My history with natural deodorant began with the birth of my first child. As soon as that little bundle of joy came into my life, I looked at everything differently. What could harm my family, I discarded. What nourished my family, I encouraged. 

One of the most noticeable things (mostly from those close enough to get a whiff of me) was my deodorant. Applying the toxic-laden solution so close to my precious milk-producing boobies felt terribly wrong. So eau naturel I went.

For over a year... well I didn't smell too good. Nothing worked. I tried all of the natural deodorants out there, but they just masked the smell. I tried washing with apple cider vinegar and that semi-worked, but I was sick of smelling like vinegar. 

I was determined not to turn back. Do you know what is in your deodorant? Bad stuff! Here are a list of harmful ingredients in your deodorant that you should avoid.

Parabens

(METHYL, ETHYL, PROPYL, BENZYL AND BUTYL)

Parabens are a common ingredient found in cosmetics and in deodorants. There's a big reason why these baddies should be avoided. A 2004 study found a link between parabens and breast cancer, as they were found in tumours.  Parabens are an endocrine disruptor, which means they mimic estrogen and get absorbed by the body, upsetting the body's hormonal balance and leading to several problems.   

Aluminium

(ALUMINUM CHLORALHYDRATE, ALUMINUM ZIRCONIUM TETRACHLOROHYDREX GLY)

Aluminum is also a common ingredient in many store-bought deodorants. It acts as a plug within your sweat ducts to stop the flow of sweat. However, the aluminium compounds, which are also endocrine disruptors, are absorbed by your skin as they mimic estrogen.

Triclosan

The FDA has classified triclosan as a pesticide, while the International Agency of Research on Cancer has listed it as a possible carcinogen. Triclosan also kills both the good and bad bacteria on your skin, can cause skin irritation and dermatitis.

There are plenty more ingredients to watch out for. My rule of thumb is, if I can't pronounce it I don't use it.

Always look for natural and organic because your skin is your largest organ and it absorbs anything and everything you put on it.