There’s been a lot of talk in the past few years about chemicals in deodorant and their potential cancer-causing properties. I can’t speak to that because I’m not a scientist (weird, right?), but I do know that traditional deodorants and antiperspirants have never quite worked for me: my sensitive skin and haphazard shaving habits make me the perfect candidate for redness and irritation (and if you’ve ever applied deodorant on raw skin, you know just how painful that irritation can be), and the unmistakable plasticky-powdered-flower stench knows just how to induce a migraine in seconds flat. I used to forego the stuff altogether because I don’t have much of a natural scent, but since I’ve started exercising regularly (a novel concept!), that is no longer an option. And so began the search for a natural deodorant that isn’t Tom’s of Maine or a friggin’ rock. It’s pricy, so call me a flagrant wastrel if you must, but Lavanila’s The Healthy Deodorant is the only way to go from here. The light, fresh scents come from a combination of essential oils, and thanks to its primary ingredient (aloe!) I’ll never have to face a compulsively itchy armpit ever again. And here’s the kicker: it really works, all day long. [$18, Lavanila]
