Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

A new test compared 52 aluminum-free deodorants to evaluate their efficacy and safety. Some contain controversial substances

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When we have to buy a deodorant we are faced with a wide choice and some questions may arise: is it important that it is aluminum-free? will it be really effective and long as promised on the package? To try to clarify, Öko-Test compared 52 products.





In recent years there has been much discussion of the potential risks of aluminum contained in deodorants, a substance that in the formulation of these products has an anti-perspiration effect. In particular, there was talk of a possible higher risk of breast cancer but on this point the Airc writes:

epidemiological studies did not show significant relationships between the use of the deodorant and the onset of the disease and those carried out on aluminum did not reveal a relationship between its effect on estrogen receptors and breast cancer.

Read also: Does using deodorants with aluminum and parabens increase the risk of breast cancer?

However, aluminum is still a neurotoxic metal and, despite the reassurances, many consumers have now switched to buying exclusively "0% aluminum" or "without aluminum salts" deodorants, and it is for this reason that more and more products are found where these words are in plain sight.

But do aluminum-free deodorants work the same? What alternatives do manufacturers use? To find out, Öko-Test looked at a total of 52 aluminum-free roll-ons.  

Index

The alternatives to aluminum in deodorants

First, experts from the German magazine explain how aluminum-free deodorants work. In practice, instead of slowing the flow of sweat thanks to an anti-perspirant, they prevent it from emitting a bad smell on the skin, fighting the bacteria that are responsible for it and also using a good perfume to cover.

Most of the deodorants in the test, instead of aluminum, I contain alcohol as a bacterial inhibitor. This substance indeed has a good antimicrobial effect. The other alternatives are the Trietyl citrate,ethylenesilglicerina andOctenidina dicloridrato, found in many deodorants, often in combination, with or without alcohol.



Other less commonly used substances, on the other hand, have a drying effect and counteract the hot and humid climate that bacteria love so much. These include, for example, salts of zinc and kaolin (Chinese white clay).

Do aluminum-free deodorants really last 24 or 48 hours?

Most of the products are advertised with slogans that speak of a duration of "24 h" or "48 h". But to understand if they are really effective all this time, German experts asked manufacturers to submit studies carried out by independent institutes to prove it.

Well, more than half of the producers who submitted the tests were able to confirm the promises made to consumers.

However, it must be considered that the effective duration of a deodorant is a very personal fact and depends on many factors. Everyone has their own sweat development and therefore reacts differently to deodorants.

The results

The first good news that emerges from the test, therefore, is that even an aluminum-free deodorant can work well, thanks to the alternatives to antiperspirant that already exist and have been used for some time.

Il test recommends 25 roll-ons out of 52, products that have obtained the maximum score.

As always, however, a series of problematic substances were also identified in some deodorants and for this reason 11 products were "rejected" from the test.

Specifically, the substances reported are:

  • Lilial, declared Butylphenyl Methylpropional: synthetic fragrance that smells like lily of the valley has been shown to be harmful to reproduction
  • Cashmeran: fragrance similar to musk that accumulates in the adipose tissue
  • Hydroxycitronella: fragrance that can cause allergies
  • isoeugenol: powerful allergen
  • Formaldehyde / liberators: can cause skin irritation 
  • PEG compounds: they can make the skin more permeable to foreign substances

The best and worst deodorants

But let's move on to the actual ranking.



Among the best deodorants we find:

  • Benecos Deo Roll-On Aloe Vera
  • Cien Nature Bio-Citrus Deo Roll-On (Lidl)
  • Dove Powered By Plants Deodorant Ginger
  • dr Hauschka Deolatte pink
  • Lavera Men Sensitiv
  • Cien Pure Freshness 48h (Lidl)
  • Weleda limone 24h
  • Weleda for men 24h 
Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

At the bottom of the ranking, on the other hand, there are:

  • Where 0% Aluminum salts
  • Vichy Mineral Deodorant 48H
  • Rexona Flower Fresh 48h
Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Judged "Inadequate" too:

  • Dove Men+Care Clean Fresh 48h
  • Eucerin Deodorant 48h 0% Aluminium
  • Nivea Deo Roll-on Original Care
  • Nivea Men Deo Roll-on Fresh Ocean
  • Rexona Men Active Fresh
Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

 

Aluminum-free roll-on deodorants: do they really work? The best and worst brands, according to the German test

@Okotest

Read also:

  • 10 daily habits that could nullify the effects of your deodorant
  • Deodorants that contain too much aluminum. The German test
  • 10 organic deodorants and with a good Inci
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