If natural deodorants have ever left your underarms itchy, irritated or darker in colour, there’s a good chance bicarbonate soda (bicarb) was involved. At Viva La Body, we made the decision to go both bicarb-free and aluminium-free, using magnesium hydroxide instead because it helps fight odour without blocking sweat or disrupting sensitive skin.
Key Takeaways
- Sweat itself doesn’t smell. Bacteria breaking down sweat causes odour.
- Aluminium works by blocking sweat glands, while natural deodorants focus on odour control instead.
- Bicarb can irritate sensitive underarms because it’s highly alkaline.
- Magnesium hydroxide helps neutralise odour more gently for many people.
- Our deodorants are designed to keep you fresh without the angry armpits.
First Things First: Sweat Is Not the Enemy
One of the biggest myths in the deodorant world is that sweating is somehow “bad”. It’s not.
Sweating is one of the body’s completely normal ways of cooling itself down and regulating temperature. Your body is meant to sweat. The problem most people are actually trying to solve isn’t sweat itself. It’s smell.
And here’s the interesting part…
Sweat Doesn’t Actually Smell
Fresh sweat is mostly odourless. True story!
Body odour happens when sweat mixes with bacteria naturally living on the skin, especially in warm, damp places like your underarms. As the bacteria break down sweat, that familiar body odour develops.
That’s why natural deodorants work differently to antiperspirants.
Instead of trying to stop sweat completely, they focus on helping reduce odour-causing bacteria so you can still sweat naturally… just without the stink.
That’s exactly why we formulated our deodorants the way we did.
Why We Say Adios Aluminium
Most conventional antiperspirants use aluminium compounds like aluminium chlorohydrate. These ingredients work by temporarily blocking sweat ducts to reduce perspiration, and is why antiperspirants can make your underarms feel dry.
At Viva La Body, we work with the body instead of trying to shut down one of its normal functions.
So rather than blocking sweat entirely, we focus on helping control odour naturally while still allowing your body to do what it’s designed to do: cool itself off.
That’s why our Viva La Body deodorants are completely aluminium free.
Why We Also Say Bye Bye to Bicarb
A lot of natural deodorants proudly contain bicarbonate soda (baking soda) because it’s very effective at neutralising odour.
But for many people, especially sensitive skin humans, it can also be the ingredient that causes all the drama.
If you’ve ever switched to a natural deodorant and suddenly experienced:
- itchy armpits
- painful rashes
- redness
- stinging after shaving
- flaky skin
- darker underarms
…there’s a decent chance bicarb was involved.
Why Does Bicarb Irritate Underarms?
Your skin naturally sits at a slightly acidic pH. That protective barrier helps keep skin balanced, calm and healthy.
Baking soda is highly alkaline, so when it’s applied regularly to delicate underarm skin, it can disrupt that natural balance. For some people, that leads to irritation pretty quickly.
Underarms are already sensitive because of shaving, friction from clothing, sweat and moisture, etc. So adding a strong alkaline ingredient on top of that can simply be too much for some skin types.
Can Bicarb Deodorant Cause Dark Underarms?
It can.
When skin becomes repeatedly irritated, inflammation can sometimes trigger changes in pigmentation over time. This is called post-inflammatory pigmentation.
Some people notice:
- darker underarms
- uneven skin tone
- lighter patches
- peeling
- ongoing sensitivity
Not everyone experiences this, of course. Some people use bicarb deodorants for years without an issue.
So What Makes Magnesium Different?
Instead of bicarb, we use magnesium hydroxide.
Magnesium hydroxide helps create an environment where odour-causing bacteria struggle to thrive, without being as aggressively alkaline as baking soda.
In simple terms:
- You still sweat naturally
- Your body still cools itself properly
- Odour stays under control
- Your underarms are far less likely to freak out
For many people, it’s the sweet spot between effectiveness and comfort.
Why Magnesium Hydroxide Feels Gentler
Baking soda can also feel gritty on the skin, particularly after shaving. That friction alone can sometimes make irritation worse.
Magnesium hydroxide tends to feel smoother and is often better tolerated by people with:
- sensitive skin
- eczema
- dermatitis
- shaving sensitivity
- irritation from traditional natural deodorants
It’s one of the reasons so many people switch to magnesium deodorants and never go back.
Does This Mean Bicarb Is “Bad”?
Not at all. Everyone’s skin is different.
Some people love bicarb deodorants and never experience irritation. But because underarm skin is delicate, we wanted to create something that worked well for as many people as possible, including sensitive-skin humans.
That’s why we chose to make our deodorants:
- bicarb free
- aluminium free
- plastic free
- vegan and cruelty free
- made in Australia
Most importantly, they’re designed to keep you smelling fresh without turning your underarms into a science experiment.
Looking for a Gentle Natural Deodorant?
Our deodorants are made for people who want something effective, natural and comfortable to wear daily.
No aluminium.
No bicarb.
No synthetic nasties.
No angry armpits.
Just fresh-smelling underarms and a body that still gets to do its thing naturally.
Because seriously, life’s too short for irritated armpits.
Lots of love,
Ellie (Chief Smell Officer) xxx
FAQs About Bicarb-Free & Aluminium-Free Deodorant
Is bicarb-free deodorant better for sensitive skin?
For many people, yes. Bicarb-free deodorants are often gentler because they don’t disrupt the skin’s pH as aggressively as baking soda can.
Why does natural deodorant make my armpits itchy?
One common reason is bicarbonate soda. Because it’s highly alkaline, it can irritate delicate underarm skin in some people.
Does aluminium stop sweating?
Aluminium compounds in antiperspirants temporarily block sweat ducts to reduce perspiration.
Is sweating healthy?
Sweating is a completely normal body function that helps regulate temperature and cool the body down.
Can deodorant cause dark underarms?
Repeated irritation from certain deodorant ingredients, friction or shaving can contribute to darker underarms in some people.
Does magnesium deodorant stop sweat?
No. Magnesium hydroxide helps neutralise odour rather than blocking sweat glands.