Aluminium-free deoderants - anyone tried them please?

[CarofromWton]

I've heard how harmful aluminium can be in antiperspirants/deoderants and I was alarmed to see it top of the list in the ingredients in my roll-on today!

I want to change myself and DD1 (10) to a safe, sensitive deoderant without aluminium. I've done a quick search of the internet but there seem to be several options and I don't know which is best to order.

I would be grateful to hear opinions from anyone who has tried any of these before I part with my pennies.

TIA.

Ok Zebraa - I'll look out for the alternatives.

Thanks all - I'm off to bed. Catch up with you all tomorrow evening.

I have three different ones - one crystal stick that usually works OK, this tea tree one that's also fine most of the time and a standard one. I alternate them as the natural ones don't work well on very hot days and I like to be certain (and so use the standard one) for special occasions. My dd(13) doesn't use one at all and thankfully doesn't smell, although she's reached puberty. If she did want one I'd probably get her a crystal one as they're cheaper, but they are a little more faffy as you have to wet them.

The scare stories about aluminium in deodorants being linked to cancer are just urban myths, which is just as well because 'natural' 'crystal' deodorants like pitrok all contain aluminium.

SWM, please elaborate! (Although I'm off to bed now, so feel free to ignore - but I will look this thread up tomorrow.)

Good point, SWM, it says that the crystal stick contains ammonium alum, which sounds suspiciously like aluminium to me! I'm not aware of all the potential evils of conventional deodorants, but I thought there was also something not good about the anti-perspirant bit?? Incidentally, my tea tree one is aluminium-free.

All these crystal deodorants are lumps of ammonium alum (amounium aluminium sulphate) or sometimes potassium alum. Notice in the pitrok ads they say "Does not contain aluminium chlorohydrate or aluminium zirconium" not "Does not contain aluminium"? It's natural too

They try to make a virtue out of not being antiperspirants by saying that they allow toxins to escape through natural perspiration. Talk of eliminating body toxins is a sure sign of quackery in my book.

My crystal one is potassium alum. It says on it that it contains no aluminium. I find it surprisingly effective.

Sanex have started making one called Natur'Protect that is free from parabens and aluminium salts too, but I'm not sure it's available in the UK (I'm in France)

I use the one that's kinda purple colour from Boots, spray or roll on, find them great. I looked into it cos of the alum, but actually transferred over when I realised that my skin undermy arms was constantly irritated by ordinary deods. Since transferring over, have not looked back. Doesn't always stop you sweating, but does stop the smell. Keeps your skin feeling like skin instead of the white filmy/cracked skin I used to get. For me that's the biggets bonus.

I use the pitrok spray one and one from Lush (not a powder one, a solid looking one) until the weather heats up and then I tend to go back to a normal roll on.

I use the crystal pit rock one for years now. Definitely recommend it, very effective, lasts forever and safer for your health. Took a while to adjust and at first I missed the fresh fragrance of my previous deodorants but not for long! No clashing with perfume now

Beantin, would you mind telling us the name of your deodorant?

PItrock is great. It works - I'm not sure of the benefits of an antiperspirant as you have to sweat somewhere when it is hot! I've used it for several years including the years of the heatwaves. Per use it is incredibly cheap as one stick probably lasts at least 2 years.

LUSH do a lovely coconut deodrant powder

So many products...so little time...

Hi again everyone. Still veering towards the Pitrok stick here (thanks Lilymaid for reinforcing it) so I'll pick it up from the shops later this week.

However I made the decision after my shower this morning not to wear any deoderant at all and I have to say (possibly TMI) I DO NOT SMELL and I don't even feel the slightest bit sticky. So I will continue with the au natural approach, but I may need to ask DH to be brutally honest with me as I don't want to lose any friends!