Vegan skin care tips: choosing the right vegan deodorant

We’re all wanting to do our bit for the world. You might have watched Seaspiracy, the documentary about the dangers of consuming seafood and how it impacts both the environment and also people’s basic human rights. You might also have tuned into The Game Changers documentary, which shows how elite athletes perform better without eating meat. 

It’s opened everyone’s eyes to the world around us and how we can all do our bit to support the environment and all the ecosystems in it by just sticking to fruits and vegetables. There are many diets to choose from – raw diets, plant-based ones, or you can even become a fruitarian (we only know that one from Notting Hill) – but veganism is gaining serious popularity and there are good reasons too. 

What is a vegan lifestyle? 

Apparently, the term “vegan” was invented by a group of vegetarians in 1944, after they left the Leicester Vegetarian Society in England to form the Vegan Society. Who doesn’t love an underdog? 

From then on they chose not to eat any dairy, eggs or any other products that come from animals, which obviously includes meat. And the practice has stuck ever since. In fact, in 2019 it was recorded that there were over 600,000 vegans. And vegans are cool now. 

The whole of Hollywood is rumoured to have switched to plant-based diets, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Beyoncé, Natalie Portman, Madonna, and even Drag Race UK star Bimini Bon Boulash (us vegan performers need to stick together!). 

But it’s not just about what you eat. Veganism stretches to all parts of your life, from food all the way to clothing. The ethos is aimed at removing any form of animal cruelty from the entire product chain. This also has a knock-on effect, preventing animals from being kept in unsanitary conditions or stopping bad practices, such as force-feeding geese for foie-gras. 

Veganism has burst onto the beauty scene to great reception. People are being more careful with how they shop and where they shop. Which means that everything from hand moisturisers to deodorants is being made responsibly. 

What is vegan skin care? 

Vegan skin care follows much the same principles as we’ve talked about above. Every lipstick, cream, vegan deodorant or balm you use shouldn’t have any ingredients that are derived from animals or use animal by-products. This includes the following: 

• Beeswax
• Honey
• Milk proteins
• Collagen
• Keratin
• Lanolin 
• Acids
• Glycerine
• Squalene
• Lipids
• Albumen
• Chitosan 
• Estrogen/Estradiol 
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Oleic Acid

Instead, it’s all about natural ingredients, like Shea Butter and tea tree oil. It’s important to note here, too, that vegan products don’t necessarily mean cruelty-free. Vegan products might still be tested on animals so make sure to check the packaging (obviously Akt is cruelty-free, we simply don’t have it in us). 

With all this popularity, there are now so many products to choose from, which can make shopping that little bit more difficult. How do you know where to look? That’s where we come in. 

Making the switch to a natural vegan deodorant

There are so many reasons why you should choose a natural vegan deodorant over other antiperspirants and deodorants. Not only does it help protect animals, it also protects your health. Other antiperspirants are packed full with aluminium that blocks up sweat glands. While this may sound useful, sweating is a natural body process to help cool it down. Yes, we know, you don’t want to sweat too much, but a little bit is okay. Going “au naturel” allows your good bacteria to work better so that it might even stop your body odor when you have no deodorant on at all (imagine that!?). Other deodorants contain parabens, which act as preservatives. So why use a whole host of chemicals when you can go natural? 

It can take up to two weeks for your vegan skin to get used to a natural deodorant, but for most people it’s pretty instant. (We personally tried and tested Akt on 1,000 professional dancers and athletes in the West End, so we should know). 

What’s the best deodorant for vegan skin? 

The wonder of natural vegan deodorant is that it’s less likely to dry your skin out. Everybody is different, so we’re not here to preach to the choir, but we want to help you avoid any unnecessary pit-falls (excuse the pun). 

It’s important to use products that are kind to sensitive skin. By avoiding harsh sprays and chemical deodorants you’ll be able to leave your skin more refreshed and soothed. 

By using a vegan deodorant balm, you can not only protect yourself from body odor but also moisturise at the same time. At Akt, we also use The Deodorant Balm on our feet, forehead or chest, as well as our underarms, to help prevent sweating. What’s more, we have The Assistant, a handy brass tool to apply the balm and massage it into your skin. 

What vegan ingredients does Akt use? 

Akt co-founders Ed Currie and Andy Coxon spent a good three years refining the ingredients to make what has now become the best natural deodorant in the UK (check out the customer reviews). Think of it as the longest dress rehearsal of their life. Practice makes perfect though, and after working out the winning formula with a little help from the experts The Deodorant Balm was born. All of the ingredients are natural, and rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, E and F to leave skin feeling super silky. We also came up with the unique Deo-Barrier Complex™️ which is a combination of natural plant and mineral powers. It absorbs sweat and it doesn’t stain your clothes (another bonus). Other ingredients include: 

• Coconut oil and Shea Butter 
• Diatomaceous Earth (an ancient fossilised algae) 
• Calendula oil, extracted from the marigold flower and perfect for soothing shaving burn 
• Essential oils
• Flower extracts

But which deodorant balm should I choose? 

Obviously, we highly recommend getting the full Ensemble (biased? us!?), but if you want to try a few before going the whole hog, we can provide you with some pointers on the ingredients of our famous natural and vegan-friendly balms. 

We’ve hand-picked these for their amazing healing properties to make the best women’s and men’s vegan deodorant for sensitive skin. Some of the ingredients have been used for centuries – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! 

A few of our key ingredients in the citrussy natural deodorant Sc.01 Ext. Orange Grove, include: 

• Coconut oil - helps to reduce inflammation, keeps skin moisturised and has antimicrobial properties that protect the skin from harmful bacteria
• Shea Butter - much like coconut oil it helps to soothe and comfort
• Citrus Nobilis Peel oil - restores and rejuvenates dry skin
• Juniperus Communis Fruit oil - prevents skin irritation and rashes, and is also known to help treat acne

Then in our Sc.02 Ext. After Thunder, we’ve collated a refreshing blend of the following: 

• Cupressus Funebris (Cedar) Wood oil - this is an ancient antiseptic that can help clear skin and adds a soft scent 
• Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf oil - known to be good for eczema and reduces inflammation 
• Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel oil - has antibacterial properties and a soothing aroma 
• Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf oil - helps get rid of toxins in the skin and aids lymphatic drainage

Last but by no means least we have the Sc.03 Ext. The Onsen: 

• Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root oil - an ancient ingredient known to reduce scars and blemishes
• Lavandula Hybrida Grosso Herb (Lavandin) oil - an anti-inflammatory that leaves you smelling great 
• Citrus Limon Peel oil - rich in antioxidants it gives a welcome boost to the skin
• Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Extract - a woody scent that revitalises skin cells

And there’s not a single animal by product in there! So we can all do a happy little vegan dance. Now we just need to get Nathalie Portman to spread the word… Or why not just get involved yourself and have a browse.