EuropaFb: deodorant

Showing posts with label deodorant. Show all posts

Aromarant Solid Deodorant

deodorant, Lemon, Lush Kitchen, oak bark, Skin, Witch hazel

As I’ve said before, Lush deodorants are probably the one area that I just cannot commit to fully. While the concept of solid blocks and powders - without any metallic or synthetic nasties sounds like a dream, the reality is that my armpits are just too stubborn to want to use anything else but, what I would call, a ‘normal’ deodorant.

Firstly, I should probably state that a deodorant is different from a antiperspirant, and you need to know how they differ so that you don’t (like me) confuse the two and slate a product based on something that it would never be able to do in the first place.

Lush don’t create antiperspirants because at the moment the technology to create a natural version isn’t there. These products are the ones that contain ingredients that are quite literally used to try and stop you from sweating altogether. Normally they contain components to block your pores, thus the lack of sweat. However, this can obviously lead to health problems, including skin sensitivity, irritation and possible poisoning. Deodorants work by masking and hopefully eradicating any smells that may form during the day, and they can also help you to feel a little drier as you go about your busy schedule.

Aromarant is a rather hard block that used to be sold by the gram in stores. Discontinued a few years back, this was a deodorant that you either loved or loathed - a solid product that divided Lush fans down the middle, and you only have to read reviews online to recognise this for yourself.

Containing sandalwood, witch hazel and oak bark, the smell of this is definitely not something that you’d want to wear as a perfume. However, as far as deodorants go, I really appreciate the smell that this offers: it’s definitely very different from what you’d expect to find in a normal pharmacy or supermarket.

The sandalwood is definitely the strongest note - working alongside the lemon to produce a deep, woody aroma, with warming notes of lemon to make it a little uplifting as well. The inclusion of the cleavers infusion, which I found out was a herb, adds a sweet, gentle honeyed element that definitely rounds the deodorant off and makes its fragrance more pleasing.

While I love the concept of solid deodorants, if there’s one aspect that I dislike about them, it’s trying to apply them effectively. Much like Aromaco, this block was really stubborn if I tried to massage it directly onto the skin. In fact, doing it this way left my skin feeling a little sore and didn’t heed much of a result either.

To make the most out of Aromarant, I found that if I wet my underarm, or added a few drops of water to the bar first, the bar would leave a slight residue (what I can only describe as a paste) on the skin, which would then work well at deodorising my skin for a good many hours before I needed to reapply more. In fact, I was impressed to discover that if you apply it this way, you can get coverage that will last right the way through your working day.

As someone who can sweat a lot, I was impressed to find that I stayed feeling clean and smelling clean for most of my twelve hour day, although the product did struggle a little when it came to my increased sweating in the gym. In these conditions, I found that if I used a powdered deodorant on top of this at the same time, I usually remained dry for the most part of my hour workout.

While a 100g block would easily last you a good twelve months and then some, its longevity is also to its detriment. After a couple of months of using this, I found that, ironically, the moisture was expelled from the block and it was much more difficult to create the paste to apply to the skin. For this reason, I would highly suggest that you wrap this in greaseproof paper and store somewhere dry and cool, in order to retain those oils for as long as possible.

In addition, I should also point out that there will be a very slight odour expressed from the product once it has merged with the heat of your body. This is by no means detrimental in helping you to rid your body of smells. However, you will occasionally get a waft if the sandalwood, and this will be something you’ll have to get used to, if you decide to use it long term.

Overall, I actually really liked this product more than I thought I was going to. While it has not fully converted me over to the land of self-preserving, natural solid deodorants, it’s a step in the right direction, and I shall be using this product as part of my regular routine.

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Fresh Lemons (Citrus limonum), Sodium Stearate, Cleavers Infusion (Galium aparine), Witch Hazel Infusion (Hamamelis virginiana), Oakbark Infusion (Evernia prunastri), Sodium Bicarbonate, Perfume, Sandalwood Oil (Santalum album).

Vegan?: Yes.

2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2006.

Sunflower Deodorant

deodorant, Lemon, lush oxford street, Mandarin Oil, orange, Solid, Witch hazel

When it comes to solid deodorant, I love the concept but have yet to find one that works with my body. Whether it's because I sweat more than the average person or because my expectations of what a deodorant should do is greater than most people, I am unsure. However, it is the one area of Lush's extensive cosmetics range that I just simply do not get on with. Until this week that is.

Sunflower Deodorant was one of the first products to greet me upon entering the Oxford Street store for the first time. Stacked up in huge blocks, this strange but alluring looking product was probably not the first port of call for most people visiting the shop on the opening day. Yet I can see it being one that builds up a repertoire quite quickly with the regulars and becomes a firm favourite for many.

Described as a cold-pressed floral deodorant, this new product is one that for many people, will need to grow on them over time. Containing a concoction of cleavers and chrysanthemums, you would expect this deodorant to give off a green, grassy and very strong floral aroma. However, with the inclusion of witch hazel, orange juice, mandarin oil and lemon oil, the scent of this product is very difficult to describe and one that can be a little off-putting to begin with.

An initial sniff definitely showcases the orange juice and various citrus oils, but the inclusion of the chrysanthemums creates a fragrance that almost clashes with the other elements and gives off a strange, sweet, waxy smell - I suppose a little like sticking your nose into a flower arrangement. The inclusion of witch hazel adds a sort of medicinal, chamomile-eque note which doesn't make Sunflower smell terrible but doesn't give it a particularly enjoyable smell either. While I would have probably left this on the shelf had it been a shower gel, I was intrigued to see whether or not this would work as a deodorant, and it did.

Cut into 100g pieces, this product can be a little fiddly to use, but definitely a lot easier than the likes of T'eo, Greeenich or Aromaco. I would suggest that you divide your block in half as I found it a lot easier to use a small square than the entire piece, and it also makes it easy to slip the product into a pocket or make-up bag if you wanted to it to travel with you.

To use, simply rub the bar under your armpits and after a few seconds of your body heat warming up the oils, you'll notice that it gives off a slightly waxy sheen that wets the skin. This dries after a minute or two and you're left with a gentle floral smell that stays with you for hours after initial application. Furthermore, the inclusion of the witch hazel means that your armpits will feel lovely and smooth and overtime will become softer.

While this deodorant doesn't mask smells after excess exercise, and I wouldn't say that it's strong enough to last the entire day, it definitely left me feeling much cleaner and dried for longer. Whereas my usual Nivea has all but vanished after a couple of hours and can sometimes transfer onto my clothes and leave embarrassing wet patches, Sunflower is the perfect balance between Lush's dry deodorants and the liquid shop-bought variations.

Furthermore, having used my 50g piece since the day I purchased it, I have noticed very little change in the size. This means that I can expect my 100g block to see me through 4-6 months worth of use. This equates to roughly £1 per month, which is much better value than any that you might purchase in the local pharmacy.

Even better is the fact that this solid bar is free from preservatives and all of the nasty metallic ingredients that you would expect to find in normal deodorant. These unnecessary ingredients rely upon clogging up the pores and glands to stop sweating - often creating a build-up of dirt and grime that can leave you with pretty nasty looking armpits.

Although I wouldn't appreciate the smell of this in any other format, this product is definitely a firm favourite from the Lush store and one I will continue using regular. Lush have finally developed a solid deodorant that works for me and this is really exciting.

Quantitative Ingredients: Propylene Glycol, Cleavers, Witch Hazel and Chrysanthemum Infusion (Galium Aparine, Hamamelis virginiana, Chrysanthemum Indicum), Fresh Organic Orange Juice (citrus Aurantium dulcis), Sodium Stearate, Water (Aqua), Sodium Bicarbonate, Fresh Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum Indicum), Lemon Oil (Citrus limonum), Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Mandarin Oil (Citrus reticulata), Citral, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £4.95 for 100g.

Year Of Original Release: 2015.

Sunflower Deodorant

deodorant, Lemon, lush oxford street, Mandarin Oil, orange, Solid, Witch hazel

The Guv'ner Powdered Deodorant

charcoal, deodorant, lavender, patchouli, Rose, sage

As I've mentioned in previous deodorant reviews, it is very rare that I have anything bad to say about Lush. Unfortunately, when I do, it's normally to do with one of their less than effective deodorants that often seem to elevate and encourage the very problems they claim to eradicate.

The Guv'ner is the second to last deodorant from Lush that I have left to review, and as previous experience goes, this product already starts off on uneven standing. Described by the company as a 'hardworking, absorbent deodorant powder that means business', I was expecting something a little more effective than their previous offerings.

This is one of Lush's powdered products and comes in an 80g bottle, which may make it sound rather expensive when priced at £6.25. However, you only need to use a minuscule amount each time, meaning this bottle would probably last you a good six or more months. I was using it twice a day, for almost a month, and the powder barely moved a centimetre away from the top of the bottle.

The powder is made up of a combination of different ingredients, each bringing their unique scents and properties to the mix. This list includes charcoal, sodium bicarbonate, lavender powder and calamine powder to name just a few.

The different powders used in this are supposed to absorb sweat and soothe skin while the essential oils keep you smelling good for the whole day. Firstly, there's charcoal powder, which absorbs moisturise and eradicates smells; the lycopodium powder helps to keep the deodorant gentle on your skin, also acting as a cooling element, alongside the patchouli, to keep you feeling fresh; the sage and patchouli are there for their wonderful aroma and also for their antiseptic and astringent qualities. These latter ingredients have been proven to shrink pores, aiding towards the ultimate goal of decreased sweating!

Much like The Greeench Powdered Deodorant, applying the deodorant proved a little difficult. I tend to pour a little on the tips of my fingers and then rub it immediately under my armpits. However, despite my best efforts, I always end up spilling excess powder on my clothes or floor, so it's a little fiddly to say the least. Furthermore, it left a dark powdery layer on my armpits, which although didn't transfer onto my clothes, did leave me feeling rather conscious; it wouldn't be a product I'd be able to wear with short sleeves.

Unlike a lot of synthetic deodorants available in shops, this one is far more natural, meaning it doesn't block off the sweat glands. Although this is definitely a positive attribute, I was also aware that The Guv' ner wouldn't protect me for as long as other anti-perspirants might have done. This fact became all the more apparent when I found myself sweating profusely at work one day and became paranoid that the sweat would permeate my top and show through. However, the deodorant does act as a great repellent of smells, and despite amassing a fair bit of sweat, I couldn't detect any bad smells coming from my body.

The Guv'ner is probably one of the better smelling deodorants, a subtle blend of vetivert, patchouli, sage and lavender. It is this latter ingredient that comes through the most here, although it's a gentle scent so won't overpower any body lotion or perfume that you wish to apply.

Overall, it's far from being a terrible product; I just don't think it's suited to me. As I said in a previous review, I know I look for Lush for solutions in all of my cosmetic needs, but as of yet, they have yet to convince me that I should move away from my regular bottle of Nivea.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Lycopodium Powder, Magnesium Trisilicate, Powdered Charcoal, Calamine Powder, Sage Powder, Lavender Powder, Perfume, Patchouli Powder, Rose Absolute, Vetivert Oil, *Geraniol, *Limonene, *Linalool.

Vegan?: Yes.

Krysztal Solid Deodorant

deodorant, jojoba, Lemon, Lime, limited edition, Lush Kitchen, Solid

As I've stated in all of my Lush deodorant reviews, this is one aspect of the cosmetic industry that Lush haven't managed to 'perfect' as of yet. In Lush's defence, I can imagine it being quite difficult to design a product that eradicates and masks a natural bodily function. As it stands, I've yet to find a readily available product in any high street shop - at least one that doesn't cost almost £10 for the privilege.

Krysztal Solid deodorant looks a little like it's brother, T'eo; an oval-shaped block of hardened powder with a thin layer of wax on the base. Named after one of Cosmetics To Go founders, Stan Krysztal, this product claims to contain a mixture of oils to refresh your armpits whilst also calming hard-working skin.

To begin with, first impressions reveal that this deodorant is one of the nicest smelling ones to be released from Lush. With a combination of lemon oil and lemon and lime juice, Krysztal smells very much like Stepping Stone Foot Scrub - a bright, zesty citrus aroma. There is a very slight after-scent of jojoba here, but it works at rounding off the scent and isn't too prominent in the overall smell.

Lush suggest that you apply this onto dried skin - gently rubbing in a circular motion across your armpits. Having found that T'eo works better with slightly damp skin, I was expecting this to be the same. However, after carefully applying this to my dry skin, I found that it worked at leaving it's scent on my body whilst painting my armpits with a very thin layer of white powder. It doesn't leave enough on your body to stain clothing and it disappears very quickly afterwards so you're not left with pasty-looking underarms. Furthermore, I didn't have to scrub hard to get this product to work, which meant that my armpits didn't feel sore or turn pink from irritation.

Unfortunately, I found that it doesn't stop you from sweating but the powder does contain bicarbonate of soda to soak up some of your access sweat, so I was drier with this on than without. It also has essential oils to neutralise smells, including cypress oil to tone, so I wasn't plagued with any unwanted smells throughout the day. I do wonder why anyone would be that interested in toning their armpits though.

Despite leaving my skin smelling wonderful, I found that it didn't protect me for very long. As someone who works long, hard days, I had to re-apply this almost hourly, which isn't very practical for those of us who live busy lives. If I wasn't able to re-apply this, my skin felt damp under my arms again, even though I had done very little manual labour to warrant a lot of sweating. Sometimes I think that these natural deodorants almost make me sweat more than I usually would - although, I wonder whether this is because I'm just more aware of my bodily functions when wearing these products.

Overall, I am going to continue using this as it makes me feel clean and refreshed, and it does neutralise smells and prevent the smell of sweat from seeping through. Having used this about eight times a day over the weekend, and not seeing any reduction in it's size, Krysztal is a long-lasting deodorant and will definitely surpass the shelf-life of your average deodorant. However, if like me you're more prone to sweating, this is not a product that will keep you dry so I will have to continue using my Nivea stick alongside this to top up during the day.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lemon Oil, Black Wax (Specerit Black Z), Magnesium Carbonate, Cypress Oil, Lime Oil, Fresh Organic Lemon Juice, Fresh Organic Lime Juice, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes.

2015 Price: £5.00 for 90g.

The Greeench Deodorant Powder

body, deodorant, rosemary, sage, tea tree

As you know, it's very rare that I have anything bad to say about Lush: I'd certainly never sugar-coat my opinion about anything just for the sake of being positive. The great thing is that I never normally feel like I need to as I can usually find merits in most of their products. Which is why I was rather disappointed when I began using The Greeench.

Lush claim it to be 'a highly effective deodorant powder that can be used on the underarms, on feet, or in trainers.' And to sniff it might, at first, make you believe it.

Firstly, nothing is more effective at neutralising nasty whiffs than tea tree powder and oil, which kills and neutralises the bacteria that cause smells. Lush have included both of these ingredients in here, obviously keen on eradicating any unwanted pongs. There is also powdered sage here which is supposed to help you sweat less, since it�s an astringent and constricts your pores. Finally, the inclusion of Icelandic moss, containing lycopodium powder, steals away perspiration by absorbing it and leaves your arms fresh and dry.

On paper, The Greeench sounds like the perfect deodorant, yet it did absolutely nothing for me - it didn't remove sweat smells or help to keep my underarms dry. In fact, after a few hours of wearing it, I felt rather vulnerable without my usual roll on.

Secondly, it was very difficult to apply. It leaves a white powdery layer on my armpits, which then transferred onto all my tops very quickly and left stains that wouldn't wash out. I also found that a lot of product was lost when trying to get it out of the bottle and onto my armpits; the amount of product that decorated my floor was shocking!

Overall, this is yet another Lush deodorant that is best suited for people who pretty much don't sweat at all, which for someone who works out a lot and has to get through twelve hour days at work, is not the ideal or practical solution. The only positive thing I can say about The Greeench is that the �5.95 price tag is extremely good value for money. I was using it twice a day, for almost a month, and the powder is barely a centimetre away from the top of the bottle.

Despite this, I didn't have any problem with the smell - it is very pungent and may put people off. However, the tea tree does smell very sanitary and clean, which I didn't mind at all. I may use the rest of bottle to freshen up my much worn shoes as I can imagine it working well in this way.

I know I look for Lush for solutions in all of my cosmetic needs, but as of yet, they have yet to convince me that I should move away from my regular bottle of Nivea.

Quantitative Ingredients: Talc, Sodium Bicarbonate, Magnesium Trisilicate, Lycopodium Powder, Perfume, Water, Tea Tree Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Powdered Sage, Powdered Tea Tree, Powdered Rosemary, *Limonene, *Linalool, Chlorophyllin.

Vegan?: Yes

The Greeench Deodorant Powder

body, deodorant, rosemary, sage, tea tree

Lush claim it to be 'a highly effective deodorant powder that can be used on the underarms, on feet, or in trainers.' And to sniff it might, at first, make you believe it.

Firstly, nothing is more effective at neutralising nasty whiffs than tea tree powder and oil, which kills and neutralises the bacteria that cause smells. Lush have included both of these ingredients in here, obviously keen on eradicating any unwanted pongs. There is also powdered sage here which is supposed to help you sweat less, since it’s an astringent and constricts your pores. Finally, the inclusion of Icelandic moss, containing lycopodium powder, steals away perspiration by absorbing it and leaves your arms fresh and dry.

Overall, this is yet another Lush deodorant that is best suited for people who pretty much don't sweat at all, which for someone who works out a lot and has to get through twelve hour days at work, is not the ideal or practical solution. The only positive thing I can say about The Greeench is that the £5.95 price tag is extremely good value for money. I was using it twice a day, for almost a month, and the powder is barely a centimetre away from the top of the bottle.

I know I look for Lush for solutions in all of my cosmetic needs, but as of yet, they have yet to convince me that I should move away from my regular bottle of Nivea.

Vegan?: Yes

Aromaco Solid Deodorant

body, deodorant, Lemon, Solid, Witch hazel

In an ideal would, I would be able to rely on Lush for my every cosmetic need; from my face and body to my haircare. That way I could guarantee that, firstly, every product in my collection was 100% vegan and 100% cruelty free. Secondly, I would know that I was supporting a company that are doing at least something to help the reduction of waste and the sustainability of the environment. Finally, I would be proud that I was supporting a company who advocate and promote important welfare messages to an audience that may not otherwise have access to such information.

It is a shame then that there are still aspects of my toiletry and cosmetics collection, that I am unable to revert. One such product is the 'deodorant'. Annoyingly, 'deodorant' is amongst one of the few words in the English language that I always misspell, making it a rather unpopular word to begin with. It doesn't help that my little experience with Lush deodorants so far, have been somewhat negative, so when I began using Aromaco, I was already very skeptical.

Aromaco comes in small cream-coloured blocks and is priced at �4.70 for a 100g slice. This is obviously a lot more expensive than a usual bottle of anti-perspirant. However, if it works in a similar manner to Lush's solid shampoos, a block could last upwards of 6+ months, making it incredible value for money.

The deodorant contains witch hazel and chamomile vinegar to help tighten pores rather than block them, which is supposed to help you to keep cool and fresh. Lush have also included bicarbonate of soda to absorb odour and cooling patchouli oil to give your armpits a lasting earthy fragrance. Aromaco claims to absorb body odour and leave you smelling as fresh as a daisy. So does it work?

Firstly, I found it was rather difficult to use. You're supposed to rub the block under your armpits, following a shower to keep you feeling fresh and dry throughout the day. However, I found that whether I used it on dry or slightly damp skin, very little smell or product rubbed off onto my armpits. This meant that I felt very naked throughout the day, something that I'm very conscious about at work; nobody wants a smelly co-worker! It's not as fiddly and messy as T'eo, but it's certainly more hassle than using a normal roll-on deodorant.

Secondly, the scent it gives off is a little less than desirable. I recognise that witch hazel and patchouli have been used specially to target bad odours and smother them, and I can't deny that it doesn't do this to some extent. However, the smell is very poignant and not something I want to be using regularly.

Finally, the deodorant did absolutely nothing to help keep me dry or prevent as much sweating occurring as normal. In fact, I found that the deodorant made things worse. Whereas before I was sweating fairly odourlessly, I now had to contend with a mixture of sweat and patchouli - something I wasn't very happy with at all.

To conclude: I recognise that Lush are trying to come up with new concepts and products to help reduce their carbon footprint, use fresher and sustainable natural ingredients as well as cater for a large range of consumers. However, this is one product that seems to have very little use at all.

I recognise that there are others out there who seem to really appreciate Aromaco, and have perhaps started using it regularly with pleasing results. However, I suspect that a large percentage of these people seldomly sweat, which is why they've yet to see it's flaws. For someone like myself, who works out 6 days a week and has a full time job which involves moving around a lot, I don't think this deodorant is conducive at all.

Quantitative Ingredients: Witch Hazel Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Chamomile Vinegar, Sodium Bicarbonate, Patchouli Oil, Citral, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes

2015 Price: �4.95 for 100g.

Aromaco Solid Deodorant

body, deodorant, Lemon, Solid, Witch hazel

Aromaco comes in small cream-coloured blocks and is priced at £4.70 for a 100g slice. This is obviously a lot more expensive than a usual bottle of anti-perspirant. However, if it works in a similar manner to Lush's solid shampoos, a block could last upwards of 6+ months, making it incredible value for money.

Quantitative Ingredients: Witch Hazel Infusion, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Stearate, Chamomile Vinegar, Sodium Bicarbonate, Patchouli Oil, Citral, *Limonene, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes

2015 Price: £4.95 for 100g.

T'eo Solid Deodorant

deodorant, Lemon, Solid, tea tree

I'm going to be honest; I have always been a little dubious about using solid deodorants, much like I was sceptical about trying Lush's solid perfumes and toothpaste when I first saw them to. However, I love trying out new products from Lush, and it's very rare that one of their products have ever truly disappointed me, so perhaps I should be a little more optimistic.

T'eo is a product that I have wanted to try for ages, but have refrained from doing so because a. a lot of reviews that I have read claim to have suffered adverse reactions when using it, and b. I just couldn't fathom how a dry, rock-hard piece of baking soda could actually keep me clean. However, curiosity got the better of me and I bought a bar a few months ago.

The UK version comes in an oval shape, with a wax base and flakes of dried flowers for decoration. The scent it gives off is a mixture of lemons and tea tree oil, although there is also a hint of fresh grapes that comes through once you've used it a few times. T’eo Solid Deodorant Bar contains bicarbonate of soda to soak up sweat and neutralise any smells, whilst the tea tree, lemon and juniper oils go about their anti-bacterial work.

I wasn't actually sure how you were supposed to apply this product so I did a little research beforehand, and discovered that you are to rub this onto dried skin. However, after the second use, I found that no powder was coming off, and I was left with rather sore armpits.

After experimenting a little, I found that T'eo works best on slightly damp skin, giving the powder of the bar something to stick to. So I began using it daily after my morning and evening showers, and this yielded better results.

Although it does work best on wet skin, I wouldn't recommend using it on soaking wet skin or you may find the bar will disintegrate during use. It would also be counterproductive if used on already sweaty skin as it'll soak up the moisture and give you little protection for the rest of the day.

It doesn't stop you from sweating but the powder contains bicarbonate of soda to soak up any sweat. It also has essential oils to neutralise any smells from sweat. Despite this, I found that it didn't protect me for an entire day; by 2pm, I felt damp under my arms again, and I had done very little manual labour to warrant a lot of sweating.

Overall, I am going to continue using this as it makes me feel clean and refreshed, and it does keep me somewhat dry throughout the majority of the day. Although the lemon scent tends to disappear quite quickly, it does neutralise smells and prevent the scent of sweat from coming through.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Bicarbonate, Cream of Tartar, Apricot Kernel Oil, Blue Wax, Tea Tree Oil, Magnesium Carbonate, Lemon Oil, Juniperberry Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Fresh Green Grapes, Blue Cornflower Petals, *Citral, *Eugenol, *Geraniol, *Citronellol, *Limonene, *Linalool, Perfume.

Vegan?: Yes