Ingredients

Derived from the witch hazel plant, witch hazel extract is a common astringent that naturally contracts the underarm pores to help reduce sweating (but doesn’t stop it altogether like aluminum). It also has properties that combat odor-causing bacteria.

Commonly used in cosmetics, kaolin is a natural, off-white clay powder that’s mined directly from the earth. We use it in our deodorant to help absorb underarm sweat, as well as to enhance the consistency of the product.

Gum Arabic, also known as Acacia Gum, is a natural food-grade gum that comes from the sap of the acacia tree. Instead of reaching for a cheaper stabilizing chemical, we use gum arabic as a safe and effective solubilizer that keeps the essential oils in our deodorant nicely combined with the other liquid ingredients, preventing separation.

Triethyl citrate is a natural “ester” that’s derived from pure grain ethanol and citric acid. It’s used a lot in food, but it also happens to be a great deodorant ingredient because it kicks in when sweat is present and prevents the sweat from breaking down into components that bacteria find to be delicious (which leads to smells).

Commonly used in baby creams and sunscreen products, zinc oxide is a natural mineral powder that happens to be very effective in minimizing the growth of new, odor-causing bacteria under the arms. It also has a lubricating quality that helps create a silky smooth finish on our deodorant.

Zinc oxide powder generally comes in two “sizes”: non-nano (very small particles of zinc) and nano (unfathomably small particles of zinc). Although zinc is a very safe substance, there are some concerns with using the nano form of zinc oxide for skin applications as it’s sometimes believed (though has been disproven) that the particles are so small that they can enter the bloodstream through the skin. Whether true or not, we use only non-nano zinc oxide in our deodorant to eliminate this concern altogether.

It sounds a bit weird, but xanthan gum actually comes from a type of bacteria. When this bacteria is fed sugar, it develops a sticky coating that’s then collected and processed into this natural, food-grade gum. Xanthan gum is an excellent thickener, so we use it to give our deodorant a creamy, non-runny consistency that prevents drips and makes it a breeze to apply.

Citric acid is one of the most common food additives in the world (typically for preservation and/or flavor). We use it to moderate the pH of our formula, and to enhance the effectiveness of the preservatives.

Not all alcohols are created equal — the yucky, drying stuff to avoid in skincare products is isopropyl alcohol (also known as rubbing alcohol). Benzyl alcohol, on the other hand, is an organic alcohol that occurs naturally in fruits such as apricots and cranberries. We use a very small amount in our deodorant as a preservative — an essential component of all liquid skincare formulas to create a safe shelf life by ensuring no bacteria or mold can develop inside the bottle. Unlike many common synthetic preservatives, benzyl alcohol is mild and non-carcinogenic.

Ethylhexylglycerin (say that 10 times fast!) is naturally-derived from vegetable oil. It’s a safe preservative that we use in small amounts as an alternative to harmful parabens. Preservatives are an essential component of all liquid skincare formulas to ensure no bacteria or mold can develop inside the bottle. As with the benzyl alcohol preservative we use, ethylhexylglycerin is mild and non-carcinogenic.

Essential oils are the natural oils pressed from various plant and fruit leaves, seeds, stems, and peels. We use 100% pure essential oils in our deodorant as a natural fragrance alternative to damaging artificial fragrances that are common in other deodorants and skincare products.

Due to their high concentration, essential oils can actually be irritating to skin when used improperly (i.e., undiluted) and in large quantities. However, we use only a very small amount in our formulation which is even less than the quantity considered safe for kids and teens.

Our Fresh Lime Sport Deodorant includes the essential oils of lime, lemon, and bergamot.

Our Mountain Mint Sport Deodorant includes the essential oils of spearmint, cedarwood, and peppermint.

Our Vanilla Dream Sport Deodorant includes the essential oils of lemon and allspice, plus vanilla oleoresin.

Our Sunset Bloom Sport Deodorant includes the essential oils of grapefruit, lavender, and bergamot.