As part of the #NOWWellness Influencer Program, I received product samples and compensation from NOW® to thank me for my participation, but the product selection and all opinions are genuinely my own.
Long-time readers may remember that I’m a big advocate for the benefits of using natural deodorants and did my best to avoid antiperspirants [it was actually an unorthodox suggestion from my doctor that I do so]. Fast-forward half a decade, I had to stop using aluminum-free deodorants due to several overlapping health issues. There were only clinical strength drugstore antiperspirants on my bathroom shelf for a while. I think I finally have my hormones, acidity, and perspiration under control though, so I’m slowly easing back into using more natural alternatives again, and it feels great!
I experimented with a few deodorants while I was in Russia this summer, but none of them really did it for me, so I waited until I got back to the US to try the new NOW® Solutions Long-Lasting Deodorant Sticks ($8.99) that just hit the shelves a few weeks ago. They are currently available in three varieties: Unscented, Cedarwood + Cypress, and Rose + Ylang Ylang.
These stick deodorants feature a simple but impressive formula, which is notably:
- cruelty-free
- gluten-free
- fragrance-free
- talc-free
- paraben-free
- sulfate-free
- silicone-free
- vegan
- no harmful forms of aluminum
- no mineral oil
- no petrolatum
- no propylene glycol
- no artificial colors
Aluminum-free deodorants work by allowing your body to perspire naturally while keeping you fresh. Simply put, your body will still sweat but the deodorant will help control the smell. This is why deodorants are not ideal for everyone, and in the end, it all comes down to personal choice. For example, I still use an antiperspirant when I expect to have a stressful day or when going to a place where I wouldn’t feel comfortable if any moisture were to show through my clothing. But for everyday, day-to-day activities, a quick swipe of a natural deodorant helps me feel fresh while allowing my body to thermoregulate the way it deems necessary.
NOW® Solutions Long-Lasting Deodorant Stick Rose + Ylang Ylang is my favorite among the three. I just love the mix of the dreamy Damask rose absolute and the sensual Ylang Ylang flower oil, it’s a very elegant fragrance despite being so simple. This sensual scent stays on my skin all day long, and I enjoy catching whiffs of it as the day goes by. It’s almost like a subtle solid fragrance! I also find the deodorant very effective, it works well for my lifestyle. I apply it in the morning as soon as I get out of the shower, and don’t feel the need to freshen up until the evening. I usually take two quick showers a day, so I rinse off my skin and reapply the deodorant again for the night. Sometimes I go with the Unscented version when I’m very tired though because the Rose fragrance can be distracting.
The ingredient list is impressively short and deceptively simple. It almost looks like a DIY project, but with a lot of science, precision, and testing behind it. As one of my favorite authors, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, once said: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
Ingredients: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Zinc Oxide, Cetearyl Alcohol & Cetearyl Glucoside, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Absolute, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E) (soy), Cananga Odorata (Ylang Ylang Extra) Flower Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Natural Hinokitiol.
One thing to keep in mind if you wear a lot of dark colors: this is not an invisible formula and the deodorants do leave a faint white cast on the skin. Other than that, I couldn’t think of any cons and I am very happy with the overall performance. I’m really glad that NOW® came up with these because it’s always nice to have more high-quality options that are reasonably priced.
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It’s hard to find aluminum-free deodorants that work when your body is on the edge of needing something stronger. But I believe that if you don’t need a prescription-strength product, it’s always better to go with a milder option, maybe that’s just me though. Let me know in the comments if you agree or disagree!
