You've probably heard that there's a transition period when you make the switch, and it's actually true. And you might have heard some "horror" stories about this period—maybe friends have said they smelled even more and gave up, or they couldn't deal with the extra sweat. Well, that "additional" sweat and "detox" is actually normal, so it can be a matter of just pushing through, even if it's uncomfortable.
"Aluminum forms a barrier that blocks your sweat glands. As your body starts to flush out this built-up barrier, you may notice more sweat and odor," Koko says. "But trust me—it is brighter on the other side. Without an antiperspirant, you may notice more sweat than before, but it won’t be as smelly!" And Christiansen adds that the skin needs time to regulate and rebalance bacteria, too, and the transition period can last two to four weeks, depending on the person.
So what can you do to make it easier? Both Christiansen and Koko shared these three tips:
1. Use a charcoal-based cleanser: "During the transition period, we recommend using a charcoal-based cleanser to help accelerate the detoxification process and support skin health during the transition," Christiansen says.