Cruelty-Free Deodorant
Does shopping for cruelty-free deodorant have you up in arms? When looking for a deodorant product, everyone has different needs. Whether you are shopping at your local health food store, drugstore, mega-mart or online, the world of cruelty-free deodorants has something for everyone.
Fortunately, cruelty-free deodorants are popping up all over the place. The following cruelty-free products are all fairly easy to find and one of them is sure to meet your needs, whether you need a strong antiperspirant, deodorant, a natural deodorant stone, or even if you would like to make your own product:
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are chemical agents that reduce perspiration or sweating.
Almay
Avon
Certain Dri
Estée Lauder
Mitchum
Deodorants
Deodorants are not antiperspirants—they do not prevent sweating. They work by masking the smell produced by sweat-eating bacteria.
Burt’s Bees Herbal Deodorant
Jason
Nature’s Gate
Tom’s of Maine
Deodorant Stones
This is nature’s deodorant: A combination of mineral salts that control odor-causing bacteria.
Body Crystal
Crystal Body Deodorant
Deodorant Stones of America
L’OCCITANE
Homemade Deodorant
If you are feeling ambitious, you can even make your own deodorant. I like the essential oils from Aura Cacia. Some people are sensitive to essential oils, so always do a small test on your skin and wait 24 hours to see if you have an adverse reaction before applying liberally.
On a small saucer, mix the following oils with your finger. Once combined, massage a thin layer of the oil under your arms until completely rubbed in:
1 drop essential rose oil
6 drops jojoba oil
2 drops essential lavender oil
1 drop essential vanilla oil
Click here to search for more cruelty-free brands and please post about your favorite cruelty-free deodorant too!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:41 am
thank you! this is so awesome! i never know what to buy. thank you thank you thank you!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
I have used the crystal deodorant for years and I love it!
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
I like Mitchum
October 23rd, 2008 at 7:36 pm
What about some that are chemical free? Any suggestions?
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
this is awesome! I just e-mailed method begging for a deoderant ! I’m sure they’ll have one eventually ………
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:59 pm
I use Tom’s of Maine (in lavender) and it works really well for me.
October 24th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I have tried many of the brands of vegan deodorants and unfortunately, I have had skin reactions to them (continual burning on my skin, or making my skin red and raw). I have very sensitive skin, but need a good deodorant that works. I am a vegan and really want to find a good vegan option. I am not sure why I don’t have a skin reaction to Arrid and I do have one to Jason and Toms of Maine. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.
October 25th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I just wanted to point out a company that is 100% vegetarian and around 74-84% Vegan. LUSH Cosmetics. This company makes products that are both eco friendly and animal friendly for both men and women. Check out the website http://www.lush.com
October 26th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
To Traci and Deana:
I have a lot of problems with the above deodorants, and not with commercial antiperspirants. As a vegan, I resorted to going to the health food store and specifically looking for deodorant without Polypropylene Glycol also shortened to just Propylene Glycol, it is a skin irritant for most people (and very dangerous chemical), also look for one scented with essential oil rather than fragrance oil. Kiss My Face make a nice lavender scented one. If that doesn’t work, try the crystal (salt) from the health food store. it is relatively cheap, works really really well even for sweaty boys, and lasts a really long time. Good Luck!
October 29th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
OMG! Yeah!Thanks. Now I know what to buy. Cruelty-free 4 life!
October 29th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Thank you so much!!!! It is so hard to find an antiperspirant that is cruelty free. The only one I could ever find was from the BodyShop in the UK and they don’t ship to the US not to mention it only last 12 hours if your not active.
October 29th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Are the above deodorants considered vegan? Also, I do not buy Tom’s products any longer b/c the Colgate Co. bought 84 percent of the company and that company has evil practices when it comes to animal rights.
Thanks,
Melissa
October 29th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I just discovered Florere, it’s shea-butter based chemical-free cream deodorant and it works wonderfully. Also Herbal Magic roll-on by Home Health Brands works great. Those are the only 2 non-chemical brands I’ve found that actually work on me!
October 29th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
The crystal (Stone) forms a barrier, but if you have break thru sweating, it stinks. Mitchum is my favorite, it works the best.
October 30th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Thank you for showing us this cruelty-free products, even here in Spain
October 30th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Good to know, I’ve been using Mitchum for a while
I don’t like the smell though, so I use Lush deodorant as well
October 30th, 2008 at 9:21 am
I use straight cider vinegar. It works perfectly by killing all odor causing bacteria. Just apply under arms and wait a minute (actually seconds) to dry before dressing. Organic vinegar is better, but if you can’t afford it, any brand cider vinegar will do. Try it. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!
October 30th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I need help finding a cruelty free laundry detergent?!
October 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I use Mitchum clear. Works wonders and cruelty free. Who could ask for more?
October 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am
While all of the products are cruelty free to animals, not all of them are good for your body, since they have chemicals. The best chemical free deodorants I’ve found are from Aubrey Organics.
October 30th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I would like to get cruelty free products.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Deana,
I was thinking you can try one of those deodorant stones by a cruelty free company. I know Peta lists some names above that are cruelty free and gives us the link to go to the direct website to check out the deodorant stones. At first glance it looks like they may not work well, but you will be surprized. Several family members and I have our own stone to use:)
I stopped using Tom’s of Maine because they were bought out by Colgate-Palmolive, which is a company like Proctor and Gamble–they refuse to stop doing horrific animal testing. A product similiar to the Arrid brand you are currently using is Mitchum for women, or Certain Dri, but these two do not do the horrible animal testing that Arrid does.
Since you have sensitive skin, you might also like try and make your own deodorant that Peta posted up above using essential oils.Just make a small batch–a very small amount goes a long way.I hope this info helps you and others.
October 31st, 2008 at 2:32 am
To Kim:
Method makes a wonderful laundry detergent, which I love. You can find it at Method.com, Target, or Whole Foods Market.
November 5th, 2008 at 11:43 am
To Melissa,
I had noticed that Colgate purchased a lot of Tom’s of Maine. I emailed the company. They replied immediately and said that Colgate Palm. uses animal testing only 1% of the time/none when it comes to their products. Do you know more on the stats? I don’t buy them any more. I appreciated the response. but, they wanted me to email Colgate and tell them to stop all animal testing. They also stated that Colgate has a goal of being totally free of animal testing in the year…whatever? Can’t they just stop? I’m not buying Tom’s of Maine products.
November 6th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Yves-Rocher does not test on animals. They have several anti-perspirants and deodorants, as well as many other products.
November 11th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Lush (http://www.lush.com), as mentioned above, has some totally cruelty-free, vegan deodorants, which come with very little packaging, making them quite environmentally friendly. I use myself ‘Aromaco’, which has a nice, subtle smell. It works pretty well, considering that I bike everyday to work
Another alternative (which I haven’t tried) is to simply apply some baking soda with a damp cloth to the underarms (or with a brush or duster if you prefer to apply it dry).
Oliver, on behalf of
‘Building An Ark: 101 Solutions to Animal Suffering’
http://www.earthfuture.com/ark/book.asp
March 15th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
I cannot believe Tom’s of Maine was bought by Colgate. Thank you so much for that info- I have been using them b/c I thought they were cruelty-free, but now I will boycott all of their products.
August 7th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Seeing this page makes me feel that much better about my choice to sell AVON products! (Before I signed on to be a Rep., I did some checking to make sure that I wasn’t supporting a cruel, ugly industry. You were my main source of info. on AVON.)
Thank you for all you do for animals, to keep us informed as to whom is a “good guy” and who is the really, really BAD guy(s)! Because of you… I’ve managed to get not just my family, but most of my customers buying cruelty-free (& excellent) AVON anti-perspirants.
August 7th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
PS: Thank you for the reminder that Tom’s of Maine was purchased by Colgate-Palmolive. Arrgh! It used to be my favorite toothpaste, too.