We Aim To Slay

Nearly a year has passed since my allergic reaction to the Ole Henrikson Banana Bright+ eye cream, and in that time my bathroom has undergone a serious purge.

After a lifetime of sensitive skin and an allergy to most metals, I’ve done my best to protect my skin from irritants. So you’ll imagine my surprise when I turned over that jar and saw gold listed as a key ingredient.

My Clean Products Journey

Once the swelling had gone down I was paralyzed with fear: did I need to throw away every product that I owned? Would changing my entire routine irritate my skin further? I decided to temporize: keep the things that I knew had been working, and start investigating all of the samples I had been hoarding! 

After cleaning out my bathroom I decided to take a closer look at the products I’d been using for years: were they working effectively while still being safe for my skin? I went back and forth for quite some time before switching out nearly every product I own – including deodorant!

A Gentle Nudge…

My decision to change my deodorant came in the form of an invitation. For more than a year I’ve been a member of the Beauty & Style Collective – a beauty and fashion-enthusiast community, developed by the teams behind Byrdie, Brides, InStyle, and Shape. This community allows members to share their thoughts and feedback, sample new products, and ultimately to influence the direction of future ad campaigns. 

Earlier this year, I was invited to take part in a product testing group for several Native brand deodorants. This was not my first product test with B&SC, nor was this my first introduction to Native. When my first product test box arrived last year I was so excited – it was a festival themed box that included items such as glitter freckles and a branded baseball cap!

That was, until I saw the main sponsor’s products: two bottles of Neutrogena sunscreen, featuring ingredients that contribute to coral bleaching – something that I’m very passionate about as a surfer and lover of the outdoors!

My second product testing attempt coincided with my allergic reaction, and had the added misfortune of being a glycolic acid: a type of alpha-hydroxy acid, widely used as a chemical exfoliant that dissolves the bonds that hold dead skin cells together. By the time the Native box arrived I was skeptical of even agreeing to this product test. But I was delighted to find that the box contained three deodorants, a travel pouch, reusable water bottle, and a compact mirror! 

As I said above, my mom has used their deodorants for years, and despite my obvious love of research, I’d never paid much attention to deodorant. In my mind it just needed to last as long as possible without irritating my sensitive skin. Upon checking the ingredient lists on all three products – one of which contained items such as tapioca starch, shea butter, and coconut oil – I was feeling confident!

What’s Going On In There?!

We’ve all been there: you flip over a bottle to scan the ingredients, only to be confronted with a long list of words that you can barely pronounce. In a none-too-shocking reveal, the ingredients you’ll find on the label will depend on what your skin care goal is, but the commonly used ingredients may shock you!

In Your Deodorant

Most obviously, we want our deodorant to be effective. For me, that means an antiperspirant and deodorant combination. Many of these commercially created products contain things like ‘aluminum chlorohydrate’ or ‘aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine’ – translation: “these form temporary gel “plugs” near the top of the sweat gland” to literally clog your glands and pores. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology explains that, “Unless you see an ingredient containing aluminum listed on the label, the product is not an antiperspirant.”

In Your Skin Care

Similarly, the skin care market is saturated with buzz words catering towards specific goals. If your focus is on hydration and the moisture barrier, you’ll likely be directed towards ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Hoping to brighten your skin? You’ll likely have been suggested to try Vitamin C or niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3. And this list is never ending, including others such as retinoids (derived from Vitamin A, used to “boost collagen production”), benzoyl peroxide (an antibacterial used to treat active acne breakouts), and more.

In The Packaging

Maybe the buzziest term of them all, “greenwashing” – which means the intentional use of deceptive marketing to appear environmentally friendly – is not a new concept.

Why has millennial beige been so prevalent in skin care packaging? Similar to our discussions on perfume, there is a clear correlation between the color of packaging and our subconscious thoughts on the contents. Earthen tones such as browns, greens, and terra cotta reds imply a respect for nature; sadly, that is not always the case.

The Native Deodorant Test

As I said above, I was excited to test these products because I felt like I knew who this brand was – I mean, it’s been in my mom’s medicine cabinet since I was in high school! So over the allotted month I created a schedule to test all three products; I’d spend the first week going back and forth between all three, and each subsequent week would be spent wearing one scent.

Weeks One & Two

The three scents I received were Coconut & Vanilla, Sandalwood & Shea Butter, and Cedarwood & Bergamot. Upon opening the box I was immediately drawn to Sandalwood & Shea Butter as it most closely replicates my preferred fragrance family, and similarly, I knew that I would enjoy the Cedarwood & Bergamot scent as we got closer to summer.

At the end of the first week I was impressed by how well both formulas – the traditional stick and aerosol spray – applied; smoothly and without a noticeable residue. Week two was exclusively the Coconut & Vanilla stick formulation, the scent my mom wears! During this week I was only slightly put off by the very sweet scent, but I noticed that the product did not seem to last throughout the day. At the time I assumed that my body was “detoxing” from chemical deodorants, and was convinced the next week would hold more promise!

Week Three

My first use of the Sandalwood & Shea Butter coincided with Middlesex Fashion Week this year, and after helping to set up the backdrops and runway, I was in desperate need of more deodorant – something I had not thought to pack! Luckily I was was able to use an aerosol spray that my friend had brought!

It was at this point that I started to question whether I would be able to use a natural deodorant, or forced to use a chemical option.

Week Four

Although this portion of the test coincided with the Dante incident, Cedarwood & Bergamot ended up being my favorite of the formulas, and is the scent I’m still using today!

I was relieved to learn there was a natural deodorant that worked for me! And although I was disappointed by the lack of longevity of the stick formulas, I’ve extended the wear of the aerosol formula by first applying a mineral-based crystal deodorant (which utilizes potassium alum, a natural mineral salt, rather than aluminum) after bathing, and using the spray formula in-between.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As I sat down to write this article – ready to recommend Native products to you! – I learned that the brand “has faced several consumer controversies, primarily regarding false advertising and ingredient transparency,” including a 2024 class-action lawsuit that “alleged that Native’s whole-body deodorant sprays were falsely advertised as providing “clinically proven 72-hour odor protection.”

Instead, I’m here to recommend the product I have gone back to many times over the last decade – a mineral-based crystal deodorant. I also leave you with this reminder: always check the ingredients! Not only will this prevent allergic reactions, but it can improve your overall health and the health of our planet!

What Do You Think?

Are there ingredients that you search for, or vice versa, are there ingredients that you actively avoid? Want to help me build a “clean beauty” database? Share your product nightmares, wins, and recommendations in the comments below!

I’ll be back next week share my experience at the Dose of Mi Beach Club event celebrating the launch of their new collection!

Have a great rest of your week, and remember to SLAY!