Safe and Natural Deodorant for Kids

Feb 22, 2021

By Chey Birch

Safe and Natural Deodorant for Kids - The benefits

Axilla™ Natural Deodorant Spray - Wave Fresh

Growing up is hard to do. Stinky pits can be a bummer - kick body odor to the curb with safe deodorants for kids.

Tween and teen years can be a difficult time for kids and parents. As your kiddo's body starts to change, you might begin to notice persistent body odor despite washing daily. Here's your cue to introduce your child to the world of underarm care. If all-natural or plant-based products are important to you, the more likely they'll be important to your child. Educating children about safe and healthy personal care products is something they'll likely take with them for the rest of their lives. Learn about the benefits of choosing a natural deodorant and what to look for when you introduce personal care products to your children.

Comfortable, easy-to-use products that make kids feel good about themselves can help check stinky pits off the laundry list of things pre-teens and teens have to deal with

Learn more with our new Kids & Teen Deodorant Range.

What Age Should Kids Start Using Deodorant?

Is it time for your child to start wearing deodorant? Kids start puberty at different ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many girls begin puberty between the ages of 9 and 13 and many boys between 10 and 15.

As a general rule of thumb, once the undeniable physical changes begin to occur (growth spurts, body hair, breast development, deepening voice) is when you may notice body odor. There's not a one-size-fits-all age when a child should start wearing deodorant. Every child is unique. Kids who are more active in sports and sweat more could benefit from using deodorant earlier than their less-sweaty classmates.

Some parents may consider the best kid-friendly deodorants as early as 9 or 10 years old. Think about deciding with your child together based on what they feel is best for their body. If your child feels ready to start preventing body odor, begin looking for safe deodorants for kids. This is also a great time to introduce the benefits of choosing well-made skincare to your child.

Why Choose a Natural Deodorant for Kids

If you're the parent of a pre-teen or teenager, you probably grew up with basic commercial deodorants and didn't think twice about it. You also probably watched your parents use spray-on antiperspirant or slather on a deodorant stick before going to work - and they probably didn't think twice about it either. But today, we have new information about the harmful effects common ingredients found in personal care products can have on our health (and the environment). For example, many traditional deodorants constrain ingredients like aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, and triclosan to prevent body odor. However, these ingredients are linked to an increased risk of medical problems, including breast cancer and Alzheimer's.

Natural deodorant for kids is made without these harmful ingredients and works to prevent odor and reduce moisture with skin-healthy ingredients found in nature.

The Benefits of Natural Deodorant for Kids

Organic deodorants for kids have the same health benefits as adult products. There's no need to specifically purchase a deodorant made for kids as long as it's formulated with natural, non-toxic ingredients.

Learn more about the benefits of natural, aluminum-free deodorant for kids.

You (and your child) Need to Sweat

We get it. Trying to convince a teen that sweating is "cool" is like trying to sell ice to an Eskimo. But kids need to learn that sweating is a natural, healthy part of life. Sweat helps regulate body temperature and release toxins. Unfortunately, chemical-laden deodorants clog pores and make it much harder for the body to perspire the way it needs to function properly.

Natural deodorant for kids will still help prevent body odor by preventing bacteria from mixing with sweat on the skin. If sweating is a big issue for your child, look for ingredients like arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, or baking soda to help absorb excess wetness.

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Natural Deodorants May Have Health Benefits

Natural deodorants for boys and girls are less likely to cause skin issues and more serious long-term health conditions. While it isn't exactly clear how many toxins absorbed through the skin can lead to serious illnesses, including breast cancer, there is some research to cause concern. Learn more about breast cancer causes here. This becomes an even bigger concern when tweens or teens begin shaving their underarms. Razor burns and Knicks can act like an open-source for aluminum to absorb into the skin.

Another health benefit of using all-natural deodorant for kids is that the lack of pore-blocking ingredients allows "good" bacteria to prevent odor even when you don't have deodorant on.

So, essentially what we're trying to say is that the more you wear chemical-filled deodorant, the more likely you're going to stink when you're not wearing it.

No Embarrassing Yellow Stains

If your child has yellow stains on the armpits of their white clothes that you can't seem to get off no matter how much stain remover you use - deodorant could be the culprit. These annoying pit stains happen when the aluminum in antiperspirant or deodorant mixes with underarm sweat and gets absorbed into your shirts.

The same goes for colored clothing. If discoloration on the armpit areas of colored clothes appears, it's primarily caused by the aluminum in the product.

Less Armpit Irritation

Let's touch back on shaving for a moment. There's certainly no right or wrong age for kids to begin shaving, but once their body changes and shaving is something they'd like to do, help prevent itchy and uncomfortable irritation with safe deodorant for tweens.

Less skin irritation also means a longer-lasting armpit shave and less razor burn!

You CAN Sweat Less With Natural Deodorant

Your child's body will adjust to sweating again once they stop blocking their pores with antiperspirant. This is especially beneficial for kids currently using a deodorant with pore-clogging ingredients. Once the body can eliminate toxins the natural way, your child will naturally start to sweat less.

What Deodorants are Safe for Kids?

First, it's important to educate your kids (and yourself) on the different types of deodorants, their ingredients, and potential side effects. For example, antiperspirants block or plug sweat glands to prevent sweating, while traditional deodorants control odor caused by the mix of sweat and bacteria on the skin.

Some teens may gravitate toward adult deodorants or antiperspirants. Most mainstream brands contain harsh chemical ingredients like aluminum, parabens, propylene glycol, triclosan, and artificial fragrances. Products containing aluminum are often under scrutiny for potentially harmful side effects.

"Making the change to a healthier deodorant means putting better ingredients on your body. Remember, the skin is like a sponge. Whatever you put on, it ends up in your bloodstream.”

What We Love About Axilla™ Natural Deodorant Spray - Wave Fresh:

Their first deodorant. Make it a good one. Axilla™ Natural Deodorant Spray - Wave Fresh delivers effective natural odour protection in a quick, easy spray created for that first-deodorant moment. No fingers. No mess. No aluminium. Wave Fresh combines crisp mint and citrus notes for a fresh, cooling scent they’ll actually want to use.

Backed by more than 14 years of Axilla™ natural deodorant expertise, its zinc-based formula helps neutralise unwanted body odour without synthetic fragrances or stopping the body’s natural sweating process.

Effective everyday natural odour protection
Fresh, minty with a cool side
No fingers, no mess and no visible residue
Invisible on application and won’t mark clothes
Quick and easy non-aerosol spray
No aluminium or synthetic fragrances

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$21.95 AUD

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How to Choose Safe, Gentle Deodorants for Kids

Some brands cater to deodorants specifically formulated just for kids, but any natural and organic deodorant that's safe for your armpits is also safe for your child. The best deodorant for kids is formulated with ingredients that benefit the body. If using deodorant is hard for your kid, they may be more convinced to use one that's made with fun, fresh scents.

Most commercial deodorants don't contain naturally derived ingredients. Here are some key ingredients to look for when shopping for the best deodorants for kids.

Shea Butter – Shea butter is anti-inflammatory, soothing on the skin, and reduces inflammation.

Tapioca Starch - Tapioca starch absorbs moisture to help fight bacteria and reduce odor too.

Coconut oil - Coconut oil is antibacterial. With less odor-causing bacteria calling your teen's underarm home, they'll stay dry and fresh longer.

Kaolin Clay – Absorbs body moisture, increases blood circulation, and neutralizes body odor.

Deodorant for Kids with Sensitive Skin

Another big concern with antiperspirants and deodorants is skin sensitivity. Some kids are more prone to skin sensitives. Children may experience an atopic or allergic rash using deodorant, especially kids with sensitive skin. Your child's underarm skin is delicate, sensitive, and still developing. You want to pick products that won't cause a rash or otherwise irritate them. Look for a natural deodorant for kids formulated without skin-irritating ingredients like aluminum, parabens, triclosan, and artificial fragrances to be as safe as possible.

Before your child uses any deodorant, consider doing a patch test first. Apply a small amount of product to the back of their hand or arm. Look for any signs of an allergic reaction like itching, red spots, or small bumps on the skin. If you don't see a response, it's most likely safe for your child to apply larger amounts of the product to their underarms.

Choosing the Best Deodorant for Kids

As a parent, you're presumably wary about exposing your child to harsh, unnatural chemicals. There are plenty more healthy, safe, and kid-friendly deodorants made with naturally derived ingredients when it comes to personal care today.

Black Chicken Remedies Axilla™ Natural Deodorant Paste Original is Australia's most trusted multi-award-winning natural deodorant. The simple, easy-to-apply paste keeps body odor at bay all day with no artificial fragrances, preservatives, toxins, and words so long you can't pronounce. The product is also available in a sensitive-skin formula made without baking soda: Axilla Natural Deodorant Paste Barrier Booster.

The Axilla™ Natural Deodorant Paste Original Signature offers the same odor-fighting powers with a calming, ocean-inspired scent. This unique deodorant blends various essential oils to harmonize with your mood and curb body odor.

If there's anything our teenagers could use, it's feelings of calm.

Written by Chey Birch

Founder & Formulator, Black Chicken Remedies | 20+ Years Studying Aromatherapy & Natural Ingredients

Chey Birch is the Founder of Black Chicken Remedies, one of Australia's most trusted natural skincare and wellness brands. She has studied aromatherapy and natural ingredients for over 20 years and spent 16 years building BCR from her kitchen bench in Bondi, personally formulating every product in the range using therapeutic-grade botanical ingredients. She is the creator of Australia's first natural deodorant paste - Axilla Deodorant Paste™ - now trusted under more than 2 million armpits globally. Her mission is to help people disconnect from synthetic chemicals and reconnect with remedies that genuinely work.

Learn more about Chey →