Have You Been Using Antiperspirant All Wrong?
You’d
be surprised to find out just how many people complain that their
antiperspirant isn’t working properly. Sure, it might be the product's
fault, but if you find that no matter what you use, it doesn't seem to
do the job, you may simply require the right technique. Not being able
to mask the odor one’s sweat glands produce, or continuing to sweat
excessively even after application are the two main concerns, both of
which we’ll address in this article. But before you start reading all
our tips, we’d like you to go to your medicine cabinet and check one
thing: does the product you’re using state on the packaging that it’s a
deodorant or an antiperspirant? This is important, here’s why.
The Difference Between Deodorant and Antiperspirant
If your specific product state that it’s only a deodorant on
its packaging, then it is not designed to prevent you from sweating,
it’s basically just perfume that’s supposed to mask the unpleasant
odors. These products often also advertise themselves as natural or
aluminum-free, but they don’t have to. You can apply these products when
you need them and layer them as needed, but using an antiperspirant
is a different beast entirely.
Antiperspirant is
designed to make your sweat glands stop producing sweat altogether.
Most antiperspirant products nowadays are also deodorants, meaning that
they also contain fragrance, but there are also scent-free
antiperspirants. In conclusion, if your product states that’s it’s a
deodorant, don’t expect it to prevent sweating and search for an
antiperspirant instead.
How Antiperspirant Works
Antiperspirants
are designed to prevent you from sweating, but how exactly do they do
that? Well, they accomplish that goal by physically blocking your sweat
glands so that the sweat they produce doesn't come to the skin's
surface, mostly with the use of aluminum salts that form a plug when
they come in contact with your skin.
Because
antiperspirants control sweat production, in many countries, such as
the United States, antiperspirants are regulated as medications, and not
cosmetics, which means that these products have undergone meticulous
testing to make sure they’re safe to use. That’s exactly why you
typically have a very specific list of directions on the back of the
antiperspirant’s packaging.
Have
you ever looked at those? We have, and it turns out that most people
rarely apply and use antiperspirants correctly, which may be why your
specific product isn’t working for you.
How To Apply Antiperspirant Correctly
To
be able to reap all the benefits antiperspirants can offer, you have to
stop using it as a deodorant. Here are some useful tips that will help
you:
Tip 1. The
main mistake most people make is that they apply antiperspirants a
while after taking a shower. So, if you’re an evening shower person,
don’t forget to apply antiperspirant as soon as you get out of the
shower, and not the morning after. In fact, applying antiperspirant at
night ensures the product starts working while you’re asleep and
prevents sweating throughout the day.
Tip 2. Apart
from that, make sure you always apply antiperspirant on dry and clean
skin, this will guarantee maximum sweat protection. Needless
to say, this also means that layering an antiperspirant is useless.
Instead, wash off the remnants of old antiperspirant and dry the area
before reapplying antiperspirant.
Tip 3. Lastly,
remember that antiperspirants can be applied to any body part, not only
your armpits. In fact, you can spray your thighs or even feet to
prevent sweat, odors, and chafing.
We hope these tips will help you get the most out of your antiperspirant. If not, look through our article about 10 Common Deodorant Mistakes in the previous post.