Deodorants for men and 5 ingredients to avoid

A good skincare routine is very important for every man, but not every man will use all the products out there, like shower gels, body scrubs and body lotions. But almost every man will use a deodorant, so what should you look at when choosing a deodorant for men?

A deodorant is applied on relatively sensitive skin, your armpits. It is important to choose a product that suits your skin-type best. Quite a lot of men are sensitive to one of more ingredients you find in many deodorants. That sensitivity can cause redness and skin irritation.

On almost every product page we mention the whole ingredient list and the product pages for deodorants for men are no exception. So, you can always check the ingredient list and see if there are any ingredients that you are sensitive or even allergic for.

What 5 ingredients in deodorants for men can cause irritation?

1. Aluminum:

Aluminium you can find in many deodorant sprays and in some deodorant sticks. This ingredient is usually listed as aluminiumchloride in the ingredient list. Aluminium salts absorb moisture and close off your pores a little bit.

That way you experience less of a wet feeling, but aluminium can cause irritation if you are sensitive for it. Many men experience a skin reaction when using a deodorant with aluminium, so it could be smart to avoid it when you experience irritation.

Popular deodorants for men without aluminium.

2. Parabens:

Nowadays we hear a lot about parabens and many brands banned them from their deodorants. Parabens are basically preservatives for cosmetic products.

You have many different kinds of parabens, so check the ingredient list when you want to know if there are any parabens in your deodorant. You usually will find parabens listed as methylparaben, ethylparaben or propylparaben. There are a lot of stories about parabens, but scientific research has not found any indication that parabens can cause cancer or are harmful for you.

So, only when you are sensitive for them, it is better to avoid deodorants for men that have parabens in them.

Popular deodorants for men without parabens

3. Baking soda:

Baking soda is an ingredient we see more often in natural deodorants for men. Some people also use it for their DIY (Do It Yourself) deodorants, but baking soda does not suits every men's skin.

Baking soda is great to fight nasty odors and absorb moisture, but baking soda is an alkaline substance and it changes the pH (acidity) level when it comes in contact with your skin. Some men experience redness or irritated skin when using (natural) deodorants that contain baking soda.

If you are checking the ingredient list, you will usually find baking soda as sodium bicarbonate. When you are not sensitive for it, then it is a great alternative for aluminium. But if you experience itching and other discomforts, it is better to try a deodorant for men without baking soda.

Popular deodorants for men without baking soda

4. Alcohol:

In many cosmetic products you will find alcohol because of its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is no surprise you also will find alcohol in many deodorants for this same reason. Some alcohols can dry out your skin and cause irritation, but it is good to know that not all alcohols are the same. Some are actually good for your skin and will not cause any discomfort.

Fatty alcohols are good for your skin, so it is important to make a distinction when looking at the ingredient list.

Bad alcohols are usually listed as one of the following ingredients: alcohol, ethanol, propanol, denatured alcohol, alcohol denat., ethyl alcohol, methanol, isopropyl alcohol, sd alcohol and benzyl alcohol.

Examples of good alcohols are: cetyl alcohol, stearyl, isostearyl alcohol, C12-16, cetearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, glyceryl stearate, glycol and myristyl alcohol.

Popular deodorants for men without bad alcohols

5. Fragrance:

A last category I would like to mention is fragrance or perfume. A deodorant for men is obviously meant to neutralize nasty odors and to make you smell fresh and clean. That is why some brands add a fragrance to the formula, but this is also something that men can be sensitive for.

Perfume is usually listed either as just perfume or as fragrance in the ingredient list. It means a chemical ingredient has been added to add a scent to the formula, so it is not the same as a natural extract that has been added.

Popular deodorants for men without added perfume

Conclusion about deodorants for men

Almost every man is using a deodorant and you usually use it at least once a day. Sometimes you may even use it more often, for example after showering when you did some exercise. Then it is good to know you have chosen a deodorant that fits your skin-type.

When you read this blog it may seem that no deodorant is safe enough to use, but it is good to remember that most men are not sensitive to any of these ingredients. And if you are sensitive or allergic, then it is probably for only one of them.

When you are looking at an ingredient list of your deodorant, it is good to realize that the first 5 ingredients usually make up 80% of the product. Ingredients that are at the end of the ingredient list are only used in a very small amount, often less than 1%. So, the formula of your deodorant does not contain every ingredient in the same amount, which is good to know when you are checking the list for ingredients you are sensitive for.

Check out our full line of deodorant sticks for men in our shop!