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Almost everyone who tries natural deodorant for the first time comes back and tells us the same thing, which is that it stopped working after a few days and they gave up. Nine times out of ten they did nothing wrong. There is a settling in period that nobody warns you about, and once you understand it the switch is easy.
This is the whole thing in one sentence. A conventional antiperspirant uses aluminium salts to plug your sweat glands so you do not sweat. A natural deodorant does not stop you sweating, it deals with the smell, because sweat itself is nearly odourless and it is the bacteria feeding on it that cause the smell. So you will still get damp underarms. That is normal and it is meant to happen.
When you stop blocking your glands they take a little while to calm down, and for the first week or two you may feel like you sweat more and smell more. People take that as proof the natural one has failed, when really it is just the changeover. Push through a fortnight and it settles. It genuinely does. A few tips that help, wash with a proper soap rather than just rinsing, reapply after the gym for the first while, and if you have been on a strong prescription antiperspirant give it the full two weeks before you judge.
If your underarms go red or itchy, the culprit is almost always baking soda, which some people react to because it is alkaline. Switch to a baking soda free formula, often labelled sensitive or bicarb free, and the irritation usually disappears. A barrier balm helps too.
A paste is applied with your fingertips. It feels odd for a day then becomes second nature, and pastes tend to be the strongest performers, which is why the Black Chicken Axilla has such a following. A stick twists up and glides on like the deodorant you are used to, no fingers required. A cream or roll on sits somewhere in between. There is no best one, it is about what you will actually keep using.
If you want the strongest option, start with the Axilla paste, and if you have sensitive skin the Barrier Booster version is gentler. If the idea of using your fingers puts you off, the Noosa Basics and Woohoo sticks are the easy everyday pick. The Woohoo doubles as an anti chafe stick, which anyone who runs in an Australian summer will understand.
Warm the paste with your fingertip so it goes on thin, you need far less than you think. Apply to clean dry skin, not straight out of a hot shower. A little goes a long way, and one tin lasts most people two or three months, so the price per use is lower than it looks on the shelf.
The full range is under Deodorant, and if you would rather talk it through with a person we are at 936 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, open seven days.
