Native Vs Lume Deodorant (Tested & Compared)

I tested and compared Lume Whole Body Deodorant Stick, smooth solid (unscented) with Native Sensitive (Baking Soda-Free) Deodorant Stick (unscented) and Native original formula (with baking soda and probiotics, unscented).

I will compare them on effectiveness, smell, safety of ingredients, and cost.

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As a very smelly person, I was happy to find an aluminum-free deodorant that works.

My top choice, and what I’m using after this experiment is the Native formula with baking soda and probiotics as baking soda works much better for me (a very smelly person).

For some people, baking soda irritates the skin.

As for Lume, the Mandelic Acid formula also works, but not as well as baking soda based deodorant for me, though it can also be irritating for some people, and if you go in the sun it can cause you to burn more easily.

Summary:

Comparison: Both are around the same cost, though with different active ingredients. If you have sensitive skin you will want to test them to see which one is non-irritating. Native is a more natural formula, but both have the same rating on EWG (rating of 1 which is great) for the unscented versions. Native has a plastic-free option.

Effectiveness: Both Lume and Native (without baking soda) struggled to get me through 12 hours without smelling (on non-exercise days). I’m sticking with Native with baking soda or Routine (reviewed here), both worked better than Lume or Native sans baking soda. But if you can’t use baking soda, Native Sensitive and Lume are two of your best choices in the healthy deodorant category. I would recommend trying both to see which active ingredients work best for you, though I have a slight preference for Native based on the natural ingredients.

Alternative to/Dupe for Lume: If you want to try out using acids to change the pH of your underarms but want a simple dupe you can use The Ordinary Lactic Acid (dilute it 1:1 with a skin oil like jojoba), or The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution, says Dr. Uktra Namshum, Clinical Dermatologist.

Effectiveness

Lume

Claims: They say Lume Deodorant is “clinically proven to control odor for 72 hours. It is also proven to exfoliate, visually even skin tone, and decrease the appearance of hyperpigmentation”.

My Test: I don’t have hyperpigmentation but as a smelly person I can report on how well it works on odor.

If I put it on in the morning after using the Lume Deodorant wipes (instead of showering), I am smelly by evening.

If I wash my armpits and apply it in the morning it still struggles to get me through 12 hours.

One thing I have to say is I like to put deodorant on at night after showering, so that things are not dire in the morning. However, the caffeine in this deodorant is high enough to keep me awake if I apply it at night.

The caffeine also bothers me in the day, to the point that I had to stop using this and won’t be able to finish the stick.

Native

Claims: “A couple of swipes of our deodorant go a long way—odor protection for up to 72 hours to be exact”.

My Test:

Using the baking soda free formula after I showered in the day, by evening I had an odd sour smell in my armpits on one day. This was a reaction between my sweat and the deodorant, which I have not smelled before.

But most days if I wash my armpits in the morning the baking soda free formaul does not quite last 12 hours (similar to Lume for me).

However, Native with baking soda (original formula, certainly made it through 12 hours).

Smell

Lume – slight medical smell, no fragrance detected by me.

Native – sweet smell in the baking soda free which seems to be partly the natural ingredients (like coconut) but may also be fragrance cross-contamination (in very slight amounts).

Native original formula (with baking soda) has a very slight smell that smells natural, like food.

Ingredients

Lume Whole Body Deodorant Stick:

• Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate – Emollient/skin conditioner
• PPG-15 Stearyl Ether – Emollient/skin conditioner
• Zea Mays (Corn) Starch – Absorbs moisture
• Ozokerite – Mineral wax
• Stearyl Alcohol – Emollient, emulsifier and thickener
• Isododecane – Solvent/carrier
• Isopentyldiol – Solvent/carrier
• Maranta Arundinacea Root Powder (arrowroot powder) – absorbs moisture
• Lauryl Laurate – Emollient/skin conditioner
• Mandelic Acid – Acid that changes the pH of the skin
• Sorbitan Oleate – Emulsifier
• Silica – Absorbs moisture
• Panthenol – Vitamin B5
• Caffeine – Helps control sweat
• Ethylhexylglycerin – Preservative

EWG & Clean Ratings

Lume deodorant overall EWG rating of 1 (for clean ingredients) – which is great in terms of health and toxicity, even though this is far from an all-natural or organic product.

Lume is formulated without aluminum, baking soda, talc, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), and artificial dyes.

Lume tested positive for 32 parts per million organic fluorine which is an indicator of PFAS, says Mamavation. Though she believes this low amount is not intentionally added.

See lawsuits against Lume here.

Native Sensitive Whole Body Deodorant Stick:

Native has a baking soda option and a baking soda-free option. I bought both.

Sensitive formula (baking-soda-free, unscented):

• Coconut Oil
• Shea Butter
• Tapioca Starch
• Ozokerite – Natural mineral wax
• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – Made by combining glycerin with fatty acids from natural oils, like coconut oil
• Cyclodextrin – Semi-natural odor control agent
• Magnesium Oxide – Natural antiperspirant

The original formula (unscented) contains:

• Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride – Made by combining glycerin with fatty acids from natural oils, like coconut oil
• Tapioca Starch
• Ozokerite – Natural mineral wax
• Sodium Bicarbonate – Baking soda, changes the pH of skin
• Magnesium Hydroxide – Natural antiperspirant
• Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
• Cyclodextrin – Odor control agent
• Butyrospermum Parkii – Shea butter
• Glucose
• Lactobacillus Acidophilus – Probiotic

EWG & Clean Ratings

Both formulas of unscented Native deodorant have an EWG rating of 1. Most of the scented options are rated 2, and a couple of options are rated a 3.

Native is Talc Free, Dye Free, Baking Soda Free in the sensitive option, Aluminum Free, Paraben Free, and Phthalate-free.

Native tested free of PFAS by Mamavation. (However, see lawsuits against them here.)

It’s mostly natural with the major exception being the synthetic fragrances in the scented options.

Active ingredients comparison

Lume – the active ingredients in Lume are mandelic acid which changes the pH of the skin, making it inhospitable to bacteria, and caffeine which may help reduce sweating.

Native – The option I tried first has only magnesium and cyclodextrin as the active ingredients (the sensitive or full-body formulas). According to the Doctorly dermatologists, magnesium acts as a natural antiperspirant. Cyclodextrin is a semi-natural compound that traps odor molecules (it’s the ingredient in Febreeze).

Their Original formula has magnesium, cyclodextrin, baking soda, and probiotics. Baking soda changes the pH of the skin to stop bacteria (it works really well, but can be irritating for some people) and probiotics help to provide a healthy bacteria balance.

Scent Options:

Lume – Unscented, lavender sage, peony rose, clean tangerine, toasted coconut.

Their scents are synthetic. The scents are quite strong.

Native – Baking soda free: unscented, coconut & vanilla, lilac & white tea, cucumber & mint.

With baking soda: Unscented, coconut & vanilla, cucumber & mint, lavender & rose, honey & white oak.

Native scents are a mix of synthetic and natural scents.

Reactions

Since first publishing this article a few commenters have reached out to report adverse skin reactions.

However, this can happen with baking soda based formulas as well, and it can certainly happen to any deodorant with essential oils.

If you tend to have reactions to products, you may want to review the ingredients with your healthcare provider and do a patch test first.

Texture

Lume – The texture starts out between a cream and an oil but it looks clear on the skin and soaks in well. In a couple of minutes you cannot feel that it is on the skin (especially if you rub it in).

Native – Slightly more oily than Lume, also clear on the skin, and like Lume after two minutes you cannot feel it on the skin (assuming you did not over-apply).

Cost Comparison

Lume – A single stick is around $15, the bundle can bring it down to $12 on their website. On Amazon, it can be slightly more depending on the deal.

Native – Around $13 both on their website and on Amazon. A subscription can bring it down to $11. It’s the same price for the original formula, baking soda-free formula, and plastic-free formula.

Summary: I would recommend starting with Native with baking soda, and if that irritates your skin, then try both Native without baking soda and Lume to compare which one works better for you. If you prefer natural ingredients, Native is a better choice.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.