However, I'm not one for wasting products and it happened to arrive just as my usual antiperspirant was running really low, so I figured I'd give natural another go. I've now re-bought this deodorant because I found it so great and, for the first time, have experienced a lot more plus sides to this particular type of cosmetic than I have previously.
The biggest difference is that deodorant is all about keeping you smelling fresh but it doesn't stop you sweating. Antiperspirant actually stops you sweating so your underarms stay dry as well as mask any body odour. This isn't actually all that healthy, as they contain aluminium that actually clogs your sweat ducts to stop you sweating. As toxins are released in your sweat, this means your body isn't flushing everything out like is should. However, it can also result in spots, sores, blocked pores and loads of other stuff.
When I use antiperspirants, I tend to get really bad blocked pores under my arms, sometimes causing spots, and uneven skin. Couple this with certain brands having caused red and inflamed skin or eczema flair-ups and I really don't get on well with antiperspirants. In fact, staying dry is sometimes not worth it.
This is why I previously tried to switch to natural deodorants, but while I could cope with them not keeping me dry, I found that most of them fell down on the fragrance front and I was always super aware of the risk of BO.
Initially, I was concerned that the deodorant had a fragrance that was too strong, as I could smell it on my skin at all times throughout the first day. While this wasn't unpleasant, it was a bit much, especially as I do like to wear perfume. However, the more I wore the deodorant, the less aware of the scent I became. In fact, it was only on really warm days that I could really smell it.
Ultimately, this means that I wasn't walking around smelling of sweat, which I am totally okay with. In fact, I would wear a fragrance that was three-times as pungent to stop that being the case.
As well as smelling fresh, the deodorant was really easy to apply. It comes in a stick and you just twist the bottom of the tube to move it up. The deodorant itself melts slightly against the skin, making it easy to glide on and you don't need too much of it. I've gotten better at using a little bit as I got used to it and still see the same great results.
One tube lasted me just over a month, but I get the feeling that the next one will go a bit further now I know how much you need. It's also easy to transport, so I've just thrown it in my bag a few times in case I felt like I needed to reapply - although I never have.
In fact, my skin is a lot more even, I don't get blocked pores and I've had little to no redness. All of this is a huge change compared to when I used antiperspirant, even when I used formulas for sensitive skin. I know that summer is going to be real the test to see how I get on with going natural in this department, but I'm willing to give it a go as, so far, the results have been so positive.
There are four different fragrances to choose from with Elsa's Natural Deodorant Sticks - Ocean, Love, Dew and Sensitive - so I'm going to give them all a try to see if I get on just as well. If you're looking for a natural alternative to antiperspirant, I recommend giving one a try.