|Review|: A Battle in the Pits - Skin Deep International's Charcoal vs. Lemon + Tea Tree Deodorants

Today, I'm diving into a head-to-head comparison between two offerings from Skin Deep International: their Charcoal and Lemon + Tea Tree deodorants. As someone who values both sustainability and effectiveness in personal care products, I couldn't wait to put these roll-ons to the test. However, my experience was a bit of a mixed bag, so let's break it down!

Skin Deep International deodorants

Lemon + Tea Tree deodorant 

Let's talk about the Lemon + Tea Tree deodorant—a product that, unfortunately, missed the mark for me. The product comes in a plastic twist roll on packaging with a lid on top. The packaging is pretty basic, nothing fancy. 

Skin Deep International deodorant in Lemon + Tea tree 

Skin Deep International deodorant in lemon + tea tree

Product Claims: 

"Made with good-for-you 100% natural ingredients including fair trade coconut oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax and essential oils. Tea tree is beneficial for its anti bacterial, odor busting + natural cleansing properties. Combats odor and is fortified with kaolin clay (powerful detoxifier) and non-nano zinc oxide (soothes irritation). Goes on virtually clear and doesn't stain clothes." 

Skin Deep International deodorant 

In all my years of testing personal care products, I've never encountered a roll-on that actually made my armpits smell worse. Yes, you read that right. This product was, to put it bluntly, a lost cause. Despite its promising scent combination, I found that it somehow managed to make my armpits smell worse over time. Needless to say, I had to discontinue use due to the unpleasant odor it caused.

Charcoal Deodorant 

Right off the bat, I have to give major props to Skin Deep for their commitment to sustainable packaging. The eco-friendly cardboard tube earns some serious brownie points in my book. However, while the intention is commendable, the execution falls short in terms of convenience.

Skin Deep International deodorant in Charcoal

Product Claims: 

"Made with good-for-you 100% natural ingredients including fair trade coconut oil, arrowroot powder, beeswax and essential oils. Activated charcoal contains added detoxifying benefits while also deodorizing and disinfecting. Combats odor and is fortified with kaolin clay (powerful detoxifier) and non-nano zinc oxides (soothes irritation). Goes on virtually clear and doesn't stain clothes." 

Product claims and usage instructions

Okay so the product claim above literally made me smile. Its word by word the same product description and claim as Lemon + Tea tree with the only difference of Charcoal benefits. The last line that says it goes on virtually clear is just a copy paste as this deodorant doesn't go on clear. 

Skin Deep International deodorant in charcoal

The charcoal deodorant itself has some interesting aspects. It's great that it uses charcoal, a natural deodorant ingredient. However, the formula is incredibly drying. It crumbles into flakes upon application, making the whole process a bit messy. These flakes stick to the cardboard base and fall to the ground, creating a bit of a nuisance.  On top of that, the charcoal color can leave your underarms looking darker – although it's important to note that this is just a visual effect due to the product's color, not actual darkening of the skin.

Crumbling effect of charcoal deodorant by Skin Deep International

While I applaud Skin Deep International for their sustainable packaging initiative and the overall concept of their deodorants, there's definitely room for improvement—particularly in the design and formulation departments.

If you have any recommendations for effective and eco-friendly deodorants, please share them as well! I'm always on the hunt for a natural option that actually works. Stay healthy and beautiful. xoxo!!!