Lume Deodorant’s Toxic and Not So Natural Ingredients.
Written by Ajay Chohan, Founder
Lume Deodorants: neither natural nor safe
Ingredients in a Typical Lume Deodorant
If you thought Lume’s smell was the deodorant’s worst attribute, its ingredients list would beg to differ. Lume is not a natural deodorant. Literally the very first ingredient is Lume is an industrial chemical derived using Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. The second ingredient is a petrochemical which is again derived using a known carcinogen. PFAS or “forever chemicals” have been detected in Lume. The result is a deodorant giving allergic reactions, a bad smell and unknown long term health effects.
Note that when researching ingredients, search results can often be dominated by industry sites with an inherent bias. And every potentially harmful ingredient can be described in a ‘safe sounding’ manner. My research dives deeper, backed by sources, on Lume deodorants’ questionable and not so natural ingredients, and their health effects. Here are my 4 Reasons why the toxic Lume deodorant is one to avoid:
Reason #1: The very first ingredient in Lume deodorants comprises an industrial chemical made using the carcinogen Formaldehyde:
The first ingredient in Lume deodorants is Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate. As the name suggests, this ingredient is made from Neopentyl Glycol + Diheptanoate. Let’s focus on Neopentyl Glycol, an industrial chemical made from the reaction of Formaldehyde and Isobutyraldehyde, both of which are toxic.
Now, just because a compound like Formaldehyde is used to derive another ingredient, does not by itself mean that it also ends up in the final ingredient. So, we do not know if Neopentyl Glycol used in Lume leaves behind a Formaldehyde contamination. However, Formaldehyde contamination is a known concern in our personal care products, and it’s not worth the risk finding out. Such contamination often comes to light years after consumers have already used the product.
Neopentyl Glycol can also cause skin irritation and redness, which ties into Reason #4 below where I cover allergic reactions experienced by Lume consumers (1, 5). This is a strong chemical requiring special handling care.
Industrial uses of Neopentyl Glycol tell us more about the nature of this chemical:
Neopentyl Glycol has many industrial uses. It is used in making polyurethane foam plastics, used in paints, in aviation lubricants, in making printing inks…to name a few (1). Aaaannnddd it is used in Lume’s “natural” deodorants! Why is an industrial chemical, made using the carcinogen Formaldehyde, the FIRST ingredient in a “natural” deodorant? Especially one that’s marketed for use all over the body, including private parts at that? This ingredient alone is enough reason for us to immediately discard our Lume deodorants.
Reason #2: Lume is not a natural deodorant, but one that’s petrochemical based.
The very next ingredient in Lume doeodrants is PPG-15 Stearyl Ether. PPG = Polypropylene Glycol. This ingredient is made by reacting Propylene Oxide with Stearyl Alcohol. Propylene Oxide is a petrochemical which is acutely toxic and a known carcinogen (2). I will again say what I said in the first reason above, that just because an ingredient is used to derive another does not mean it is also found in the final ingredient.
Meaning, we do not know the level of Propylene Oxide contamination, if any, that remains in the PPG-15 Stearyl Ether used in making Lume. However, again, toxic carcinogenic compounds used in making synthetic ingredients are often the culprit behind contaminations.
Additionally, PPG-15 Stearyl Ether is regardless a petroleum based ingredient that has no business being in our personal care, much less a “natural deodorant.” This ingredient can cause “minor skin irritation” and is recommended to be avoided by those with “highly sensitive skin” (6). Long term side effects = unknown.
Moving to Isododecane found in Lume deodorants, this ingredient is again petroleum derived. A safety sheet by a supplier of this chemical lists health concerns which includes: “repeated exposure may cause skin cracking, flaking or drying” and “the material may accentuate any pre-existing dermatitis condition” (3). This ingredient is also “very toxic” to aquatic life (3). Again, a nasty petrochemical with no place anywhere on our body.
Please Note: Here is my article on 100% natural deodorants from small companies with integrity.
Reason #3: Lume deodorants have been found to be contaminated with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in lab testing:
In early 2024, fellow consumer awareness site Mamavation sent 15 deodorants to an EPA-certified laboratory to test for PFAS contamination. In their tests, traces of toxic PFAS or “forever chemicals” were found in 40% of deodorants (4). These ranged from 11 ppm to 32 ppm (parts per million) of organic fluorine — fluorine being a marker for PFAS.
Now, Lume’s deodorant was found to have PFAS at the high end of this range at 32 ppm of organic fluorine (4). Known health effects of PFAS in our personal care products, water and food include: lowered pregnancy rates, lowered male fertility, endocrine disruptions and behavioral issues in children. PFAS detection at ANY level is thus a concern. Another reason to never use Lume.
Reason #4: Allergic reactions and long term health concerns tied to using Lume all-body deodorants:
Lume’s aggressive marketing approach makes it difficult for someone researching the deodorant from getting a clear picture. Regardless places like Reddit and TikTok offer some insight. Hundreds of people have shared their stories of allergic reactions to using Lume on this Reddit thread alone. Accounts of their negative experiences from using Lume deodorants include:
Chemical Burn: “It literally burned my skin” | “I immediately felt a severe burning and attempted to wash it off. However, I sustained an actual chemical burn…” | “I have the most painful, burning pain. It’s almost like I have open cuts in those areas…a heavy chemical burn”
Dried Out Skin: “It dried me out so bad" | “Lume whole body deodorant also caused a burning sensation and dried out my personal areas and armpits”
Rash + Redness + Bumps: “I have a terrible RED rash” | “My arm pits are red and raw and burn like crazy” | “I had to go the to urgent care yesterday because my arm pit is red , RAW and swollen” | “An all over burning bright red rash with bumps and lesions”
Itchiness: “I had an itchy, spreading rash by the next day and it took about 5 days to stop itching” | “I’m literally breaking out in hives. I’m itching like hell “
Not fun. If there is one good thing about getting an allergic reaction to using Lume it’s that we know not to use it again. The long term health consequences of putting something all over our body whose ingredients: a) use toxic carcinogens like Formaldehyde in their manufacturing process b) include petrochemicals and c) are contaminated with PFAS “forever chemicals”? Unknown for now. Let’s not put ourself in a position where we have to find out.
Final Thoughts + Alternatives:
Even if you are someone that LIKES Lume deodorant’s smell and has never experienced an allergic reaction to it, my recommendation is you still avoid it given what’s inside. There are actual all-natural deodorants which work just fine. You can read my article here on 100% natural deodorants, including those that are all-body, made by small companies with integrity. Comparing the ingredients list of deodorants here vs. Lume will be a refreshing exercise. Or if you do your own research, just make sure to always read the full ingredients list, so we don’t fall for a fake “natural” deodorant that can show up at the top of search results.
Sources:
https://camachem.com/en/blog/post/what-is-neopentyl-glycol-and-how-to-buy-neopentyl-glycol
https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1615.pdf
https://datasheets.scbt.com/sc-228368.pdf
https://www.mamavation.com/beauty/pfas-forever-chemicals-in-deodorants.html
https://chemicalsafety.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.display?p_version=2&p_card_id=0305&p_lang=en
https://cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/ppg-15-stearyl-ether