You might be eye-rolling and thinking, "I know how to apply deodorant," but there's actually a process to make the transition from antiperspirant to natural deodorants a little easier.
First off, skip deodorant altogether for a few days before making the official switch to allow aluminium traces from leaving your pores. "Waiting two to three days is usually adequate. This can allow pores to breathe [and] help your skin be fresh for your new natural deodorant," says Shilpi Agarwal, MD, a family medicine physician in the Washington DC area.
Once you start using your new deodorant, make sure you apply it on dry — not damp — skin, and don't reapply every time you feel sweaty, as that won't make it more effective. You can, however, help clear bacteria that leads to stinkiness. "As natural deodorants are trying to improve the bioflora (the community of good and bad bacteria and yeast that live on our skin) under your arms, gently exfoliating once weekly with a washcloth or gentle scrub can help remove excess bacteria," Agarwal says.
You can also wash with a charcoal acne cleanser under your arms a couple of days a week. "The charcoal can draw out impurities, and the salicylic acid usually included in these products can provide a little chemical exfoliation to help," Agarwal says. We suggest Bioré Charcoal Acne Cleanser ($8).