Deodorant Sensitive Skin - 5 Ingredients to Avoid

Do you have sensitive skin? We often see beauty brands touting their sensitive-skin friendly products for the body & face, but what about sensitive underarm skin? The skin in this area is inherently fragile and more susceptible to irritation from shaving, certain fabrics, and daily deodorant application.

Quite frankly, red, itchy, or irritated armpits stink - pun intended. Sensitive skin deodorant is formulated without common irritants found in conventional antiperspirants and deodorants. These ingredients aren’t just a recipe for aggravated pits. Research shows they may also be harmful to your health.

Finding the right deodorant if you have sensitive skin can feel like even more of a challenge. So we’re sharing the best sensitive skin deodorant formulas and what common deodorant ingredients to avoid for happier, healthier underarms.

5 Common Deodorant Ingredients to Avoid

01. Aluminum

Aluminum-based compounds are the most widely used active antiperspirant ingredient because they block your pores to prevent you from perspiring. When you stop your pores from doing their job (sweating), aluminum stays in the body and consequently will accumulate over time.

Aluminum in antiperspirants can irritate delicate underarm skin, but what’s potentially more concerning are the links between aluminum and serious health conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and ​​breast cancer.

02. Parabens

Parabens are a type of preservative that helps prevent bacterial growth. Parabens are used in a ton of different cosmetics, but they may irritate underarm skin for some. More concerning, studies have shown parabens can mimic estrogen in the body and are suspected to be endocrine disruptors. According to the National Cancer Institute, several scientists have suggested a potential link between antiperspirants or deodorants and breast cancer. 

Tip: Many major brands will list words ending in -paraben, such as methylparaben or propylparaben, on their ingredients list. They all mean the same thing. 

03. Synthetic Fragrance 

Perfumes are a leading cause of skin sensitivities and rashes. If you’re prone to skin irritation, you probably use unscented soap and detergents. However, unscented can be a little tricky when it comes to deodorant. After all, most of the time, that body-masking fragrance is what helps us feel fresh throughout the day.

Perfumes are a leading cause of skin sensitivities and rashes

If you’re sensitive to perfumes, look for a sensitive skin deodorant formulated with natural fragrances like essential oils (more on that later). 

04. Alcohol

Alcohol is another standard ingredient in traditional and in some natural deodorants. While alcohol isn’t associated with health scares like some other deodorant ingredients, it can be harmful to people with sensitive skin. Some people have reported that alcohol in deodorant is incredibly drying and causes stinging, itching, and redness.

If you see the word “alcohol” on the ingredients list, don’t disregard it just yet. Cetyl alcohol is a skin-safe hydrating ingredient that’s used to treat or prevent dry, rough, scaly, and itchy skin. 

05. Propylene Glycol

This hard-to-pronounce petroleum-based ingredient is found in many traditional antiperspirants and deodorants. Propylene glycol was originally developed as an anti-freeze (if that’s not enough of a red flag), and it’s mainly used to help give the deodorant a smooth consistency. 

Studies have shown propylene glycol can be a skin irritant and provoke allergic reactions even in concentrations as low as 2%. 

Are Natural Formulas Better?

Finding the best products for deodorant-sensitive skin comes down to what the product is made with and, sometimes, more importantly, what it’s made without. Natural deodorants are formulated sans harsh chemicals, toxic ingredients, or synthetic colors and fragrances that can lead to skin irritations like contact dermatitis.

You don’t need to slater on the chemicals to stop the stink. Natural deodorant has gotten a facelift over the years. So what are some skin-safe ingredients that actually work? 

Since we spoke about five deodorant ingredients you should absolutely avoid, regardless of your skin type, it’s only fair to share some we recommend. 

Here are some of our favorite naturally derived ingredients for sensitive skin deodorant. 

• Shea Butter - Shea butter is naturally antibacterial, meaning it helps eliminate the stink-causing bacteria that can build up under your arms. It’s also non-comedogenic, rich in vitamins and fatty acids, and helps add some much-needed moisture to dry underarms.

• MCT Oil - Extracted from coconut oil, MCT oil contains fatty acids known for their antibacterial characteristics. MCT oil helps reduce bacteria in most underarms, leaving you fresh and smelling clean.

• Kaolin Clay - Kaolin clay absorbs toxins and impurities without drying the skin. The clay helps keep your underarms dry because it’s naturally sweat-absorbing. It’s also a popular ingredient to detox your underarms. 

• Vitamin E - You are probably aware vitamin E is a powerhouse ingredient in plenty of skincare products. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that effectively fights excessive sweating and body odor.

• Essential Oils - Now that you know synthetic fragrances aren’t recommended for anyone with sensitive skin (or a sensitive nose), essential oils help keep odor-causing bacteria at bay. Bacteria mixes with sweat and causes body odor, so essential oils with ​​antibacterial properties help prevent bacteria from developing in the first place.

Clean Beauty Brands Tend to Care More

And we’re not just talking about your armpits. Many safe deodorant brands strive to save you from toxins, but there’s a good chance they consider other important things like the planet and animals.

With all the uncertainty surrounding ingredients in traditional deodorants, why take the risk? Natural sensitive skin deodorant has the same odor-fighting powers as your drug store roll-on without the laundry list of toxic ingredients.