Beauty’s Worst Eco-Offenders (And Best Bets) for Antiperspirant
by Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt, authors of No More Dirty Looks
On the path to clean beauty, no breakups sting quite as much as this one. Why? From the moment we all hit puberty the message is clear: Sweating stinkily is a kind of social suicide—something to be avoided at all cost. And even the greenest among us still cling to those sweet-smelling sticks of antiperspirant with teenaged fear in their hearts.
Which is why the following is hard to accept: Sweating is not a bad thing; in fact, it’s one of our body’s important detoxifying mechanisms. Once you absorb that—pun intended—you should know that most antiperspirants are packed with potentially toxic chemicals—like parabens and aluminum—capable of penetrating the skin. But while this may not be news to many of you, it’s still hard to let go of that clean and dry feeling, isn’t it?
Until recently, we, too, depended on our favorite eco-deodorants for everyday, then turned to antiperspirants when the situation called for it—special dates, job interviews, all-night dance parties. But then we discovered Soapwalla Deodorant Cream. Neither of us is entirely sure how this magical and totally natural stuff helps to regulate moisture, but it works—and it works consistently, even in the most nerve-wracking or sweat-inducing situation. Oh and p.s. the antibacterial mix of essential oils—from tea tree to lavender to orange blossom—smell pretty fantastic, too. Bonus!
Soapwalla Deodorant Cream ($10)
WEEK OF 11.21.11 SIX ECOSTILETTO SUBSCRIBERS WILL EACH WIN A $10 SOAPWALLA DEODORANT CREAM!
If you’ve gotten past the moisture factor but still like smelling great, do we have a time-tested alternative for you. Long before there were deodorants, antiperspirants and synthetic scents of any sort—think the Middle Ages—people were using natural perfumes to cover and compliment their own odors. C’est tout!
The amazing natural perfumer Rich Hippie returned to days-of-yore methods to make their scents. That means shunning chemicals to create small batches of obsession-worthy—the verb, not the brand—perfume using organic flower and plant extracts mixed with natural alcohol. Their affordable eau de parfum collection also offers a wide selection of bewitching smells—and since scent is so specific, so it’s nice to have variety. The best part? They roll on so you can place a hint of the good stuff where you need it most, just like the European girls do. Think of these perfumes like pocket-sized deodorants, except easier to reapply and much, much chicer.
Rich Hippie Eau De Parfum ($30)
Siobhan O’Connor and Alexandra Spunt are the coauthors of No More Dirty Looks: The Truth About Your Beauty Products, and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics.
