Toxic deodorant contains several types of chemicals to avoid, like aluminum salts, used to block sweat glands. Up to 30% of an antiperspirant can be aluminum salts. That means applying antiperspirant once a day can expose your skin to between 3.3 to 15.7 milligrams of aluminum.
Fragrance is used in deodorant to cover body odor. It's a mixture of several dozen to several hundred chemicals and many of them are toxic.
PEGS and PPG are used in deodorants to keep ingredients from separating. They are a health risk because they are often contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals like 1,4-dioxane.
Phthalates like Diethyl phthalate (DEP) are commonly found in deodorants, often at high levels. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has also been found in deodorant.
Siloxanes are silicone-based compounds that make products like deodorants slide on more easily. A big concern is that the amount or concentration of siloxanes in deodorant is very high, up to 70% in deodorants.
And spray deodorants contain hydrocarbon propellants that are petroleum
based. The most common hydrocarbons found in spray deodorant are butane,
isobutane and propane. There are usually 2 different types in each spray
deodorant.
You can avoid the toxic chemicals in deodorants listed
above. Non toxic deodorants are made with simple, nontoxic ingredients.
These include baking soda or arrowroot powder, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, witch hazel, magnesium and aloe vera. The following products are good examples of non toxic deodorants.