Beautycounter Deodorant Review

Beautycounter has been discontinued! Read about what happened to Beautycounter (and when it might come back) here. In the meantime, I have lots of great recommendations for Beautycounter product swaps linked in this post. Also, be sure to join my email list so you can be the first to know when your Beautycounter favorites come back.

My favorite clean deodorant alternative is Primally Pure. Read my Primally Pure deodorant review here.

I’ve blogged before about why non-toxic deodorant is so important (read that post here), but in short, the ingredients in many (ahem, most) traditional deodorants on the market contain ingredients that can be super unhealthy for our bodies. And considering how often I apply deodorant (daily!), it’s important to me that my deodorant is safe and clean — but it also must work.

I’ve been using clean deodorant for years, and I rotate brands every 18 months or so. That might sound strange, since many people find a brand they like and stick to it forever, but when it comes to natural deodorant, it’s actually really common to need to rotate brands since the natural formula may stop working as well as it did when you discovered it as our body chemistry changes over time.

The cool thing is that when one stops working well, the next one in my rotation does. And then I’ll need to switch that brand for another 18 months after that. The brands I alternate among are Beautycounter, Primally Pure, and Agent Nateur.

I was using Agent Nateur up until a month or so ago, when I switched back to Beautycounter. I am LOVING Beautycounter’s formula again, so today I wanted to share my full review in hopes it helps you decide if it may be a good one for you to try. Okay, let’s jump in.

For the month of June, you’ll get a FREE Clean Deo and 20% off your first purchase with code CLEANFORALL20

Beautycounter Deodorant Review

First, a little primer on deodorant: most deodorants that people use aren’t actually deodorant at all, but rather an anti-perspirant. The main difference between deodorant and anti-perspirant is that deodorant is made to neutralize body odor and absorb sweat where anti-perspirant is made to block sweat from coming out of your pores (not necessarily healthy).

Most anti-perspirants use aluminum, which may have harmful effects when applied daily to the body. And some studies have linked aluminum to forms of breast cancer. Because deodorant is applied under our arms, near our lymph nodes, there is additional concern for that reason.

Ultimately it’s up to you about what you’re comfortable with. I personally like using safer products as much as possible as long as it works as well as what I was using before. If I don’t like something, I’m not going to use it just because it’s safer! (That’s why I don’t use Beautycounter’s mascara!) The good news is that Beautycounter’s Clean Deo is actually REALLY great. They worked for years to develop the very best natural deodorant on the market, and I think they really hit the mark. Here’s what’s in it.

Ingredients

Cornstarch and baking soda

The baking soda and cornstarch work together to help absorb wetness and keep skin dry, while also helping to neutralize odor. The amount of baking soda they use is critical, since that’s a common irritant for safe deodorants. More on that below.

Coconut oil and shea butter

These natural emollients are rich in essential fatty acids and nutrients to help skin feel hydrated, nourished, and smooth.

Candelilla wax and beeswax

These help condition and hydrate sensitive underarm skin.

You’re welcome that I didn’t take photos of me applying deodorant. No one needs to see that. We all know how it works. 😉

Pros and Cons Of Beautycounter Deodorant

Pros

No aluminum

Aluminum is used in drugstore products as the “sweat blocker.” Yes, it blocks your pores from producing sweat. But the Clean Deo is formulated without aluminum, so it allows your body to have a healthy detoxification process.

Stain Free

This is a game changer, especially if you’ve used other clean deodorants before. So many leave a nasty film on your clothes and ruin the underarms of shirts. I haven’t experienced this with Beautycounter, and that IS something I experienced with other brands. My husband and I both agree our clothes are looking a little better since switching to Beautycounter’s deodorant.

No Synthetic Fragrances

The Clean Deo comes in three scent options – Rose, Lavender and Coconut — and none of them contain synthetic fragrances. Beautycounter never uses “fragrance” which is a very misleading ingredient in skin care and a loophole is personal care regulation. I’m VERY sensitive to scents and fragrances, which is part of the reason I am so picky about my beauty products and cleaning products.

But remember, natural beauty doesn’t always mean safer beauty. (Example: lead comes from nature, but it’s not safe in makeup, even though high amounts are commonly found in drugstore and department store makeup!) As with all the fragrances Beautycounter uses, they screened The Clean Deo fragrances for trace contaminants to ensure they meet their rigorous safety standards. All of the fragrance ingredients are also disclosed on the ingredient list, so you know exactly what is in each one. While you’d think that’s common, it’s actually not — even with products labeled “natural” or “clean”.

Non Irritating

100% of participants in the Beautycounter pre-launch product study said The Clean Deo was non-irritating after using it for 2 weeks. 100%!! Irritation is a VERY common complaint by those using deodorants with baking soda since it can cause redness, bumps and itchiness. I was on a call with Beautycounter leaders a few weeks before they launched this and the question came up around what makes their deodorant non-irritating even though it uses baking soda. The answer is the amount of baking soda they use, in combination with the other ingredients.

Take a look at these stats from a study Beautycounter did for two weeks with 115 people trying this deodorant:

• 85% said it neutralized underarm odor all day
• 90% said it absorbed perspiration
• 96% said it goes on clear and dry
• 100% said it was non-irritating

Refillable

The Clean Deo packaging is refillable AND recyclable. By making this deodorant refillable and recyclable, Beautycounter cut its water, fossil fuel, and greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 47%. And the refillable package helps minimize waste in landfills. Choosing more sustainable products is something I’m working on! The hot pink packaging on the right is the main container and the light pink on the left is a refill.

Cruelty Free

Like all Beautycounter products, it’s Leaping Bunny certified.

Cons

You will sweat and may smell a bit at first as your body “detoxifies”

You WILL sweat! That’s not a con in one sense because sweating is part of our natural detox process, but if you aren’t used to sweating after years of using an antiperspirant, that can be frustrating. I’ve always been a VERY heavy sweater (even using a prescription antiperspirant in high school!!) and rarely experience wetness now.

It can take up to several weeks for your underarms to transition away from the bacteria and toxins that have been trapped by antiperspirants. To help speed the detoxification process along, use the Beautycounter Charcoal Facial Mask on underarms once a week and wash underarms daily with Charcoal Bar. This will leave your skin feeling extra clean and improve the extra sweat or stink you may experience at first.

You’ll need to reapply

Since the Clean Deo isn’t an anti-perspirant, you’ll may need to reapply throughout the day. I’ve found that the mini sizes are PERFECT for this. It comes in a set of three scents and I like all of them. I keep one in my car, one in my office and one in my purse since they’re small. See the size comparison below.

Harder formula

This is the one con for me. I found The Clean Deo formula is a bit harder than other clean deodorants I used in the past so it doesn’t glide on quite as easily. But, I’ve quickly gotten used to that and it doesn’t bother me any more. And I’m willing to deal with that for a better-performing deodorant!

Refill hard to remove

The first time you have to pop out the used portion to put a refill in is quite challenging. It took me a while to figure out how to get it out, and then I had to use a kitchen knife to actually pop it up. Subsequent refills have been easier to get out, but just know that going in that it takes some work.

Limited scent options

Right now they only have four scents. I think that’s plenty and I like them all, but if you’ve used other natural products in the past with a dozen scents, it may feel like it’s a limited selection. The current scents are Fresh Rose, Lavender, Coconut, and Crisp Sequoia. All of these scents are from natural oils, and nothing is synthetic.

Fresh Coconut is a blend of tropical coconut, sandalwood, and sweet vanilla. Men tend to like the Coconut scent best (and they are releasing a men’s deodorant soon!).

Soft Lavender smells like what you’d expect: lavender. I love this one. I’ve found this one works the best for me and it’s likely because lavender itself has antimicrobial properties.

Clean Rose smells like a bouquet of freshly cut roses, with notes of geranium and pepper tree berry. I don’t typically like rose scented products but I like this one.

Crisp Sequoia is a great option for men and women alike. It smells a little musky and woody with a blend of geranium and vetiver.

You may have to switch brands after a while

I mentioned this above, but about 18 months after starting to use The Clean Deo, I started to stink. That’s a common issue when you’re using natural deodorants, and a friend told me that all I needed to do was switch to a different natural deodorant, so I ordered this one. And voilà, it worked perfectly! The, a few months ago, that one stopped working for me too, so I switched back to Beautycounter, and I’m loving it again. Like I said, you’ll likely have to switch brands one day, but don’t be alarmed by this.

Hopefully you won’t have this issue, or maybe that’s why you’re searching for a new one! If you haven’t tried Beautycounter’s Clean Deo, TRY IT. I loved it for 18 months, then took a break, and now I’m loving it again!

Bottom Line

It works. It smells great. Buy it here.

Before you place an order, be sure to read this post with tips to save money!