Deodorant - free shopping guide from Ethical Consumer

Deodorant - free shopping guide from Ethical Consumer


This is a product guide from Ethical Consumer, the UK's leading alternative consumer organisation. Since 1989 we've been researching and recording the social and environmental records of companies, and making the results available to you in a simple format.

The buyers' guide includes:

  • ethical and environmental ratings for 33 brands of deodorants and anti-perspirants
  • Best Buy recommendations
  • which brands contain pore-blocking aluminium
  • why use crystal stones

 

This buyers' guide is part of a Special Report on Cosmetics & Toiletries.  See what's in the rest of the report.

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Score Ratings

Our ratings are live updated scores from our primary research database. They are based on primary and secondary research across 19 categories. Find out more about our ethical ratings

 

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Best Buys

as of Sept/Oct 2012


As our ratings are constantly updated, it is possible that company ratings on the score table may have changed since this report was written.

The Best Buys are Bulldog, Green People, Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Salt of the Earth, Lush solid bars, Lavera, Neal’s Yard, Urtekram and Weleda.

Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Salt of the Earth and Urtekram make push-up stick varieties of crystal deodorant stones.
 

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A smelly business

There are two main types of deodorant: simple deodorants that eliminate odour, and antiperspirants which contain ingredients (most commonly aluminium or aluminum chlorohydrate) that block pores to reduce sweating.

 

Aluminium

Some research suggests that aluminum-based compounds may be absorbed by the skin and cause oestrogen-like (hormonal) effects like breast cancer.[1] Other studies suggest that blocked pores result in the spread of cancer-causing toxins.[2]

The following brands are aluminium free: Green People, Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Weleda, Neal’s Yard, Salt of the Earth, Urtekram, Lavera, Lush, Pitrok, Dr Hauschka.

 

Crystal stones

A natural method of deodorising is to use deodorant crystal stones which are made from potassium or ammonium alum, a natural mineral salt that inhibits the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odour.[3] They come as either a solid stone on its own or in a push-up stick, or in liquid form.
Of our Best Buys, Faith in Nature, Little Satsuma, Salt of the Earth and Urtekram make push-up stick varieties of crystal deodorant stones.

 

This buyers' guide is part of a Special Report on Cosmetics & Toiletries.  See what's in the rest of the report.

 

References 

1 www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/AP-Deo 
2 www.ethicalconsumer.org/buyersguides/healthbeauty/deodorant.aspx 
3 www.highlandsoaps.com/natural-deodorant-stone-160g-cat-13-subcat-64-product-598

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