Pregnancy is a time of big changes, not just for your body but also for the products you use. This is the time when every choice matters because it impacts both you and your baby. It is also the time to swap your regular antiperspirants with some of the best pregnancy-safe deodorants. Our findings show that during pregnancy, it's crucial to avoid harmful chemicals like aluminum, parabens, triclosan, and phthalates. According to research, these can mess with your hormone system, which is risky during pregnancy (1).

Unfortunately, most antiperspirants come with aluminum as sweat blockers. So, your safest choice would be non-antiperspirant deodorants with natural ingredients. Also, opt for deodorants featuring gentle fragrances derived from natural herbs or oils. Just ensure you aren't allergic to any of these ingredients, and you're good to go. 

Keeping all this in mind, our team of experts has gathered some fantastic deodorant options. They're free from aluminum and harsh chemicals, ensuring you stay fresh and worry-free throughout every trimester. Check out our top picks below.

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  Best Overall

  Bali Secrets All Natural Deodorant

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Bali Secrets is a great choice as it uses premium ingredients like seaweed extracts, mineral salts, and aloe vera. These natural elements protect bacterial growth, nourish your skin, and avoid irritation. It gives a sweet floral and zesty smell all day long. There are no harsh substances like parabens, phthalates, or aluminum chlorohydrate, making it gentle and safe. It's all about wholesome ingredients, nothing else added.

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Best Vegan Product

Native Cucumber & Mint Deodorant

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Native's deodorant is smooth and not greasy, providing effective odor protection all day. It has simple natural ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, tapioca starch, mint, and baking soda, without harmful substances like aluminum, talc, and phthalates. It also includes probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus to balance skin flora (2). The deodorant absorbs moisture, ensuring you feel fresh and dry. Our analysis of the product shows that it absorbs smoothly onto the skin and doesn't leave a residue behind.

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Best Long-lasting Results

Each & Every Lavender & Lemon Deodorant

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Each & Every makes top-quality products without nasty chemicals. It's perfect for sensitive skin as it has no harsh baking soda, artificial fragrance, alcohol, parabens, aluminum, or gluten. Plus, it comes in eco-friendly packaging from sugar cane. The scent is a mix of calming lavender and refreshing lemon essential oils. It contains dead sea salts and tapioca starch to absorb excess sweat and coconut for a smoother glide. It is also the perfect cruelty-free and vegan option to go for.

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Best Nourishing Deodorant

Kopari Aluminum-Free Coconut Oil Deodorant

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This Kopari deodorant is pregnancy-safe, containing no harmful ingredients like aluminum, parabens, or baking soda. It is packed with coconut oil that has antimicrobial properties to naturally fight bacteria and keep the skin fresh (3). The infusion of sage oil makes it a perfect pick to soothe irritated skin while keeping the skin smelling great all day long. It's light, non-antiperspirant, and smells delightful with sweet tropical beach vibes. Our team of experts loved its nourishing formulation and easy application.

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Most Refreshing

Weleda Citrus 24-Hour Roll-On Deodorant

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This Weleda roll-on deodorant is perfect for all those who love a zesty citrus smell. It has a refreshing blend of lemon and licorice root extract, offering long-lasting odor protection without stopping your skin from sweating naturally. These two key ingredients are known for their antioxidant properties that help protect the skin from oxidative damage and keep it looking fresh and rejuvenated all day long (4), (5). Furthermore, the roll-on is easy to use and doesn't have aluminum salts, synthetic fragrances, or preservatives. Our team appreciates its liquid formula that leaves no residue on your body, or clothes.

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Most Affordable

Crystal Mineral Enriched Deodorant Roll-On

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Crystal Mineral-Enriched Deodorant Roll-On is your go-to if you want quick-drying protection against odor. It creates an invisible barrier that helps prevent odor effectively. It won't make your skin sticky or oily, and therefore you don’t have to worry about residue, white marks, or staining. Plus, the calming scents of fresh lavender and white tea add to the experience. It's devoid of harsh chemicals, including parabens, artificial fragrances, phthalates, and aluminum chloride, making it safe for your skin.

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Best Alcohol-free Pick

Nasanta Magnesium Deodorant

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This Nasanta deo, created in Sydney is packed with beneficial magnesium, loved by your body for many functions, especially during pregnancy and breastfeeding (6). It's free from aluminum and lets your body perspire naturally while keeping body odor away. This gentle and irritation-free deodorant is suitable for post-shave, making it a great choice for everyone. Plus, this deodorant is unscented and is clinically tested for sensitive skin compatibility.

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Best for Sweat Absorption

Lavanila Natural Aluminum Free Vanilla Lavender Deodorant

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Lavanila deodorant ticks all the boxes for a natural choice. It's free from harmful stuff like aluminum, baking soda, and parabens. Plus, it's full of lavender essential oils and Madagascar vanilla beans that heal, soothe, and calm the skin. Further, this deodorant has antioxidant properties that boost skin healing and revive it. Its aromatic quality gives a sweet floral smell all day long. This deodorant uses special Beta Glucan technology to prevent sweat and odors. During the testing of the product, we observed that it felt light and gentle on the armpits.

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Best Sweet Smell

Kiss My Face Liquid Rock On Deodorant

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Kiss My Face Liquid Rock On Deodorant fights odors using mineral salts and contains no harmful ingredients. It is a liquid deodorant that feels wet at first but dries quickly after applying. It contains extracts of willow bark and lichen that prevent itchiness, nourish the skin, and soothe inflammation. Its mild floral scent will make you apply this again and again. Don’t worry about those white marks that come after using a deodorant spray, as this leaves no greasy residue or marks behind. In addition, it is vegan and cruelty-free, making it an apt choice for fur-friendly people. Thus, it's a safe and reliable choice for staying fresh.

If you're wondering about the safety of your regular deodorant or exploring other pregnancy-friendly deo options, here are some essential points to consider. 

1. Avoid Toxic Chemicals

During pregnancy, it's crucial to steer clear of harmful substances. Start by avoiding deodorants with aluminum, commonly found in antiperspirants. While research on its harmful effects is still in its infant stage, it's safer to skip aluminum-laden options (7).

Additionally, watch out for parabens (Methylparaben and Propylparaben), phthalates (MBP, MEHP, MEP, MEHHP, MECPP), triclosan, and propylene glycol. These ingredients are often not easily broken down and can influence infants’ birth weight (8), (9), (10). If these chemicals dominate labels, it's time to find deodorants with better ingredients.

2. Choose Natural Ingredients

Opt for deodorants with natural products like vegetable starches like corn starch, coconut oil, shea butter, probiotics, plant extracts like arrowroot powder, plant oils, and natural mineral salts like magnesium and zinc. These ingredients ensure safety for both you and your baby. If baking soda and essential oil formulations don't irritate your skin, then they too are excellent natural options to consider.

3. Say No to Fragrance

While deodorants are primarily for fragrance, not all scents are safe. Opting for unscented options is quite safe. However to manage the body smells during pregnancy, go for natural deodorant brands that offer safer alternatives to both expectant mothers and developing fetuses. 

Shedding more light on the topic, our contributor Katie McCann, a Breastfeeding Counselor, says, “According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) pregnant women should avoid triclosan, phthalates, and parabens. Unscented deodorant formulas are considered safer during pregnancy because they are free from synthetic fragrances, which can contain phthalates and other potentially harmful chemicals. These ingredients can be irritants or allergens and may pose risks to the developing fetus. Unscented deodorants reduce the risk of exposure to these substances, making them a preferable choice for pregnant women.”

Try to avoid personal care products with synthetic fragrances. Instead, opt for deodorants that use natural fragrances from plant extracts, ensuring a pleasant scent without the risk.

4. Go for Quality Products

During pregnancy, don't settle for anything less than quality. It's okay to spend a bit more on safe products. Look for pregnancy-safe deodorants made by reliable companies known for their authenticity. You can also check customer reviews to know what people think about the product, brand, and their ingredients.

When you're pregnant, it's important to make gentle choices for both you and your baby. That's where our list of the best pregnancy-safe deodorants can help. These deodorants are perfect for everyone who wants gentle formulations in their vanity. They have natural and clean ingredients like baking soda, plant extracts, and coconut oil that not only fight body odor but also keep your skin nourished. Plus, if you have odor sensitivities or sensitive skin, these deodorants are a lifesaver. So, during this special time, choose these gentle and safe options for a happy and healthy pregnancy journey.

Contributor: Katie McCann, Breastfeeding Counselor- From Bump To Bubble