*Seriouuuuussssly mom?!*

Do you want to know my most read blog post of 2017? Was it my birth story? Or what about Thanksgiving recipes? No and no. My most read post of 2017 just so happened to be when I talked about switching to natural deodorant, and my favorite being Native.

This is why y’all are my kind of girls! You get just as passionate about necessities, like deodorant, as I do. Life can be mundane enough, you might as well find joy in the frivolous and mundane.

So because I get really into things like deodorant brands, let’s do a check in! I have been fully switched to Native for a year {14 months to be exact} so let’s talk about it.

Why I Switched to Aluminum-Free Deodorant

In this post, I share how I got converted to natural deodorant. Like most girls and their purchases, I have to blame a girlfriend here. My friend Amy Beth was telling me she switched after learning about all the ingredients in regular antiperspirants or deodorants. First, if you are looking at an antiperspirant, you’ve got aluminum compounds {or salts} which clog your pores so you don’t sweat. I’m no natural Nancy {I live for a gel mani treat or spray tan!} but I’m beauty-conscious enough to know clogging pores is never ideal. Your body eliminates toxins by sweating, so why are we hindering that?

Now traditional deodorant is just meant to keep any unpleasant scent at bay, and they do so by using fragrance and, or, antibacterial compounds. But not all deodorants are made equal.

For me, I chose to switch because it just made sense to NOT clog my pores. Plus, I do enough “unhealthy things” like enjoy a Diet Coke here and there, so I’d like to make better decisions where I can. I view my health like a bank account- you make deposits and withdrawals. There’s a huge move towards cleaner beauty, and I think if you can find a product you love as much, if not more than another product, why not try it?! Definitely, do your own research on aluminum and if you are comfortable with it or not, I don’t want to sway you one way or another. I just don’t want to clog pores on my face, much less on my arms close to my lymphatic system.

Why I Liked Native Deodorant

Then, when I made the switch from antiperspirant to deodorant, I wanted to find one that adored. I mean, you use this every single day- why not love it? Natural deodorant can be a lot of trial and error as you find what works best with your body. Native uses simple ingredients like Vitamin E, Probiotics {You know me and probiotics! They are my soapbox!}, Shea Butter, etc. I knew each ingredient and felt comfortable trying it out. The plus side?! Native has the best scents of any natural deodorant I’ve tried, and I tried quite a few!

My other favorite aspect of Native is that it does have baking soda, so it feels like a traditional antiperspirant I was used to. Many natural deodorants aren’t like this, so the change felt weird. Native felt like what I was used to. Now if you have more sensitive skin, you could try the sensitive option without baking soda. My favorite is the Coconut and Vanilla scent. It smells like a perfume I would use! Native is made without aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and talc, which makes me feel better. And it doesn’t get on my clothes!

What I Have Seen a Year In

I believe there is a transition period when you switch to natural deodorant! You have been clogging your pores for years and so your body has to regulate. I thought that just meant sweating a little more for a few weeks as your body cleanses itself, but I saw an incredible change even a year in.

• Smoother Underarms

I remember prior summers being so embarrassed about my underarms in tank tops. Was it razor burn? Irritation? They just were red and the skin looked raised. Now I totally understand that’s because I had been clogging my pores for 15 years! My skin couldn’t breathe or function as it should. A year in and I feel like my underarms are smoother and not irritated.

• Compliments on Scent

My husband loves the scent of this and always compliments when I put it on! I smelled some deodorants at the drugstore a month ago, just to see if any smelled like Native and I was so put off by the artificial scents. These smell so creamy, and almost like a really great body lotion that isn’t offensive. Coconut & Vanilla is my absolute favorite, but you could totally try the Women’s Sample Pack or Travel Sample Pack to find your favorite scent.

Transitioning to Aluminum-Free

I have converted at least a dozen girlfriends to Native {Ashley included!} and most of them didn’t report a transition period- and I think it really is because Native feels so much more similar to regular deodorant and antiperspirant in texture. However, if you are still a little nervous, now is the best time to switch! You want to switch in the fall and winter when your body is traditionally sweating less and so you can get used to it. I would say give yourself 2 weeks. Now some girls say their underarms irritate them while switching. With talking to readers, some are experiencing a purge of getting toxins out of their body and some are just finding the right one for them {remember you can totally try Native Sensitive!}. If you feel your underarms are sensitive, you can apply some coconut oil to your underarms {which is in Native!} at night as it is healing. If you are nervous about scent {don’t be!} you can apply apple cider vinegar those first two weeks under your arms at night while you sleep. I would do that every other night with it being more acidic.

Switching to aluminum-free and finding your perfect stick of deodorant, can definitely be a process. But a year in, I’m so glad I switched and can’t imagine using anything else!

Do you use aluminum-free deodorant?