I have always been a sweaty person. Whether it’s peak summer heat or chillier winter temperatures, I always run hot. There are perks to being a human water bottle; I can take the emptier outdoor tables at pubs without worrying about freezing and my heating bill is lower than average. But the downsides? I’m pretty much always sweating.

As such, I go through a lot of deodorants and rely on the powerful stuff. In the last three years, I’ve switched from women’s deodorants to men’s as the formulas tended to be more hardcore at preventing sweat (why companies think women don’t sweat, I’ll never know).

In the past decade, I’ve dabbled in trying to switch from my trusty aluminium-based aerosol formula to more natural deodorants. However, none of them seemed to be able to withstand my sweatiness, and I’d end up running to Boots to buy an old-school aerosol by lunchtime during most experiments. 

There’s been increased awareness in recent years about the benefits of switching to a natural deodorant. Not only are aerosols not great for the environment, but antiperspirants plug your sweat ducts, which prevents you from sweating – and some people believe this leads to even more sweating. Great. 

Natural deodorants, on the other hand, are kinder to the skin and work by neutralising odour. Plus, they’re less likely to leave yellow stains on your clothes – something that plagues any white T-shirts I buy.

I’ve tried many, but none of them had converted me to the natural deodorant way of life until I took a chance on the Kosas Chemistry Deodorant Serene Clean.

The formula features antimicrobial shikimic acid to fight against odours, while lactic acid exfoliates to smooth skin and prevent ingrown hairs and mandelic acid brightens to prevent discolouration. All of this essentially lowers your pit pH to prevent any unwanted body odour.

The active formula made me a bit wary as I have sensitive skin, but the hyaluronic acid and aloe vera juice in the formula work to soothe and hydrate the area to avoid irritation.

One of my pet peeves with natural deodorants is they usually feel thick and take forever to dry. However, this is like a thin gel on application and takes only a few seconds to dry. You just need to give the tube a gentle squeeze and start rolling.

I tried this on a whim as winter weather was starting (colder weather meant naturally less sweating, so I took the opportunity to put a natural deodorant to the test) and have felt no desire to pick up my old aerosol deodorant since. Not only has it been able to neutralise odours effectively, but my underarm skin has been smoother and softer as a result.

If you’re a fellow natural deodorant sceptic, I seriously encourage you to take a chance on Kosas’s Chemistry Deodorant Serene Clean. You won’t regret it. 

Images: Adobe, courtesy of brand