Vegan Skincare Tips: Choosing the Right Vegan Deodorant

Life is a performance and the planet is our stage, and we all know we’ve got to take good care of the boards beneath our feet if we want the show to go on. Or to put it in less theatrical terms: our environment is struggling and we need to step up. 

Going plant-based is one of the most powerful things we can do for Mother Earth – but if that feels like too big of a lifestyle change right now, you can always start with your skincare. 

What is Vegan Skincare? 

So, what does vegan mean in skincare? 

Vegan skincare refers to products without any ingredients derived from animals or animal by-products. You may be thinking, “well doy, of course my moisturiser doesn’t have meat in it”. But there’s actually a ton of animal by-products commonly used in skincare, and they’re often not sourced in very ethical or environmentally friendly ways.

These include:

• Beeswax

• Honey

• Milk proteins

• Collagen

• Keratin

• Lanolin 

• Animal-based Glycerin

• Animal-based Squalene

• Albumen

• Chitosan 

• Animal-based Hyaluronic Acid

• Animal-based Oleic Acid

Fortunately, we and many other vegan skincare pioneers have been busy as the bees (yep, the ones we’d rather everyone left to go about their business), concocting powerful vegan antiperspirants and deodorants – so you can get all the benefits of mainstream deodorant without any of the guilt. Ta da!

Vegan vs Cruelty-Free

It’s important to remember that just because a product is vegan, doesn’t mean it’s cruelty free. Even if a deodorant doesn’t contain any animal by-products, it may still have been tested on animals. This is sadly still incredibly common in the beauty industry, so make sure to triple check the labels on everything you buy. 

We hate to toot our own horn (who are we kidding, we love it) but we must take this opportunity to mention that AKT is both vegan and cruelty-free. We will never use our products on animals – we prefer to really put our range through its paces by testing our formulas on our founders’ beloved friends and colleagues in the West End. 

Trialing The Deodorant Balm on some of the sweatiest folks on the scene (more than a thousand actors and dancers sweltering through 8 shows a week under bright stage lights) gave us all the reassurance we need that our products really work. 

Our message to brands still testing on animals? Leave. Them. Alone. 

Why Switch to a Natural Vegan Deodorant?

Listen up as there’s still so many reasons why you should choose a natural vegan deodorant over other antiperspirants and deodorants. A biggie is that mainstream antiperspirants are packed full with aluminium salts that block sweat glands. While this may sound useful, sweating is a natural bodily function that helps cool us down and gets rid of toxins. 

We know we know, you don’t want to sweat loads because sweat leads to stink. That’s why we developed our unique DEO-BARRIER COMPLEX™, a combination of natural plant and mineral powders that sit invisibly on the skin without blocking your pores. That means our deodorant balms can absorb natural perspiration throughout the day and help you stay dry and fresh for the duration of your performance – without locking all those toxins into your pits . 

Don’t believe us? We’ve even got the reviews to prove it. 

What’s the Best Vegan Deodorant for Sensitive Skin? 

Another standing ovation-worthy aspect of natural vegan deodorant is that it’s much less likely to dry your skin out, making it a fabulous choice for those with sensitive skin.

The underarms are one of the most sensitive parts of the body, with the largest concentration of immune supporting lymph nodes — so it’s important we take better care of them.

By avoiding the classic pit-falls (see what we did there) of animal products, parabens, alcohol and aluminium, The Deodorant Balm helps sensitive underarms stay dry and smelling delightful without risking irritation. In fact, it’s so gentle you can use our balm elsewhere on the body – feet, groin, pecs, underboob – wherever you sweat. Extra sensitive skin sufferers can also opt for our 100% fragrance free deodorant balm, SC.00 NO NOTES. 

And now, for the grand finale, our deodorant balms even moisturise your skin at the same time as banishing BO. Stupendous stuff. 

PSA: even if you don’t end up opting for a natural vegan deodorant, we highly recommend avoiding sprays as the harsh chemicals used in aerosol antiperspirants make them particularly troublesome for sensitive skin (and for the environment).

Best Vegan Skincare for Sensitive Skin 

No need to stop at deodorant. There’s a whole plethora of natural vegan skincare out there to give your skin the A-list treatment it deserves, and in our opinion natural does it sooo much better than any mainstream, non-vegan product. 

Naturally, we recommend our own award-winning ensemble. Please welcome to the stage our groundbreaking, no-added-water The Body Wash Concentrate, dull-to-dazzling The Everyday Encore Body Oil, luxuriously exfoliating The Foaming Body Scrub and finally, our ‘dance class in a tube’: The Body Conditioning Balm. Thank you, that’s quite enough applause for now. 

Oh, go on then, one more round. 

What Vegan Ingredients does AKT use? 

AKT founders and West End performers Ed and Andy spent three years refining their formula, exploring the very best in vegan skincare ingredients. Practice makes perfect and after finding their winning combination, The Deodorant Balm was born – going on to become the most awarded natural deodorant in the UK with more than 31,000 5 star reviews. Globally.

AKT is proud to use solely natural and vegan ingredients, including the following superstars:

• Shea Butter, rich in fatty acids and vitamins A, E and F for silky skin

• Apricot Kernel Oil to help retain suppleness

• Diatomaceous Earth (an ancient fossilised algae) to absorb perspiration

• Calendula Oil, extracted from the marigold flower, to soothe shaving burn 

• Zinc Oxide to gently cleanse the skin

• Pure essential oils for their antimicrobial properties and incredible fragrance

AKT Fragrance Ingredients: What’s in Each One?

If you’re unsure which of our famous natural and vegan-friendly deodorant balms to choose, we highly recommend The Discovery Set. That way you can sample each scintillating scent before deciding which is the one for you. However, if you want to go full-size straight away, here’s some pointers on ingredients to help you make your selection. 

We’ve hand-picked these formulas for their skin-loving properties and to help us make the best gender-free vegan deodorant that even works for sensitive skin. 

Many of these ingredients have been used for centuries – and if it isn't broken, don’t fix it! (And to all the non cruelty-free brands out there: if it’s not for animals, don’t test it on them! Anyway, on with the show…)

The applause-inducing ingredients in our citrussy natural deodorant SC.01 ORANGE GROVE include: 

• Citrus Nobilis Peel Oil (also known as Mandarin Orange Peel Oil) - restores and rejuvenates dry skin

• Juniperus Communis Fruit (Juniper Berry) Oil - prevents skin irritation and rashes, and is also known to help treat acne

Then in SC.02 AFTER THUNDER, we’ve collated a refreshing blend of the following: 

• Cupressus Funebris (Cedar) Wood Oil - this is an ancient antiseptic that can help clear skin and adds a delicate scent 

• Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Oil - known to be good for eczema and reduces inflammation 

• Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel Oil - has antibacterial properties and a soothing aroma 

• Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf (Rosemary) Oil - helps get rid of toxins in the skin

Inspired by the traditional Japanese spa, we have SC.03 THE ONSEN: 

• Vetiveria Zizanoides (Vetiver) Root Oil - an ancient ingredient known to reduce scars and blemishes

• Lavandula Hybrida Grosso Herb (Lavandin) Oil - an anti-inflammatory that leaves you smelling simply divine 

• Citrus Limon Peel Oil - rich in antioxidants it gives a welcome boost to the skin

• Pogostemon Cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Extract - a woody scent that revitalises skin cells

Next to the stage, we welcome SC.04 HALCYON SUMMERS – our Mediterranean escape in a tube:

• Bergamot - a powerful, sweet aroma to stimulate the senses

• Grapefruit Essential Oil - a refreshing way to relieve stress and promote equilibrium 

• Cedarwood Virginian - from the Juniperus Virginiana. Earthy and strong, it keeps you grounded whatever the day throws at you

Last but not least, the scent of fresh cut stems and good coffee…. It can only be SC.05 COLUMBIA ROAD:

• Violet Leaf Absolute - sweet and smooth it promotes a calm and positive mentality

• Rose Bulgare Essence - an uplifting bouquet to relieve stress and calm the mind 

• Tonka Absolute - scientifically known as the Dipteryx odorata plant, this ingredient is a natural aphrodisiac!

Don’t forget, if fragrance isn’t your thing for any reason, we’ve also got our 100% fragrance free deodorant, SC.00 NO NOTES. Perfect for those with sensitive skin, or anyone who chooses to smell of naught but success. 

So there you have it. An entire ensemble of vegan and cruelty free deodorants, ready and waiting to help you step onto your stage and perform.