After reading the article about ammonium alum you may be wondering what deodorant started off my investigating. The offending deodorant is from the “natural” brand Faith in Nature.
Faith in Nature
Faith in Nature was launched more than thirty years ago by Rivka with an aim to produce products from natural sources which are kind to the environment and the user too. Faith in Nature do not conduct animal testing and are on the BUAV list (Leaping Bunny Standard).
As a brand Faith in Nature put a lot of emphasis on the fact that all their products are vegetarian and most are vegan. They do not use genetically modified ingredients, synthetic colouring, SLES, SLS and parabens. They claim to have honesty at the heart of their brand and list all their ingredients (though this requires clicking on a further tab which not everyone will do).
The Deodorant
It is understandable why a consumer would trust this brand and buy a deodorant without worrying about safety issues- especially when it is clearly labelled as a “pure natural rock crystal” and that it contains no aluminium chlorohydrates. Faith in Nature describe their solid crystal deodorant as eliminating odour-causing bacteria and “allows perspiration without body odour”. The deodorant is vegan and has the Vegan Society logo, and controversially (in my opinion) doesn’t say on the website that it is made from pure ammonium alum. Interestingly it is marketed as a natural product free from toxins.
The unscented deodorant on first sight looks just like a normal roll on deodorant, though on closer inspection through the clear lid you see the crystal rather than more plastic. This is often the point that you discover the deodorant contains 100% ammonium alum if you purchased online as it isn’t mentioned at many of the popular sites that sell it. I myself didn’t wasn’t aware I was buying a product containing ammonium alum as I just read pure natural crystal and bought the deodorant in good faith (oh the irony!).
Using the deodorant is simple and easiest after a shower or bath. Dampen the crystal and apply it under arms to wet skin. Rinse the crystal after use and do not use on broken or damaged skin as it is likely to cause irritation. It may be an idea to wait a couple of minutes before wearing dark clothing to avoid staining. I don’t really sweat much at all, and don’t get any noticeable odour so I may not be the best person to test this deodorant. I found that applying the alum in the morning left my underarms free of sweat even after wearing a polyester shirt all day (the things I do to test products!). A good sniff revealed no odour either, so it does work!
What is Ammonium Alum?
I was not aware until recently but ammonium alum has had a lot of controversy. Ammonium alum stands for “ammonium aluminium sulfate” and is a white crystalline double sulfate (formula (NH4)Al(SO4)2·12H2O for any geeks in the know). The dodecahydrate occurs naturally as the mineral tschermigite and I suspect that is why some brands claim alum is natural. There is no real record of the potential toxic effects of the substance though it has been claimed that the Egyptians used the coagulant alum as early as 1500 B.C. to reduce the visible cloudiness in the water. It has been used in India to purify the water though personally that says nothing in terms of safety. If you’ve ever had the tap water in India then you will know what I mean!
Faith in Nature’s Stand on Ammonium Alum
After contacting Faith in Nature about their reasons for using alum I was delighted to get a reply, yet I was concerned at the quality of response:
“Our ammonium alum is a nature identical form of the natural mineral rock, We understand that it has a very good safety performance. Whilst it is not natural as such, but is a man made product. There is no waste material that goes into the crystal and all .the ingredients are of top quality, made under Good manufacturing practise.”
Eeek well spelling and grammar aside not only have they sidestepped my concern in relation to safety by claiming it “has a very good safety performance” but they also admit that it is NOT a natural product! This makes me question their personal ethics in claiming that they provide products that are both natural and completely safe for consumers.
Deodorants vs Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants are supposed to work by both constricting and blocking your sweat glands. The aluminum used in antiperspirants (not deodorants) are absorbed into your body and broken down, releasing the aluminum. The aluminum in deodorants (usually potassium or ammonium alum) lies on the skin in a thin layer and makes it alkaline stopping bacteria from growing and creating bad odours. It is likely that limited exposure to alum will not cause harm yet I wonder is it really worth the risk?
In the United States the FDA has required a new label on antiperspirants saying that people with impaired renal function (who have trouble shedding environmental toxins) and children should not use these products. Many in the industry are complaining due to lack of scientific evidence, but someone at the FDA seems to believe in “prudent avoidance”!
Is Ammonium Alum Safe?
Ammonium alum is still a form of aluminium though some claim the molecule is too large to be absorbed by the skin. A 1998 study found the use of aluminium-based antiperspirants has been linked with the accumulation of aluminium in the body which increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Later research has linked breast cancer with aluminium-based antiperspirants though a 2008 study claims that no scientific evidence supports the theory that deodorants or antiperspirants increase the incidence of breast cancer. In a nut shell the whole issue is in dispute among the medical and scientific fields.
“Although these are sold as deodorants rather than anti-perspirants – the ammonium alum is supposed to control the growth of bacteria rather than block the pores – “aluminium found in breast tissue is as likely to come from these aluminium-based natural products as it is from conventional anti-perspirants.”
Well I think that is the proverbial nail on the coffin, I’ll not be using this product again!
Value
The Faith in Nature deodorant gives twenty four hour protection and a little goes a long way. Costing £3.45 from the website directly (not including postage) it is a little expensive given that it has a twelve month shelf life. Compared with an aluminium free solid deodorant from Lush that lasts for a lot longer this offers mediocre value at best. Due to the potential risks of using ammonium alum I would not recommend this product and would urge anyone to take a good look at what ingredients are in their deodorant to avoid aluminium altogether. Some of the alum information here is discussed in Is Ammonium Alum Dangerous?
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Really appreciated your article on crystal deodorants. I’ve been looking around for some natural alternative to toxin-deodorants and this article has put me in the right direction. I really love anything to do with natural cosmetics and makeup. Thanks again.