Nala’s Free-From Standards
At Nala, we’re free-from. We chose the term ‘free-from’ over ‘natural’ or ‘clean’ because we want to provide transparency in a market where terms like these can get cloudy with misuse. We’re transparent in what we use and what we don’t, making us free-from many confusing and ultimately toxic ingredients. We hold ourselves to a higher standard than required by any regulatory body, because if it’s possible, why not?
Using Nala means committing to your health. We believe you should put yourself first, which is why our products give you the outcome you want (like sweat protection!) without the chemicals you might not. We’re so confident in what we can do with clean ingredients, that we thought we’d give you a list of things you’ll never find in our products.
At Nala, we’re committed to never using:
- Any known carcinogens: There are over 800+ ingredients that are carcinogenic, and many of them can be found in beauty products. Acts, such as the California Proposition 65, are laws set out to reduce exposure to chemicals in consumer products(1), requiring companies to include warning labels about a chemical’s ability to cause cancer, reproductive harm, or birth defects.
- Aluminum: A main ingredient in antiperspirants, aluminum is designed to block your pores from sweating(2). While the idea of not sweating might sound ideal in theory, our body isn’t able to effectively regulate its temperature and release toxins when you block your sweat glands.
- Parabens: Often included to prevent the growth of mold or bacteria in a product, parabens mimic estrogen in both men and women’s bodies. The long term effect? Possible linkage to breast cancer, prostate cancer, and fertility issues(3).
- Petroleum: For that smooth dry feeling, well, you don’t need this. The trace contaminants of petroleum are known to readily penetrate the skin4, meaning that this possible cancer-causing ingredient is getting into your body soon after application.
- Phthalates: This is often an ingredient under the “fragrance” category, put in there to make the application of your deodorant smooth(3). The risk of various cancers and fertility issues isn’t worth it, considering this ingredient also emits toxins into the environment.
- Propylene Glycol: Used as an emulsifier, propylene glycol is common in deodorants (yes, even in many “natural” deodorants) for that smooth application feeling(4). But from mild allergic reactions to seizures, central nervous depression, coma, renal failure and hypoglycemia, this is an ingredient best kept away from.
- Heavy metals: If you like to shave your armpits, applying products that contain heavy metals to any broken area of skin can be bad news. While not directly correlated, breast cancer incidences tend to align with use of products that contain metals(2).
- Triclosan: When chemicals are so harmful many countries are banning them, we choose to veer away(5). This ingredient is linked to causing cancer, fertility issues, and harming the environment.
- Fragrances: The simple term fragrance can actually mean a whole list of toxic chemicals that aren’t required to be listed on an ingredients list(5). This means that things like formaldehyde and acetone could be bundled up in that “fragrance” statement. This is why we stick to only using essential oils in our free-from deodorants.
- Talcum Powder: While also having possible carcinogenic effects, there’s a risk that the talc in your deodorant may also be contaminated with asbestos. No, thank you.
- Cruelty: We love all beings, and will always be cruelty free.
Shop Free-From Deodorants
P.S. This list is continually being refined and added to as we continue to expand our knowledge, product line, and standards to bring you the highest-grade, safest, and most effective products.
P.P.S. This list is meant to inform, not scare. We believe in sharing our research so that you can make evidence-based decisions on what's best for you and your needs.
References:
- Oehha.ca.gov, oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list.
- Medicine, Department of. “An Earlier Age of Breast Cancer Diagnosis Related to More... : European Journal of Cancer Prevention.” LWW, journals.lww.com/eurjcancerprev/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2003&issue=12000&article=00006&type=abstract.
- Cohen, Debbie. “10 Toxins In Your Drugstore Deodorant.” PurelyGreat Natural Deodorant, 13 Jan. 2020, mynaturaldeodorant.com/10-toxins-in-your-drugstore-deodorant/.
- “What's Up With Petroleum in Beauty Products?” Goop, 17 July 2018, goop.com/beauty/makeup/whats-up-with-petroleum-in-beauty-products-7-days-of-goop-clean-beauty/.
- Heid, Markham. “5 Things Wrong With Your Deodorant.” Time, Time, 5 July 2016, time.com/4394051/deodorant-antiperspirant-toxic/./
Photo by chuttersnap
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Hi, can I find Nala products in Australia, if so where. Thank you