What most people are looking for in a natural deodorant is something that is aluminum-free. “Deodorants are designed to prevent or mask the body odor that results from sweating,” explains dermatologist Peterson Pierre, MD, founder of the Pierre Skin Care Institute. “Meanwhile, antiperspirants are designed to stop sweating altogether by blocking the sweat glands. Antiperspirants rely heavily on aluminum and, although this is a ‘natural ingredient,’ typically natural refers to products that are aluminum-free.”

However, notes Dr. Pierre, there is no “natural” substitute for aluminum, which means there is no such thing as a natural antiperspirant. “Anything that blocks sweat is considered a chemical, so natural deodorants don’t prevent you from sweating,” says board-certified New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist. “But they do help attack the bacteria that cause smells and odors.”

Read the full story here: