ingredients and brand info! 

First up: Lavanila: "the healthy deodorant"

This is one of my favorite brands, tried and true! I find it at TJ Maxx, so it's easy on the wallet too! Full price is $12-$14, but I've found it from $6-$8. My favorite scent so far is Coconut Vanilla. Lately I've only been able to find Vanilla Blackberry, but they all smell nice. There are a variety of smells (I would love to try the elements collection!), but they all have vanilla, so....if that's not your thing, maybe this isn't your brand! 

The formula features no baking soda, is cruelty free, aluminum free, and paraben free, and everything listed is recognizable (no synthetic "parfum/fragrance"!). 

Performance: It glides on silky smooth and I haven't had any issues with streaks on my clothing. For long days, I do like to reapply...especially in the warmer seasons! Overall, I feel confident wearing this brand!

Next: Kaia Naturals the takesumi detox 

I got this little sample in a beauty box, so it's the perfect size for me to have in my bag for on-the-go touch-ups. The sakura blossom scent is lightly sweet, clean, and not overly floral. This one is a little pricier for a full size ($24), aligning with the brand's emphasis on being clean, ethical, and luxurious. 

It's formula features activated charcoal to fight your under-arm odors, as well as no parabens, aluminum, baking soda, or synthetic fragrances. It is also cruelty free with high standards for ethical, sustainable, and clean ingredients. 

Performance: I get anxiety sweats from time to time, but this is in my arsenal to fight the odor while I regain my composure. It was a little hard to apply at first, but it started to glide on smoother after a few uses. I would definitely use this brand again, but I hope I can find it at a more affordable price for an everyday deodorant!

Next: Pretty Frank (formerly known as Primal Pit Paste)

I ordered two different formulas and scents, so I'll review them separately:

Palo Santo Zinc formula: Zinc has antimicrobial properties, which make it useful in a deodorant. I am a fan of Palo Santo and use it in aromatherapy, but I didn't get any aroma in this formula. It actually smelled a lot like licorice, so much that I checked the ingredients (nada).

The formula follows my pattern here: no baking soda, aluminum, or synthetics. Cruelty free. The packaging is 100% recyclable and they are made in the US.

Performance: This one is a bit different in terms of application; you scoop out a pea-sized amount and smooth it on. It actually feels quite nice! The scent left something to be desired for me personally, so I wouldn't use this again unless I tried another scent.

Seaside Charcoal formula: Another activated charcoal one, but specifically derived from coconut charcoal...who knew? And the "seaside" scent is likely due to the coconut, but it's refreshing and clean and light; the ingredients list lavender, lemon, and juniper berry essential oils. I enjoy this one and would use it again!

Price: Both of these little sample jars (0.25 oz) are $4 each. I like that the full size comes in a glass jar (classy!), and they are $10 for 2 oz. A full sized 2.7 oz stick version is also available for $12, if you prefer the classic roll-on method. 

note: both of my charcoal deodorants look dark grey, but they haven't stained my clothes!

When switching to non-toxic formulas, you go through a detox period...which is precisely why social distancing is the perfect time to experiment! It takes around 30 days for your body's chemistry to adjust from all of the gland-blocking and heavy duty ingredients it's been absorbing, so be patient! There are a variety of different formulas to try, so take note of what works for you! 

One last thing: all of these products are deodorants not anti-perspirants. I'm fortunate that I'm not a heavy perspirer, so I am just combating the odor factor here. Since summer is coming up, I'm going to keep an eye out for a non-toxic antiperspirant. Please share if you know a good one!