A Dermatologist Says These Skin Care Products Are ‘The Worst Things You Can Buy’

Americans spent $6.6 billion dollars in 2023 trying to keep their armpits (and other parts) stink-free, and many of them chose a natural deodorant to do the job.

These products are often touted as better for us than conventional deodorants, but is that really true?

That’s what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — asked Dr. Divya Shokeen, the founder of Ocean Skin & Vein Institute in Manhattan Beach, California, when she recently chatted with us about some of the surprising things we don’t know about sweat.

Listen to the full episode by pressing “play.”

“I think natural deodorants are the worst things you can buy,” Shokeen told us. “I actually see an allergy from a natural deodorant almost every other day [in my office].”

Though these products do not contain aluminum, parabens, or phthalates — ingredients found in conventional deodorants that many people do not want on or in their bodies — they can still cause trouble.

“Typically, they’re made from natural substances, but ‘natural’ is not a thing,” Shokeen said. “Let’s make that very clear — because poison ivy is ‘natural,’ but you don’t want to rub that [on yourself].”

In fact, Cedars-Sinai notes that “the FDA has never established a regulatory definition for ‘natural’ in cosmetics products like deodorant.”

Many of the ingredients that natural deodorants use to fight odor, including baking soda and essential oils and fragrances, can actually be incredibly irritating, Shokeen noted.

Baking soda, which is known for its odor-absorbing properties, is alkaline, so when it comes in contact with our skin, which is more acidic, it can upset our natural pH balance and cause a reaction.

But even baking soda-free deodorants can be problematic for some users.

“The essential oils [are often] what people will develop an allergy to,” Shokeen said.

Coconut oil, which is sometimes used as a skin conditioner, can also cause issues.

And while some people may feel better about not using products that contain aluminum due to worries that it may cause breast cancer or Alzheimer’s, there is no compelling evidence linking the metal to either of these diseases, Shokeen said.

“Major health associations have gone through and made sure that there is nothing that supports this claim,” she told us.

Ultimately, while there’s not much to back the argument that natural deodorants are better for us than conventional deodorants (which can also cause issues for some people), you should choose whatever product makes you feel — and smell — best.

We also chatted with Shokeen about the surprising reason some people never smell, what too many people get wrong about sweat and toxins, and much more. Listen to the full episode above, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to “Am I Doing It Wrong?” so you don’t miss a single episode, including our investigations of the ins and outs of tipping, how to apologize or vanquish your credit card debt, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, tips for online shopping, taking care of your teeth and pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying in a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, cooking tips from celebrity chef Jet Tila, shocking laundry secrets, the tips and tricks for cleaner dishes, getting your best workout and more.

For more from Dr. Shokeen, visit the websites for her dermatology practice and her skin care line.

Need some help with something you’ve been doing wrong? Email us at [email protected], and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.