The Best Natural (And Refillable) Deodorant

NOTE: Read the 2021 updated review here.

So I thought I’d do something a bit different today and review a product that I’ve been testing out for a few weeks now. You may have seen my Current Favorites video where I mentioned the by Humankind deodorant but I felt it deserved it’s own post because it’s just that good. I’ve not done a product review on the blog yet and that’s mostly because I haven’t come across anything that I was excited enough to shout about, until now. This product is one of the best things I’ve ever been (admittedly) “influenced” to buy and really underscores my belief that platforms like Instagram (and this funny “influencer” business) can be really positive forces for change when it comes to conscientious consumerism. So here’s my review of the best natural deodorant that I’ve come across yet.

by Humankind Deodorant

I first want to share how I found out about this product. Gina Stovall (@ginastovall), who is really fabulous and blogs about intentional living, has been doing an Instagram series called #100DaysToPlasticFreedom. She compiles suggestions from her following on sustainable and ethically made products to replace everyday items and cut down on or completely eliminate single use plastic.

For Sensitive Skin

While I find this kind of content incredibly important and informative, I have to admit my main motivation for trying this product was not to find a sustainable alternative to my drugstore deodorant, it just happened to be a major plus side! My main motivation was my issue with sensitive skin. I can’t tell you how many natural and unnatural deodorants I have tried that either didn’t last, irritated my skin or both. After trying everything off the shelf of my local drugstore, and a couple dermatologist visits later, I finally tried the by Humankind deodorant and it really worked! It’s long lasting, has a really pleasant smell and a soft formula and the fact that it’s a natural formula also gives me so much peace of mind. I really can’t imagine using anything else now.

Sustainable & Ethically Made

Another huge selling point for me was the fact that this product drastically cuts down on single use plastic from my morning routine. So yes, the container is made of plastic but it has a lifetime guarantee so you buy it only once. It also made me feel better knowing that the plastic container is mainly for sanitary purposes. The refills are made of cardboard, and are therefore compostable. From what I’ve gathered, many other similar sustainable brands use recycled plastic for refills rather than cardboard. And because I am signed up for a subscription, they will send me a refill every 4 weeks, and I can change that to 2 or 6 weeks if I ever needed to.

The Downside

Literally the only think I can think of that I don’t love about this product is the scent. I had the choice of eucalyptus or unscented and went with the scented option, which I prefer. It honestly doesn’t really smell like eucalyptus, but more of a powdery or soapy smell, which I don’t particularly like. It’s definitely not a bothersome smell but not my preference. I’m thinking about switching to the unscented next time around.

I know for some the $14.95 price tag may seem high. For me it’s worth it because I know my skin won’t have a bad reaction to it, I know I’m taking a small step towards a more sustainable morning routine and I don’t have to worry about running out unexpectedly because of the subscription service. Unfortunately, many sustainable products still come at the higher price point and are generally less accessible and I really hope that’s something that changes soon.

The Verdict

As you may have gathered by now, I am super happy with the by Humankind deodorant. I love that it doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin, it actually works all day and I am able to cut down on my plastic use in the process. I love everything about by Humankind, right down to the cute packaging (I feel literal joy every time I open up my medicine cabinet and see this cute minimal design) and the ethos of the brand. Who knew you could learn things about the environment by reading a deodorant brand’s website! They also make shampoo bars and mouthwash tablets in the same ethical fashion.

If you’ve made it this far than kudos to you and thank you so much for reading my first product review post! I’d love to hear your thoughts, whether you’ve tried this brand or want to. And let me know if you’d like to read more reviews for different products in the future. xx Jessica