Tired of dealing with skin irritation caused by your deodorant? If you have sensitive skin, finding the right personal care products can be a challenge. Fortunately, there are gentle options available that help you stay fresh without discomfort.

In this article, we'll explore everything you need to know about deodorant for sensitive skin, including common ingredients that can cause irritation, signs of a reaction, home remedies for managing symptoms, gentle ingredients to look for, and the benefits of switching to aluminum-free deodorant.

Common deodorant ingredients that cause skin irritation

Navigating the world of deodorant can be a delicate dance for those with sensitive skin. Many products contain ingredients that, although effective for odor control, can lead to skin irritation and discomfort. Here are a few of the common ingredients in deodorant that cause skin irritation:

Alcohol– Found in many formulas for its quick-drying qualities, high alcohol content can excessively dry out and irritate the skin.

Aluminum compounds- Known for their pore-blocking antiperspirant properties, aluminum compounds, like aluminum salts, are notorious for causing skin reactions.

Baking soda- While excellent at managing odor, baking soda can be irritating to some.

Fragrances- Synthetic, and sometimes botanically-derived fragrances, can be irritating to sensitive skin.

Parabens- Often used as preservatives, parabens can disrupt the skin's natural balance, leading to irritation.

Triclosan- A chemical ingredient used for its antibacterial properties, triclosan is high up on the list of skin irritants and may contribute to more serious health issues. Understanding these common irritants is the first step in selecting a deodorant that respects your skin's needs and restoring harmony to your underarms.

Understanding these common irritants is the first step in selecting a deodorant that respects your skin's needs and restoring harmony to your underarms.

Recognizing the signs of a sensitive skin reaction

If you notice your skin reddening, bumps or welts appearing, a persistent itch, or a burning sensation that seems to flare with your body heat, it's time to reassess your deodorant choice. These are your skin's ways of waving a white flag—indicating that something in your current deodorant isn't sitting well. Recognizing these signs early can save you from further discomfort. Discontinue the use of your deodorant as soon as you notice a reaction, and take note of the ingredients.

Home remedies for underarm skin reaction

In the event that your deodorant leads to a reaction, there are plenty of home remedies to calm your irritated skin. Try one or more of the following:

Cool compress– diminishes inflammation and offers immediate relief

Aloe vera- creates an instant cooling effect to calm and soothe

Oatmeal bath- can significantly ease itching and reduce inflammation

Additionally, be sure to wash shirts and tops that may have residual deodorant on them. If your skin irritation doesn’t improve or worsens, contact your healthcare provider. 

Deodorant ingredients known to be gentle on sensitive skin

Now that you know what ingredients commonly cause skin irritation and how to care for skin that’s had a reaction, let’s talk about ingredients that are known to be gentler on skin. Here are a handful of ingredients that commonly agree with sensitive skin:

Aloe vera- a cooling balm that brings hydrating relief to itchy or inflamed skin

Arrowroot powder- highly absorbent and gentle on skin

Coconut oil- rich in nourishing fatty acids, coconut oil soothes and moisturizes

Corn starch- absorbs moisture without blocking pores

Jojoba oil- mirrors the skin's natural sebum and is hypoallergenic

Magnesium hydroxide- helpful in neutralizing odor without irritating skin

Shea butter- known to calm inflammation and enrich skin 

An additional step you can take in your quest for deodorant for sensitive skin is to research the company whose product you’re considering. Find out if they’re inclusive of people with sensitive skin, and what the company’s philosophy is on ingredient selection and sourcing.

The benefits of switching to aluminum free deodorant

As mentioned previously, aluminum compounds in antiperspirants are notorious for causing skin to react. Aluminum salts, and similar compounds found in antiperspirants, work by preventing sweat from exiting your pores. This means they inhibit your body’s natural cooling process and block pores, which can sometimes lead to angry underarm skin. Switching to aluminum-free deodorant prioritizes the health of your skin, while still giving you lasting odor protection.

We believe in letting the body perspire and working with the simplest set of effective ingredients possible. Learn more about the benefits of aluminum-free deodorant.

A humble solution for sensitive skin

Here at Humble Brands, we want everyone to enjoy the benefits of aluminum free deodorant, so we developed a baking soda free formula for sensitive skin that’s vegan too! Like our Original Formula, we stay true to our promise of staying fresh with less. Only the simplest set of ingredients go into our sensitive skin deodorant.

Deodorant without baking soda

For maximum but gentle deodorizing, we swapped the baking soda for magnesium hydroxide in our Vegan & Sensitive Skin Deodorant formula. Magnesium hydroxide is a naturally occurring mineral that's tough on odor and kind to skin. It has a slightly lower pH, compared to baking soda, making it closer to our skin’s natural pH.

If we travel further down the science rabbit hole, we learn that magnesium hydroxide has a larger molecular structure than baking soda (aka sodium bicarbonate), making it superior at absorbing moisture and therefore combatting odor. While the arrangement of the atoms is larger, the individual ingredient particles are actually smaller than baking soda. This means it is less abrasive when rubbed onto skin.

To make this formula vegan, we replaced beeswax with plant-based candelilla wax. Non-GMO corn starch keeps your underarms dry, while MCT oil, derived from coconuts, moisturizes.

The benefits of unscented deodorant

A small percentage of the population is sensitive to essential oils. If you are unsure which essential oils bother you, opt for unscented products. Humble Brands recognizes scents are not for everyone, whether due to skin sensitivities or personal preferences. Find both Humble Brands Original Formula and Vegan & Sensitive Skin Formula deodorants in unscented.

 

After reading this article, we hope you have renewed confidence that a deodorant solution for your sensitive skin is out there. If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend trying our Discovery Kit. Use our custom bundler to add up to 6 of our travel size deodorants, in both our formulas in an array of scents, to your bundle. Good luck, and let us know if you have any questions. Our customer service team is always on hand to help out.