Native’s Natural Deodorants Will Actually Make You Excited About Going Aluminum-Free

In partnership with Native.

For me, spring cleaning is about more than just tidying up my bedroom. It’s a time to reassess and clean up my personal care routine. Working as a beauty reporter for the past three years has opened my eyes to the complex ingredients lurking in our shampoos, lotions, and makeup. While I’ve made strides in choosing more body- and planet-friendly products, there’s one switch I haven’t been able to make -- deodorant.

I’ve dabbled with natural deodorants before and have found some I really do love, but when it comes summer time, I always go back to plain old anti-perspirant. I want to feel dry, and I don’t want to ruin my outfits with sweat, feel uncomfortable, or scare people on the subway away with my stench -- actually, that wouldn’t be so bad. I’ve heard Native Deodorant is one of the best on the market, so I was excited to give it a try and see if it could hold up. Keep reading to see if this $13 natural deodorant became my new go-to. ‍

An Armpit Audit ‍

For a little background, I would say I am a moderately sweaty person. I won’t wear makeup in the summer without setting spray, but I don’t shy away from a gray t-shirt if you know what I mean. I’ve experimented with multiple different natural deodorants before and have found some I really do love, most notably Megababe’s Rosy Pits and Beachy Pits. 

When I’m exercising or spending a lot of time outside in the heat, I hate feeling damp, so I’ll usually just slick on some anti-perspirant as a preventative measure. I replaced my regular deodorant with Native’s Coconut & Vanilla for three weeks, putting it on first thing in the morning. 

It’s What On The Inside That Counts

While I only tried the Coconut & Vanilla, there are currently seventeen other classic scents, including a refreshing Eucalyptus & Mint and a light Lavender & Rose. In addition to the classic scents, Native frequently changes out their limited edition scents, some of the most intriguing at the time of this piece being “Gummy Bears” and “Sweet Cinnamon Hearts.”

Next, there’s the stick itself. Native’s deodorizing capabilities come from three main ingredients. Magnesium hydroxide and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) help neutralize odor-causing bacteria, and tapioca starch keeps your pits feeling dry. There’s also coconut oil and shea butter, revered for their antioxidants and moisturizing properties. I was interested to see lactobacillus acidophilus on the list. Like our gut, our skin has a microbiome of its own, so it makes sense to add a probiotic that helps bring balance, and thus lessens odor. 

Baking soda can be an irritant to those with sensitive skin, but Native has a solution. There’s a whole line of deodorants in the same scents, specifically formulated for sensitive skin. Arrowroot powder is used instead to absorb moisture and keep your underarms dry. 

First Impressions

When I first opened my tube of Native I was met with the most delicious whiff. Sweet scents can often be nauseating, but this is a far cry from anything like a Yankee Candle or Bath & Body Works spray. Native describes it as sweet and sophisticated and they’re spot on. Think piña coladas, banana boat sunscreen, and sandy beaches. If they bottled this fragrance up and sold it as perfume, I’d buy it in a heartbeat. 

One of my favorite things about this product is how invisible it feels on my skin. Often, especially with natural deodorants, there’s a sticky, wet residue left behind. Native, on the other hand, is weightless. It almost feels like there’s nothing there. The formula does have a bit of a gritty texture, which I noticed when I first put it on. I have mildly sensitive skin, so I did find it a bit irritating at first, though that original itchy feeling quickly subsided. 

Native In The Wild

Now, this is what I’m really judging when it comes to deodorant: odor and moisture. 

In terms of keeping me smelling fresh all day long, Native did a really great job. I can’t think of one day during the testing process where I thought I smelled bad, though if you want to fact-check me on that you could reach out to my roommates. Jokes aside, for a moderately-sweaty gal, Native did it’s job of odor protection. If you’re someone who is particularly concerned about BO, I think a midday application will help at keeping odor in check. 

Moisture is where it got a little more complicated. Native isn’t an anti-perspirant, so it’s expected that you will sweat a little. Instead of preventing you from sweating, the formula absorbs moisture to keep you dry. Most days, I had no issue with this and felt pretty dry in the pits from morning to night. There was one particularly hot Los Angeles day when I went for a long walk and felt super clammy at the end. The formula also sweat off onto my shirt. It came out easily, but just felt kind of gross. This was an anomaly of the experience, but definitely something to consider with summer on the horizon. All things considered, Native did a good job at taming odor and moisture given its clean formulation. 

Final Thoughts

If you’re in the market for a natural deodorant, I’d definitely recommend trying Native’s out. The range of scents and sensitive skin formulations mean there’s something for everyone. The brand also just launched a plastic-free packaging option. 

If you’re in the market for a natural deodorant, I’d definitely recommend trying Native’s out. The range of scents and sensitive skin formulations mean there’s something for everyone.

If you’re used to traditional antiperspirants, be patient. According to Native, it can take between two to four weeks for your body to adjust to an aluminum-free deodorant. This is what many refer to as the “detox,” when your body is releasing any buildup of bacteria in the armpit area. It definitely takes a bit to get used to the natural deodorant experience, but it’s the tradeoff you make for a healthier, more eco-friendly product. 

5 More Reasons To Love Native: 

• Aluminum-free, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly? We can get on board with that. Native’s values are represented through their products, packaging, and overall ethos, and we really like where they’re going. 
• With so many delicious scent combinations and an ever-changing rotation of seasonal varieties, Native makes picking your next deodorant feel like an exciting adventure. They’re currently running a collaboration with LA-based lifestyle brand, Jungalow. 
• Now you can clean up your whole personal care routine with Native. The brand has released body washes, sunscreens, toothpastes, and bar soaps. 
• Native is easily accessible, found both online and at major big box retailers like Target and Walmart. The product has thousands of five-star reviews across all these platforms. 
• If you’re curious about going au naturale, Native has a blog with educational information to help you through the process.

Editor’s Note: In addition to their classic deodorant and plastic-free stick, Native also recently released a spray deodorant/body spray. With many familiar scents (including our reviewed Coconut & Vanilla), $14 will get you an easy-to-apply, “goop-free” style deo with the same natural, easy to understand ingredients. While we haven’t tried it just yet, we’re big fans of the brand and look forward to trying it soon.

Say goodbye to aluminum and hello to Native -- try it for yourself today.