While this post is about one of my favorite products, it does not contain any affiliate links!
I’m a little bit Shark Tank obsessed. I have watched almost every season on Hulu. Whenever I’m at home for the holidays, my sister and I switch between episodes of Impractical Jokers and Shark Tank. Whenever we’re at a hotel, we have to watch some Shark Tank. We watch it because the world of business is so intriguing to us; it is so different from the more artistic things that we both do. Seeing the inventions and genius of other people is also an incredible part of the show, as well as the success that it brings to small businesses. Also, Mark Cuban graduated from Indiana University and so did I! Go Hoosiers!
There are a lot of Shark Tank products that pique my interest, many that have found success in the natural/health market (Wild Friends, Kodiak Cakes, SouperGirl, Stasher). But this product didn’t only pique my interest; it snatched it and ran off with it. This product is PiperWai Activated Charcoal Deodorant.
The Search for a Quality Natural Deodorant
If you had the attention span to read my incredibly long FAQ section, you would probably have a pretty good idea as to why I would have been searching for a functional, amazing natural deodorant that stood up to the likes of Secret and other brands. If you didn’t read it (which I totally, totally get), I had a staph infection under my right armpit in 2010 that had to be lanced (ew, sorry) and treated with strong antibiotics. This lead to several years of chronic illness and other problems with my health.
After the initial infection, I stopped shaving my armpits. My mom became obsessed with trying to find a natural, aluminum free deodorant during this period. She thought that maybe the antiperspirant qualities of the deodorant I was using at the time could have blocked my pores and caused the infection. While there was no proof that she was right, she had convinced herself. This, paired the fact that aluminum is linked to breast cancer and can cause hormonal (estrogen-like) effects when absorbed into the skin, set my mom out into a natural deodorant quest.
We tried so many different types of natural deodorant. Most of them either didn’t work or made my armpits itchy and red. Although the redness and discomfort is said to be a “detox rash” (which is really not true; it’s usually caused your own sweat or baking soda/other irritating ingredients), I found that I couldn’t handle the irritation. Tube and tube again of deodorant failed, until I discovered PiperWai.
Finding PiperWai
It was a typical Sunday night and I was watching Shark Tank yet again with my cat. I was probably eating Halo Top or something too. All of a sudden, Sarah Ribner and Jess Edelstein appeared on the screen discussing their activated charcoal deodorant. Before they even made a deal with Barbara Corcoran, I was already looking up where I could go buy a jar.
A few days passed and I had kind of forgotten about PiperWai. I was doing my bi-weekly Whole Foods shop when I stopped dead in my tracks in the beauty aisle. There was PiperWai, in its stick form, sitting on the shelf amongst all the other natural deodorants that had failed me. I immediately threw a stick in my cart and later brought it home and used it for the first time. I was more sold than I ever was before!
Why I Love PiperWai
PiperWai is an aluminum-free, natural deodorant that is actually powerful naturally. The main ingredient is active-charcoal, a substance that is know for its toxin-clearing properties. Because of these properties, the charcoal in PiperWai quickly absorbs wetness and neutralizes odors by creating a pH-balanced atmosphere in which bacteria can’t survive long enough to stink. It really works!
When you open a jar or stick of PiperWai, it’s gray in color. It goes on gray at first, but the coloring generally goes away when rubbed in. The stick form that I own glides on easily and leaves no messy residue under the pits! The scent of PiperWai is quite different, but I don’t mind it personally. It smells of essential oils, almost like eucalyptus. My friends haven’t ever noticed the scent on me, it’s very subtle and gender-neutral. After a while, it begins to smell kind of like a weird doctor’s office to me. I think this is because of my extensive experience with armpits and the doctor’s office though. It’s probably just a weird, almost PTSD-like thing! It’s the only natural deodorant that can be applied just once per day. However, I do reapply the deodorant before I work out.
The inside of my PiperWai stick
PiperWai is the only, I repeat- only, natural deodorant that works and doesn’t give me a rash! It is super safe for sensitive skin and has ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter. The deodorant contains peppermint oil and tea tree oil, which are known to be drying on sensitive skin. Since this is a deodorant, those drying properties actually benefit the overall result of the deodorant and have no harmful affect on the skin. There is a ton of information on the essential oils used in PiperWai and their benefits on PiperWai’s website.
PiperWai is also vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA!
Jar vs Stick
I personally own the stick version of PiperWai. I had intended to buy the jar because I had heard that it is slightly more effective than the stick, but the stick is the only version that my Whole Foods carries. The jar is $11.99 and the stick is $16.99. I can see how the application of the jar version could get a little messy, but the price probably reflects that and the size compared to the stick. The ingredients of the jar and stick are a little different too. According to PiperWai’s website, the jar includes a few different ingredients that aren’t in the formula of the stick, like witch hazel extract, cacao butter, and honeysuckle extract. The stick includes stearyl alcohol and D-alpha tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E) whereas the jar does not. These are things to keep in mind when choosing between the two!
Let’s Wrap it Up
In short: I love PiperWai. It’s the only natural deodorant the works well for me. It causes no rash, is made with no aluminum, parabens, or other harmful chemicals. I think it’s a must-have for anyone looking for more natural alternatives to beauty, skincare, and other more essential body products like deodorant. However, I still have to be realistic about the product. It does not complete with the big brands on the market, like Secret and Degree, in a few specific ways. Because of the absence of harmful chemicals, PiperWai doesn’t come in a large variety of scents or have the same extreme odor, longevity, and sweat fighting power of the big brands. Coming from popular deodorant brands, it can take a little getting used to. But it is totally worth the switch, and now I am smitten!
You can buy PiperWai at Whole Foods, GNC, and local gyms, salons, and apothecary shops in your area. You can use the store locator on their website to find them near you, or you can order directly from their website (where they frequently have sales!).
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you have tried PiperWai and what you thought. Also, let me know if there are any other natural deodorants that have worked well for you. I’m always up for trying new things!
