Why Does Bi-Carb Deodorant Irritate Some Sensitive Skin?

Bi-carb soda, sodium bicarbonate or baking soda. Whatever you call it, it's an incredibly useful ingredient.

It's used in everything from baking and household cleaning to personal care products. And one of the reasons it's so useful in natural deodorant is its alkalinity.

Our skin, on the other hand, is naturally slightly acidic. Its outer surface helps support the skin barrier and the microorganisms that naturally live there.

Because bi-carb soda is alkaline, it can help neutralise some of the compounds associated with body odour and absorb moisture, which is why you'll find it in many natural deodorants.

For plenty of people, it works beautifully.

For others, not so much.

Why can bi-carb deodorant cause irritation?

Everyone's skin is different.

For some people, the alkalinity of bi-carb soda can disrupt the skin's natural balance and cause irritation, particularly in the delicate underarm area. This can show up as redness, itching, discomfort or a rash.

And there's something important I want people to know:

If a bi-carb deodorant is irritating your skin, you don't need to push through it.

You may have heard that irritation is your body “detoxing” or simply adjusting to natural deodorant. Persistent irritation isn't something you need to tolerate. Stop using the product and give your skin a chance to settle.

It may simply mean that a bi-carb formula isn't right for your skin.

So, what's the alternative?

When developing our Sensitive Formula, I wanted an alternative for people who loved the idea of natural deodorant but found bi-carb formulas too irritating.

We replaced the bi-carb soda with Milk of Magnesia, an ingredient that works well within our deodorant formula while being a gentler option for sensitive underarms.

The result is our Bi-Carb Free Sensitive Formula.

We've now been making our sensitive formula for many years, and it has become an important part of The Natural Deodorant range for customers looking for an alternative to bi-carb based deodorants.

Choosing your Sensitive Formula

The Natural Deodorant Sensitive Formula is available in both a recyclable cardboard push stick and a reusable glass jar.

The Sensitive Stick is available in:

• Fragrance Free, for those who prefer no added fragrance
• Rosalina, with a subtle floral aroma from Australian native Rosalina essential oil

Our Sensitive Jar is available Fragrance Free for a simple, gentle option.

If regular bi-carb deodorants don't agree with your skin, that doesn't mean natural deodorant isn't for you. Sometimes it's simply a matter of finding a formula that better suits your skin.

Sensitive underarms? Explore our Bi-Carb Free Natural Deodorant range