Time for deodorant?

[npl]

My dd has started complaining that she can always smell her body odor, even after she has showered.
I'm guessing it's time for her to get some deodorant, but I'm not sure what to get for her. When I was younger, my parents wouldn't let me use anything until it was a really big problem and I started buying it for myself. I used regular spray antiperspirant. I now only use a more natural stick deodorant (Toms of Maine) and just don't apply it on shabbos/yom tov, but I'm no longer at a stage of life when I need to worry about excessive perspiration or odor. I'm thinking that dd will need to use something on shabbos/yom tov, and so a stick doesn't help her. But, I haven't seen a natural deodorant in a spray/aerosol.
Also, I think I remember reading that anti-perspirant isn't healthy, and that we should only use a deodorant (dh and I do, anyway). Is there any truth to this?
Any suggestions what I can get for my dd?

[LearningFromExperience]

Let her choose

[npl]

But, what kind should I steer her towards (I don't think she has any info to base a decision on)?
Stick, roll-on, all natural, or will she really prefer an antiperspirant (can you get a natural anti-perspirant?).
I've been using the same thing for so long, that I don't know what the options are, either.

[4daughters]

My preteen daughter insisted on using deoderant at age 11 due to peer pressure. I bought her an anti-persperant that didn't contain aluminum since it made me feel better that she isn't applying aluminum needlessly. It only came in roll-on so that is what she got. She insists that everyone uses spray but she is using what I bought her.

When I was applying deoderant every day I'd use stick during the week and spray on Shabbos. You may want to buy her the Tom's of Maine for weekday use and a mainstream spray for Shabbos use.

[npl]

Which brand is an antiperspirant without aluminum?

Was just at the store. She told me she wanted a spray, and definitely not a stick (I think it's because of the way it will feel) in a vanilla scent or unscented.
I couldn't find a spray (there were almost none, but they were out of stock of a lot of products) and I found no unscented roll-ons. So, I bought her a Toms of Maine in Apricot, which I am happy to use if she doesn't like it. I use the Toms in Calendula, which she might also like. But, it won't deal with the feeling of perspiration (it itches and I just showered).

[Chavelamomela]

I second the recommendation of a spray just for shabbas.

You can show her the deoderant crystals/stones for another option.

Avoid antiperspirants and stick with deodorants only.

[npl]

I personally am happy with just an deodorant, but I remember being very embarrassed about wet patches from sweating profusely as a teenager. And, she already feels uncomfortable from the sweaty feeling.
How can we limit the perspiration/wet patches. Besides from the obvious discomfort, she's in a situation where anything that can be used by certain classmates to poke fun at her, will be. I'm trying hard to protect her self-esteem here!

[gilima]

Arm & hammer have an aluminum free deodorant /artificial fragrance free they use essential oils, it is called Essentials natural deodorant. My 2 older dd's like it and it is easy enough to find.
natures gate also make a nice smelling one and my younger dd has used that as well as toms of maine.
None of these are anti-perspirant and I think you might want to avoid antipersipants.
THe natural crystal/stones I think are more of a natural anti-perspirant and there are crystal spray ones which would be good for shabbos and they have fragrance free and I have a lavender one. You should probably get a few for her to try and choose or take her with you.
excessive, sweating can be assocoated with hormonal changes/imbalances/detoxing etc; and for short periods of time going through puberty or after childbirth etc; is to be expected but if this carries on you might want to look into it more and check her diet etc;

[npl]

Thanks, gilima - I'll look for those brands and see if we can get them here in Canada.

Just to clarify - I haven't noticed any issues yet - no obvious smell or wet patches. But it bothers her, and I remember how embarrassed I was when I was starting puberty and my parents refused to let me use anything, especially as my friends noticed the smell and damp clothing.

[LearningFromExperience]

Is the aluminum thing actually proven by any studies?

If not, the cost-benefit to her, in her stage of life, might point in the opposite direction.

[npl]

LfE - you echo my thoughts. I'd be really interested to learn exactly what the issues are.
Whilst I personally am not bothered by feeling sweaty, and prefer that to blocking my pores, most of the time, I appreciate both the adjustment that dd must go through in the way it feels (getting used to feeling damp in the armpits) and the social implications.

[JRKmommy]

FWIW, I have my girls using anti-perspirant in vanilla scent.

Puberty and dealing with social issues with girls is hard enough. I remember schoolyard teasing and comments about kids with body odor.

When she's older, she won't be dealing with a changing body. When she's out of school, she'll also have more flexibility with her clothes, and could wear looser, more natural fabrics. I find that makes a huge difference with wetness for me. I also like wearing black, because it makes wet spots much harder to see.

Pads to absorb the wetness could be another solution.

[RachaelLeah]

What about powders? I use gold bond for wetness. MAybe there's a more natural product? (not so sure what the prevailing thought about talc is).
Virgin coconut oil is an excellent natural deodorant, too.
I second (or third?) the idea that helping her feel comfortable and accepted socially may be more important than what is the most natural, at this age. As JKR said, they'll be time for that once she's older, and her - and her social circles - are more mature.

[npl]

JRK - what brand is the anit-perspirant in vanilla and where do you buy it?
She tried the stick deodorant I bought her last night (I couldn't smell a thing, so I'm not sure she applied it properly, but I guess she'll figure it out) and if that's sufficient through the fall/winter, then great.
If not, we'll keep experimenting.

[shirarocklin]

I always found that scented anti-perspirants made my underarms very itchy. And I liked the stick ones, not roll on or spray-on. Those were always too cold for me. I agree that any possible dangers of anti-perspirant are probably negligeable over the 10 years of teenagehood. Its not a lifetime of use. She'll know she has other options for later on, because you use those options. At the same time, the last things I'd heard about anti-perspirant and aluminum was that there wasn't any clarity about whether alzheimers causes a persons body to collect aluminum, or whether a person collects aluminum over a lifetime and it causes alzheimers. I also read that sweating there is a way to get rid of toxins in the body, so not good to block it. But I don't know if there is any science behind that.

Maybe she is just feeling worried, even if she doesn't really smell or have sweat marks? Its not like you can do a quick check before raising your hand in class without ayone noticing. Maybe she just wants to feell sure there aren't any marks that she hasn't noticed.