I Tried Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant for Sensitive Skin—Here's What Happened

4.2

Schmidt's Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick

Schmidt's Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

Byrdie / Ashley Rubell

What We Like
  • Easy-glide application

  • No clumping

  • Doesn’t dry out or irritate the skin

  • Sweet, subtle scent

What We Don't Like
  • Leaves residue on clothes

  • Fought against odor for only ~12 hours

Schmidt's Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick blocked odor with its sweet, subtle scent and was effective at curbing sweating during the toughest of workouts. At such an affordable price point, this deodorant has easily worked its way into my routine.

4.2

Schmidt's Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick

Schmidt's Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

Byrdie / Ashley Rubell

We put Schmidt's Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick to the test after receiving a complimentary sample from the brand. Keep reading for our full product review. 

Like many new mamas-to-be, I switched to using natural deodorant while I was pregnant with my first son. I recently learned that this was the origin story of Schmidt’s founder Jamie Schmidt, who was pregnant in 2010 and seeking natural deodorant only to find very limited options. Today, it's much easier to find natural and effective options that smell great—thanks in large part to Jamie. Schmidt’s recently launched a line made specifically for folks with sensitive skin (like myself!), and I was quick to jump on the opportunity to try it out. Spoiler alert: it’s now a part of my weekly rotation.

Keep reading for my honest review of Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick.

Schmidt's Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick

Best for: Sensitive skin types

Uses: Neutralize odor

Active ingredients: Magnesium, colloidal oatmeal

Cruelty-Free?: Yes 

Price: Around $10

About the brand: Schmidt’s was founded in 2010 by a pregnant Jamie Schmidt who was searching for a good-smelling natural deodorant and wasn’t able to find one. Today, it is a highly regarded brand known for its effective natural deodorants.

About My Skin: Dry and sensitive

I’ve been using natural deodorants for close to three years now. What began as a conscious choice to consume and support clean beauty brands turned into a decision that has had a positive impact on my dry, eczema-prone skin. I often get eczema breakouts on my inner arm, near the armpits, and certain formulas were causing further irritation. 

The switch to natural deodorants can be a stinky one, and I didn’t feel like the hunt ended for me until I began using the Nécessaire's The Deodorant Gel. It keeps all odor at bay around the clock—plus, it’s a gel, which has always been my preference. However, I was excited to try switching to Schmidt’s sensitive skin deodorant stick because it promised to fight odor for up to 48 hours.

The Feel: An easy glide

While I tend to prefer gel or cream deodorants, the Schmidt's stick has a similarly easy glide to its application. Most other deodorant sticks I’ve used in the past have had a chalky feel to them that would cause clumping, but this one wasn’t like that at all. The texture was lightweight, and it never left my skin dried out or irritated as other sticks have in the past. Unfortunately, it did leave some marks on my clothes, and while they were easy to remove with some water, it was still a drawback for me.

Schmidt's Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

Byrdie / Ashley Rubell

 The Scent: Vanilla & oat milk

The Vanilla & Oat Milk was one of my favorite scents because it had a very subtle sweetness that wasn’t overbearing or fighting against my perfume. Some of the other scents Schmidt’s offers for sensitive skin were also pleasantly subtle, but I liked the light and generic sweetness of the Vanilla & Oat Milk over some of the more distinctly herbal or fruity scents they offer like Avocado & Lemongrass or Rosemary & Olive Oil. 

Ingredients: Clean and simple

All of Schmidt’s deodorants are clean by Byrdie’s standards and free of harmful ingredients such as aluminum, phthalates, and parabens. This sensitive skin stick is also free from artificial fragrances and filler ingredients, which may end up irritating those with sensitive skin. The two highlighted active ingredients in this Vanilla & Oat Milk deodorant stick are magnesium and colloidal oatmeal.

According to Dr. Mona Gohara, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, magnesium will "block the bacteria that produces the bad smell at the skin’s surface.” While some alternative deodorants use baking soda to neutralize odor, Schmidt’s chooses magnesium because a baking soda is a potential irritant, especially for sensitive skin types. “Baking soda can not only be irritating, but it can weaken the skin barrier, resulting in rashes, itchiness, and dry skin," Gohara added.

This formula also includes colloidal oatmeal, which Gohara said is "soothing to sensitive skin types and can help decrease inflammation from rubbing or shaving.” 

Odor Protection: All day long

This deodorant is made to neutralize odors, and is extremely effective at doing so, but not for as long as is promised. The 48-hour odor protection only lasted me from morning to night. I typically applied product each morning around 9 AM but by 9 PM I would begin to smell myself needing a re-application. 

The Results: Promising

Immediately upon applying this product, I was surprised by how smooth it went on as most sticks I’ve tried tend to have a clumpy, chalky feel against the skin.

This deodorant glided on smoothly, had a pleasant scent, and fought against odor for approximately 12 hours each day.

My favorite part of the experience with this stick was its sweat-fighting properties. I wore it during some intensive high-interval workouts and my pits were noticeably drier than usual—I felt fresh and protected. So even though it didn’t last as long as I’d hoped, I know it was working extra hard for the bulk of my day to keep me odor-free. Although the initial application smeared white stains on my clothes, I was never left with any sweaty pit stains, and I think that was probably better for everyone. 

Schmidt's Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

Byrdie / Ashley Rubell

The Value: Hard to beat 

Getting top-quality ingredients at non-luxury price points can be hard to find. The Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin Deodorant Stick comes in at just under $10 and can be found in major retail stores. This product is accessible at the price point and in retail locations, which is hard to beat when you’re dealing with clean and sustainably made formulas. Many of the other effective deodorants I’ve tried and loved come in around $20, so this price point will certainly stretch your dollars a lot farther. 

Schmidt's Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant

Byrdie / Ashley Rubell

Similar Products: You’ve got options

Native Sensitive Deodorant Stick ($12): Here’s another clean option that comes in a similar stick applicator and is very close in price point, around $12. Native deodorants don’t use aluminum, phthalates, baking soda, or talc but instead include ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter to help keep sensitive skin moisturized and not dried out or irritated.

Taos Aer Deodorant ($12): If stick applicators aren’t your jam, try opting for a creamier gel-like option like this one from Taos Aer. This natural deodorant is pricier at roughly $20, but it'll quickly absorb into the skin, leaving behind zero residue. It also comes in yummy scents like Palo Santo Blood Orange. While it's made from highly concentrated, natural ingredients, some of them (like essential oils and baking soda) may cause irritation for those with sensitive skin. Be sure to do a patch test on this one and remember that a little will go a long way. 

Final Verdict

Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick wasn’t a cure-all to my pit woes, but it did have a lot to offer, making it a highly recommended must-try in my book. It kept me fresh during the toughest of workouts, has a sweet, non-combative scent, is way more affordable than I was using before, and is gentle enough for my eczema-prone skin. While I do wish it hadn’t stained my clothes and had fought odor for a full 24 hours, the pros certainly outweigh the cons on this one. 

Specs

  • Product Name Sensitive Skin Natural Deodorant Stick
  • Product Brand Schmidt's
  • SKU 022400009087
  • Price $10.00
  • Weight 4.64 oz.
  • Available Scents Fresh, hemp seed oil and patchouli, hemp seed oil and rose, hemp seed oil and sage, Jasmine tea, lavendar/herbal/floral, patchouli and hops, rose and black pepper, rose and vanilla, citrus/sandalwood
  • Ingredients Magnesium Hydroxide, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Maranta Arundinacea (Arrowroot) Powder, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (Fractionated Coconut Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Esters, Natural Fragrance, Avena Sativa (Colloidal Oatmeal) Kernel Flour, Magnesium Carbonate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Beta-Sitosterol, Squalene

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