How do you find a good organic deodorant?

There's now a wide selection of natural cosmetic deodorants based on various active principles. Popular examples include deodorant creams with baking soda, deodorants with microsilver, crystal deodorants, and traditional organic deodorants whose antibacterial effect is based on alcohol. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to some natural cosmetic deodorant active principles and their associated problems.

How recommendable are baking soda deodorants?

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

• scratchy skin feeling
  Baking soda has a grainy consistency that doesn't dissolve even in water. When applied in deodorant creams, it creates a mechanical irritation that manifests as a scratchy sensation on the skin.
• Residues in clothing
  Baking soda leaves stains and hardened marks on clothing that are difficult to remove.
• Baking soda destroys the skin’s acid mantle
  Our skin, depending on the body region, has a pH value between 4.1 and approximately 5.8. It is therefore naturally slightly acidic. Baking soda, on the other hand, has a basic pH value of approximately 8 to 9. Baking soda thus destroys the skin's natural acid mantle and weakens the protective function of the skin barrier. As a result, the skin becomes increasingly dry, 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 called mineral deodorants or alum crystals, are made from 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 of deodorant crystals as "deodorant without aluminum." In fact, deodorant crystals are neither healthier nor more natural than other antiperspirants.

Deodorant crystals (INCI: Ammonium Alum or Potassium Alum), which 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 naturally and contains approximately 20-30% aluminum. The aluminum content is thus even 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, causing widespread environmental destruction, especially in Australia, China, Brazil, Guinea, Jamaica, India, and Cameroon. Furthermore, alum is a skin irritant and promotes contact dermatitis. An overdose, especially on moist skin, can lead to mild burns, manifesting 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 their antibacterial effectiveness. Nanosilver ions, which are by definition smaller than 100 nanometers in size, are particularly effective against bacterial germs. However, nanosilver, also known as colloidal silver, has the serious disadvantage that it can easily penetrate the skin and enter the body. Both the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the German Federation of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students (BUND) therefore recommend avoiding nanosilver.

Some natural cosmetic deodorants contain microsilver (INCI: Silver, Silver Citrate) as an active ingredient, which supposedly cannot penetrate the skin. However, during the production of microsilver particles, it is almost impossible to avoid the release of unwanted nanoparticles in a scattering area. This colloidal silver or the silver nanoparticles can then penetrate the deeper layers of the skin and into the body. The particles penetrate cell membranes, reach the bloodstream, and thus, in principle, all organs of the body, 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 largely unexplored.

What distinguishes myrto organic deodorants with herbal active ingredient complex?

Unlike antiperspirants with the questionable active ingredients listed above, myrto organic deodorants contain exclusively plant-based and skin-compatible ingredients. They simply reduce the healthy process of sweating in a natural way—rather than completely suppressing sweating, the body's natural 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 odor-causing bacteria with clinically proven long-term effectiveness. These active ingredients prevent sweat from breaking down and causing unpleasant odors. Coconut and jojoba oil keep underarm skin soft and supple. Sage extract gently tightens sweat pores and has an anti-inflammatory effect, while selected pure, 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-caring myrto organic deodorants are alcohol-free. If you are looking for a neutral scent, have extremely sensitive skin, or suffer from a fragrance allergy, we recommend the Blue Sensitive Argan organic deodorant – completely fragrance-free and with nourishing argan oil.

Tips against body 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 from natural fibers: To counteract excessive sweating, wear clothing that is as natural as possible, made from organic cotton, linen, or hemp, which can be washed frequently and allows the skin to breathe freely.

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) can be caused by a neurological disorder, hormonal fluctuations during menopause, or medication side effects. You should consult a doctor about this.

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