Deodorant is typically one of the first items that people switch out when cleaning up their personal care products. I often tell people who are interested in healthier products—if nothing else, change your deodorant. Most conventional deodorants contain aluminum and parabens, among other undesirable ingredients. Aluminum is what traditionally makes deodorants “antiperspirant”, but aluminum stops the sweating by way of clogging up your sweat glands. Now, I don’t want to sound too crunchy, but sweating is part of your body’s natural detoxification process, and in addition to sweat glands the underarms are full of lymph nodes that work as filters for harmful substances. Seems to me that clogging up your underarms and not allowing these important processes to function normally is a bad idea. That doesn’t mean you have to go about your day stinking and sweating, though. There are clean deodorants that WORK.

First, here’s a little personal background on my relationship with deodorant. I spent my younger years believing that I needed the most powerful antiperspirant I could find. When I started dipping my toe into more natural products via Whole Foods and other health food stores, I tried deodorants from brands like Toms of Maine. These didn’t work at all for me and left me feeling slimy and sweaty (and by the way, most of those formulas at the grocery stores aren’t all that clean). Finally, I just quit using deodorant. Yep, I quit cold turkey. When I did, I went through an adjustment period of a few weeks before I realized I was hardly ever sweating under my arms unless I was exercising, and I wasn’t having much of an issue with stink at all. Go figure, the aluminum-filled, sweat-gland blocking deodorants were making my situation worse, not better.

I had already been going without deodorant by the time I really began exploring clean beauty. Soapwalla was the first truly clean deodorant I came across, and then followed brands like Meow Meow Tweet, Schimdt’s and more. The beauty of these clean deodorants is that rather than trying to block your body’s natural detoxification processes, they use moisture-absorbing ingredients like baking soda, clays, and arrowroot powder to keep you dry. They also use antibacterial essential oils to keep stink at bay. (Did you know that sweat doesn’t actually smell? The smell comes from bacteria on your skin that breaks down the sweat.) Now I have an arsenal of high-powered, all-natural super-effective deodorants that I use. While I still don’t reach for deodorant daily, I am happy to have the additional protection when I’m going to an important meeting or event or attending a yoga class. I get nervous sweats easily in high-pressure situations, and these natural deodorants save my pits every time.

Here are three fabulous options for natural deodorants that will keep you fresh and dry all summer long…

Soapwalla — This deodorant cream comes in two versions—the original Soapwalla (a blend of lavender, tea tree, sweet orange and peppermint) and the Citrus Deodorant Cream (a blend of 5 citrus oils plus vanilla absolute). Both are highly effective and long lasting. The formula is a soft putty that is easy to spread under your arms. After testing this out this summer, I now understand why Soapwalla is a longtime cult favorite among clean beauty enthusiasts. It works!

Meow Meow Tweet — The Baking Soda Free Deodorant Cream from Meow Meow Tweet is perfect for those with more sensitive skin. Some people have very sensitive armpits, especially after shaving, and the baking soda can be irritating and cause discomfort and rashes. This deodorant cream is gentle, but very effective. It uses arrowroot powder and dietary magnesium to keep you dry, and it smells like pink grapefruit, a.k.a. heaven. It is also a soft putty that comes in a jar and spreads easily.

In Love with Body Care — The All Natural Soothe Deodorant is what you should reach for if you want a more traditional deodorant experience in terms of application. The formula is packaged in that familiar roll-up stick and it glides on without pulling. The blend is silky soft and literally melts against warm flesh, making it easy to apply. I tried the Greece version, which has a subtle citrus scent that is pleasing and fresh.

With options like these, there’s no reason to keep using your old deodorant. Give one a try this summer!