Tested: Soapwalla Deodorant Crème

The safety of deodorants was one of the first topics of the natural cosmetics movement, and it is still a hotly debated issue. As summer approaches, the topic of aluminium in deodorants is once again on everyone's lips. But the guesswork and fear could be over long ago - because Soapwalla's deodorant cream keeps you fresh, dry and healthy.

Risk factors
The most discussed ingredient in connection with deodorants is aluminium salts. Aluminium acts as an antiperspirant in deodorants, preventing the armpits from becoming damp. This may sound tempting at first, but it is anything but healthy for the body. Sweating is a natural and important detoxification process of the body and suppressing this natural function can have consequences. But that's not all: since the 1990s, more and more studies have linked aluminium to Alzheimer's, cancer and oestrogen problems.

Parabens, i.e. preservatives, are also frequently in the media. The vast majority of conventional deodorants and a number of natural deodorants also contain preservatives. A sensational study published in 2012 showed that parabens can actually cause cancer by converting healthy cells into malignant ones. (For details, see our glossary article on parabens here)

Miracle cure from the kitchen: Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream 

The list of ingredients in Soapwalla Kitchen Deodorant Cream reads almost like a recipe for a detox drink: various vegetable powders and clays that absorb sweat (just like clay is the latest hype in detox drinks!), and essential oils of lavender, tea tree and peppermint, which have an antibacterial, disinfecting and, above all, intensively deodorising effect. All ingredients are food-grade and/or organic. Like all products from the small Soapwalla kitchen in Brooklyn, the deodorant cream is vegan and not tested on animals, but on countless armpits.

Who is behind Soapwalla?

Rachel, the founder of Soapwalla, developed her products out of necessity. After being diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease, she searched in vain for safe and, above all, effective products for herself - and so began "cooking" products herself. Initially, her programme included soaps and a skin serum to soothe and improve irritated skin. In 2009, she founded Soapwalla - and five years later, she is preparing products for the whole world in her kitchen.

Rachel says: "The skin is our largest organ and to function optimally it needs to be nourished with holistic ingredients. If I refuse to eat something specific, i.e. in my body, I should just as well not on my skin".

The test

I tested the Soapwalla deodorant cream for over a month. As luck would have it, it was a very hot month and the toughest with temperatures of up to 35°C is the basis for my test result.

Admittedly, I was a little sceptical at first. A cream? You smear it under your armpits and never sweat again? But I was immediately impressed by the smell: the deodorant smells of a mixture of lavender and mint, which is very pleasant and subtle.

First of all: over the course of the test month, I enjoyed applying the cream more and more and am now absolutely convinced. You can determine exactly where and how much deodorant you want to apply and apply the cream so well that no annoying stains remain on your clothes.

Now to the most important part: I have to admit, I sweat a lot and as I also cycle a lot, it was always a pain for me to sit next to other people soaking wet and perhaps not smelling so pleasant. Thanks to Soapwalla deodorant cream, this problem has virtually disappeared. Of course, I still sweat (which is a good thing!) and when the sun is blazing and the thermometer climbs to 35°C, the only thing that helps is a cooling bath. But even when I'm cycling at 35°C and sweating slightly (!), it never smells unpleasant or bad!
And that is probably the biggest advantage of Soapwalla Deodorant Cream: the absolutely reliable and long-lasting odour neutralisation.

What also convinces me is the size of the deodorant: The jar looks very small and handy, but can be compared to a Mary Poppins bag, because it doesn't get empty. I'm sure my little tin will last me about 7 months.

Conclusion The Soapwalla Deodorant Cream has exceeded my expectations: Really a great product that reliably keeps you fresh and also dry/drier even in extreme situations. An absolute must-have for me, especially in summer!

Here we have already tested the deodorant cream once and found it to be good.

Fun Fact The name Soapwalla means "soap master" and comes from the Indian language.
Here you can buy the Soapwalla deodorant cream for CHF 18.