THE TRUTH ABOUT DEODORANTS, ANTIPERSPIRANTS & ALUMINUM

THE TRUTH ABOUT DEODORANTS, ANTIPERSPIRANTS & ALUMINUM - Pt 1

What Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Know About Sweat, Smell & Hormones

Most women think sweat = smell… but that’s not true.

Sweat is odorless.Odor happens when bacteria on the skin break sweat down.

This is where the confusion begins - because deodorants and antiperspirants do completely different jobs, and they affect your body very differently… especially for women in their 40s, 50s,60s, 70s and beyond, navigating hormone shifts.

Let’s clear it up.

1. Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant (Not the Same Thing!)

Deodorant

Stops odor only.
Works by reducing or killing bacteria on the skin.
Does not stop sweat.
Comes in creams, sticks, sprays, or serums.

Antiperspirant

Designed to stop sweat itself.
Uses aluminum salts (like aluminum chlorohydrate).
These mix with sweat to form a temporary plug inside the sweat duct, reducing sweat on the skin’s surface.

Only aluminum-based products can legally be called “antiperspirants.”

2. What About “Crystal” Deodorants (Potassium Alum)? Are They Aluminum Too?

Yes - potassium alum contains aluminum, but in a very different chemical form.

The molecule is larger, more stable, and sits on top of the skin.
It does not form plugs or act like antiperspirants.
Current evidence shows minimal to negligible absorption through intact skin.

But - if your philosophy is

“I prefer zero aluminum on my skin,” (due to Aluminum use being tied to the Brain, Dementia, Alzheimers) then crystal deodorants still don’t qualify.

3. Why This Matters More for Women 40+

During perimenopause & menopause-

Sweat patterns change
Body odor can increase
Skin becomes more sensitive
Hormone detox pathways become more important
Xenoestrogens can worsen estrogen dominance or belly fat storage. This cancer promoting estrogen dominance can lead to ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, heavy flooding periods, endometriosis, lumpy breast tissue and much more

So choosing what goes on your skin becomes part of your total hormone-health strategy.

4. Are There Estrogen-Like Chemicals in Deodorant?

Some ingredients commonly found in “natural” OR conventional deodorants can have estrogenic or endocrine-disrupting signals, including-

Benzalkonium chloride
Lavender & tea tree oil (yes - in vitro they show estrogenic + anti-androgenic activity)
Certain fragrance blends (due to phthalates and musks) Get fragrance free.

For women trying to reduce xenoestrogen load these are worth avoiding.

5. So What Actually Works Without Aluminum?

Women over 40 often need BOTH-