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Can Deodorants Cause Cancer?
 Numerous studies carried out over the years have indicated that the chemicals in our regular deodorants are linked to cancer in some way or another. For example, researchers from the University of Reeding carried out a recent study that found parabens (which are chemicals commonly found in deodorants) in 99% of the breast cancer patients involved in their study. The problem is that this study and others like it haven’t actually shown any conclusive evidence that proves that deodorants are playing a role in the increasing incidence of cancer. It’s a classic example of the correlation and causation problem – does finding parabens in cancer patients prove that those chemicals started the cancer in the first place, or is it just a coincidence that they’re there?
While the National Cancer Institute and the Canadian Cancer Society attempt to downplay our fears about suspicious ingredients in our deodorants, almost all officials agree that more research needs to be done on the dangers of the chemicals we’re spraying onto our bodies and into our air on a daily basis.
So what can you do if you don’t want to risk it? You can switch to natural ingredients, of course. After all, there’s always a green alternative!
Deodorants using only natural ingredients that are not suspected of any adverse reactions are a pretty safe substitute to regular deodorants. We decided to try out some samples we received from the folks at PurelyGreat, a relatively new brand of vegan handmade deodorants. Their ingredients? Natural soda, corn starch, vegetable glycerine and essential oils. That’s it.
What we loved about PurelyGreat deodorant:
- They did their job of fighting BO very well and they were long-lasting, providing protection all day.
- The deo goes on creamy making it easy to spread but it also absorbs quickly so your pits don’t feel wet or sticky afterwards. Your skin feels slightly powdery once the cream is absorbed.
- The scented deodorants we tried were the citrus and lavender scents, and they were very light and not overpowering even for our most sensitive and migraine-prone tester.
- Neither the scented or unscented deos caused any skin irritations for our testers who suffer from sensitive underarms.
- Comes in beautiful cobalt blue glass bottles that you can reuse at home!
Top tips from our testers:
- Since no chemicals have been added to keep the texture of the cream consistent, the ingredients can - quite naturally – separate over time. Before applying, give your cream deodorant a good stir with a waxing stick to blend it all together again.
- Use the waxing stick to apply the cream to your underarms and voila – no mess, no waste.
- After applying, wait a minute before dressing to let the deo be absorbed so it doesn’t get on your clothes.
- If you find your deo is a little on the dry side, simply add a few drops of water and stir. Your deo will be back to its glorious creamy self! Make sure to add only a drop at a time so you don’t end up with a really runny solution.
Verdict:
PurelyGreat’s natural deodorants are a great alternative to the regular stuff that may or may not be causing us all sorts of health problems that we don’t know about just yet. While the debate drags on between scientists, health officials and the beauty industry’s powerhouses, we’re thinking it might just be a good idea to err on the side of caution and make the switch to greener solutions.
purelygreat is celebrating its one-year anniversary by offering 2 deodorants for $19.99! To make the switch to purelygreat deodorants, shop here.
What do you think? Do we need scientific evidence to officially prove that chemicals are bad for us, or is it common sense to stay away?
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