When I first began testing natural deodorants three years ago, I didn't anticipate saying goodbye to conventional antiperspirants for good. As concerns rise about controversial ingredients like aluminum, parabens, and artificial fragrance, new brands have emerged to meet the growing demand for natural deodorants, which means there's always a new one to try. I've already reviewed five of them (see here, here, and here) and racked up a few reliable standbys (Schmidt's, LaVanila, and Agent Nateur FTW). The latest one to take up valuable real estate in my medicine cabinet? Meow Meow Tweet Grapefruit Baking Soda Free Deodorant Stick ($13.99), which I spotted at Target during our last cross-border shopping trip.
Meow Meow Tweet immediately stood out to me because of its adorable packaging. Yes to cat doodles and pink and yellow accents! What's really cool though is the fully biodegradable cardboard tube. To dispense the product, simply push the cardboard bottom up a little bit at a time; there's no twist-up/twist-down mechanism. The tube can be tossed in compost or recycling when it's empty. Genius. I've been keeping mine in the medicine cabinet so it still looks relatively new, but I imagine the cardboard would probably look more battered if I kept this in my barre bag and toted it on the go.
Formula-wise, what's inside the tube is hit and miss. I like the fact that it's baking soda free and the grapefruit scent is light and natural. My armpits haven't had any sensitive reactions to it so far, and it works for my odour-controlling needs (i.e. keeping stale sweaty smells at bay instead of combatting hardcore stinkiness). The main ingredients are coconut oil and arrowroot powder, and I can feel that in the deodorant's cream-to-powder texture when I rub it in with my fingers.
At this point you might be wondering why I'm rubbing the product in with my fingers when I should be able to just apply it straight from the stick. Here's your answer: Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant goes on super thick. So thick, in fact, I can't just do up-and-down swipes to cover my entire armpit area. Doing so would give me too much product. Instead I have to draw a capital X or N shape under each arm and spread the deodorant into the empty spots just so it's the right amount. That explains why even though I've had it for about 6 weeks and I'm not using it all the time, 1/3 of the tube is already gone. By contrast, a full-size tube of Schmidt's or LaVanila will last me 6-12 months and is at a similar price point to Meow Meow Tweet.
But then again, maybe how fast I'm using it up is a blessing in disguise considering the incredibly short shelf life of Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant. The packaging says it's good for 3 months from when it's first opened, compared to 12 months for Schmidt's and God knows how long for LaVanila. And whether it's because the cardboard tube isn't airtight or the formula itself isn't super stable, I can already see changes in the texture—it still smells and feels okay, but the top is lumpy now instead of smooth.
Final verdict? As much as I love the packaging and I believe that more brands should look into compostable/biodegradable packaging solutions in general, Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant left a lot to be desired in terms of formula, shelf life, and value. This was a fun experiment, but I doubt I'll be repurchasing.
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