Natural products seem to win over the population lately. Stores like Lush promise cruelty-free and vegan products while smelling magical tend to lure a deal of customers.
This week I couldn't go to Lush for my shopping spree so Target became the obvious choice. In the beauty aisle, I passed Pacifica Underarm Deodorant Wipes and thought about giving it a try. I also grabbed Jason Deodorant whose wonders I heard of through the grapevine.
My usual deodorant, Old Spice, is a deodorant and antiperspirant. On certain days, I have a terrible reaction from it. It's not unbearable, but I tend to get an itch. I thought the most natural alternative would ease the discomfort during a grand vacation to New York.
For Pacifica, I chose the wipes containing Coconut Milk and Essential Oils. A mixture of Sage, Witch Hazel, Castor Oil and Shea Butter was also present. Zeolites, which are absorptive minerals, mask malodors while creating a an anti-microbial screen. While I wasn't fond of the $9 price, I still wanted to see what the buzz was about. Pacifica boasts natural ingredients to neutralize odors for hours. The cruelty-free biodegradable wipes come without aluminum, sulfates, SLS, parabens, phthalates and petroleum in a neat patterned bag.
Reapplication is key because this is not an antiperspirant, but the warm coconut smell does last several hours. They also carry makeup, perfume and skincare products. Unfortunately, the bag of wipes is a mere 30 count which only lasted a little more than a month. Otherwise, this is my go-to brand for deodorant aside from Lush's Aromaco and T'eo bars.
Next up was Jason Deodorant in Apricot which along with the ban on aluminum, parabens and phthalates has no propylene glycol. Again, it is not an antiperspirant which didn't bother me. What did irked me was an allergic reaction a couple days later. Something in the deodorant gave me the itching sensation and a red rash I once felt with the Tom's of Maine Deodorant. Needless to say, my trip was cut short and I went home in search of a relieving salve.
My advice for anyone who wants to get with the natural program is to do your research. Before embarking on my deodorant test drive, I spent time reading reviews and asking people who had experienced in this department. I couldn't win it all and I'm glad I can rely on Pacifica.
If you are certain one product is right for you, then test it on a small patch of skin for a couple of days before fully committing. This is advice I should have heeded for both deodorants and something I remember from now on for any new products introduced.
The most important thing to know is a once familiar ingredient can change over time. All the ingredients in the Jason Deodorant are things I used in the past with no issue. However, I can't deny that I might have developed an allergy to an ingredient or that a combination of ingredients led to my reaction.
I probably won't use this brand, I'm looking forward to other Pacifica products in the future. And if anyone is interested in buying a natural alternative, please remember to shop wisely!
