How do you find a good organic deodorant?

There is now a large selection of natural cosmetic deodorants that are designed according to different active principles. Popular examples include deodorant creams with baking soda, deodorants with microsilver, crystal deodorants or traditional organic deodorants whose antibacterial effect is based on alcohol. In this blog post, we will introduce you to some natural cosmetic deodorant active principles and their problems.

How recommendable are baking soda deodorants?

Baking soda is known as a versatile, tried-and-tested household remedy and is also recommended against the development of undesirable odors. Deodorant creams with baking soda are popular, but they have some undesirable side effects:

• scratchy skin feeling
  Baking soda has a grainy consistency that does not dissolve in water. When baking soda is applied in deodorant creams, a mechanical irritation occurs that manifests itself as a scratchy feeling on the skin.
• residues in clothing
  Baking soda leaves stains and hardening in clothing that are difficult to remove.
• Baking soda destroys the skin's acid mantle
  Our skin has a pH value of between 4.1 and around 5.8, depending on the region of the body. It is therefore naturally slightly acidic. Baking soda, on the other hand, has a basic pH value of around 8 to 9. Baking soda destroys the skin's own acid mantle and weakens the protective function of the skin barrier. As a result, the skin dries out increasingly and harmful microorganisms from outside penetrate the skin. Long-term use of baking soda deodorant under the armpits therefore leads to increased redness, dryness and itching.

Are crystal deodorants a better alternative?

Crystal deodorants, also known as mineral deodorants or alum crystals, consist of 100% naturally occurring aluminum salts such as ammonium alum or potassium alum. Crystal deodorants contain aluminum in a much higher concentration than conventional antiperspirant deodorants. Consumer advocates rightly criticize the misleading advertising for deodorant crystals as "deodorant without aluminum." In fact, deodorant crystals are neither healthier nor more natural than other antiperspirants.

The deodorant crystals (INCI: Ammonium Alum or Potassium Alum) that are considered healthy are falsely advertised as aluminum-free natural products. However, they also contain aluminum. The main active ingredient in crystal deodorants is alum. This is an aluminum crystal that also occurs in nature and contains around 20 - 30% aluminum. The aluminum content is therefore much higher than in a conventional antiperspirant, which contains a maximum of 7% aluminum compounds.

The extraction of alum from bauxite is also ecologically questionable, as it is associated with widespread environmental destruction, especially in Australia, China, Brazil, Guinea, Jamaica, India and Cameroon. In addition, alum is a skin irritant and promotes contact dermatitis. An overdose can lead to mild chemical burns, which manifest themselves as redness, itching and burning.

Is microsilver in deodorants really harmless?

Microsilver inhibits inflammation and has an antibacterial effect against unpleasant body odor. The smaller the individual silver particles, the greater the antibacterial effectiveness. Nanosilver ions, which are by definition smaller than 100 nanometers, are particularly effective against bacterial germs. Nanosilver, also known as colloidal silver, has the serious disadvantage that it can easily penetrate the skin into the body. Both the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the BUND therefore recommend avoiding nanosilver.

Some natural cosmetics deodorants contain microsilver (INCI: Silver, Silver Citrate) as an active ingredient, which supposedly cannot penetrate the skin. However, when producing microsilver particles, it is almost impossible not to release unwanted nanoparticles in a scattered area. This colloidal silver or the silver nanoparticles can then penetrate the body through the deeper layers of the skin. The particles penetrate the cell membranes, reach the bloodstream and thus in principle all organs of the organism, including the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, bone marrow and nerve tissue, where the colloidal silver is at least partially deposited and cannot be excreted. As reactive silver ions, the particles can cause oxidative stress and toxic cell damage, the long-term effects of which have so far been little researched.

What distinguishes the myrto organic deodorants with herbal active ingredient complex?

In contrast to antiperspirants with the questionable active ingredients listed above, myrto organic deodorants contain only plant-based and skin-friendly ingredients. They simply reduce the healthy process of sweating in a natural way - instead of completely suppressing sweating as the body's own detoxification process and clogging the pores of the sweat glands.

In the 6 different myrto organic deodorants based on aloe vera juice, a special plant-based deodorant active ingredient complex (made from fermented sugar cane, lactic acid and citric acid esters) neutralizes the odor-causing bacteria with clinically proven long-term effectiveness. The active ingredients prevent sweat from decomposing and unpleasant odors from developing. Coconut and jojoba oil keep the underarm skin soft and supple. Sage extract slightly contracts the sweat pores and has an anti-inflammatory effect, while selected natural essential oils support the deodorizing effect for a fresh skin feeling. To ensure that even freshly shaved skin is not irritated, the gentle, skin-care myrto organic deodorants are free of alcohol. If you are looking for a neutral scent, have extremely sensitive skin or suffer from a fragrance allergy, we recommend the organic deodorant Blue Sensitive Argan - completely fragrance-free and with nourishing argan oil.

Tips against sweat odor

• Pay attention to a healthy diet: If you tend to sweat a lot, you should pay particular attention to a healthy diet and avoid ready meals with additives.
• You should limit alcohol, coffee, nicotine and spicy foods as much as possible.
• Prefer clothing made of natural fibers: To counteract excessive sweating, natural clothing made of organic cotton, linen or hemp, which can be washed frequently and allows the skin to breathe freely, is the best option.

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) can be caused by a neurological disease, hormonal fluctuations during menopause or side effects of medication. You should have this checked by a doctor.

If you still suffer from sweat odor despite using deodorant, you may have been using it incorrectly. Important: Always apply deodorant to freshly washed, dry skin. If the sweat has already broken down, applying it later will have little effect.