The Complete Men's Guide To Deodorant & Antiperspirant
Article Outline:
1. Deodorant vs. Antiperspirant
2. Natural vs. Chemical Deodorant
3. Ingredients Of A Quality Deodorant
4. What To Expect When Making The Switch
5. Tips For Properly Applying Deodorant
6. Best Ways To Eliminate Sweat & Odor
Gentleman, be honest, is your deodorant making the cut? Even though sweating is completely natural, the pungent body odor and discomfort that comes along with it probably isn’t doing you any favors. Point blank: You need to use a deodorant, and a quality one at that. Here's everything you need to know to find the perfect deodorant or antiperspirant for you.
Deodorant vs Antiperspirant: Which Is Right For You?
Deodorant and antiperspirant are often combined as the same product to create a no-sweat & no-smell effect on your underarms. But these two products work very differently. We'll break it down and help you decide which is the right one for you.
Antiperspirant: Antiperspirant works to stop the sweat that comes from your arms, often working as a deodorant in the process. What happens when you apply an antiperspirant to your underarms is that the aluminum-based ingredients (deodorant doesn't have aluminum) go in and clog the pores in your armpits, stopping sweat from coming out. This aluminum also causes those pesky, embarrassing yellow pit stains on your precious white tees and can cause irritation.
Deodorant: Deodorant works to mask the B.O. that comes along when you start sweating. Although a deodorant doesn’t clog your pores like an antiperspirant, it does help to prevent the foul smell your body gives off by targeting the bacteria (especially in the underarm region) that cause the smell in the first place. Which for most of us is a much healthier option as your body needs to sweat to eliminate toxins.
So which one should you use? Well, in general, for most folks if you sweat or smell normally go with a deodorant as it is typically healthier for your skin and should more than do the trick to keep you fresh. If you do get irritated skin, go with a deodorant too as it is better for sensitive skin. But, if you do excess sweat and smell really bad, than an antiperspirant might be the better call.
Natural vs Chemical Deodorant: Why You Should Make The Switch
There’s a lot of talk now about using a natural deodorant as more people become aware of harmful chemicals and additives that are filled in our body washes, shampoos and conditioners. But what actually is a natural deodorant?
Natural deodorant: A high quality natural deodorant fights odor with, you guessed it, natural ingredients. Ingredients like spearmint leaf oil, lavender oil and peppermint oil are ingredients that naturally target and eliminate odor. But will I still sweat? Great question. With natural deodorants lacking aluminum as a key ingredient, the pores in your arms are finally allowed to detoxify and release bacteria and chemicals like BPA through sweating. It helps decrease your body's internal temperature which ultimately keeps you cooler and fresher.
Chemical deodorant: Most deodorants that you can buy in the store are chemical based. These deodorants are filled with aluminum, fragrances and other harmful ingredients like parabens, triclosan and silica to clog your pores, eliminate sweat and cover up odor. While yes, they may work, clogging the pores in your skin with aluminum is a bad idea and has been known to cause a variety of health issues. Many low-cost deodorants you find in drug stores use cheap ingredients and fragrances that are harmful to your skin. Even cancer-causing ingredients such as triclosan which are banned by the FDA for use in hand soaps can still be found in cheaper, low-quality chemical deodorants.
How To Find A Quality Natural Deodorant
A quality natural deodorant like Pete & Pedro FRESH will use only the highest-quality, natural ingredients like Coconut Oil, Tapioca Starch, Shea Butter, and a whole slew of other healthy ingredients. Never Aluminum, Phthalates, Baking Soda or Talc! Here is our list of key ingredients you should look for.
- Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil is packed with rich fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that helps bolster your skin's protective barrier layer, trapping moisture inside and keeping skin supple and hydrated.
- Shea Butter: Shea Butter is a great moisturizer that holds antioxidants and vitamins. It helps soften and smooth dry skin, and can also reduce skin swelling and irritation.
- Tapioca Starch: Tapioca starch helps deodorants to absorb sweat while respecting the natural perspiration of the body. It also makes the skin incredibly soft to the touch.
- Caprylic Triglyceride: Caprylic helps smooth skin and works as an antioxidant. It also works as a natural preservative to give our blend a super long shelf life without the need for harsh chemicals.
- Castor Seed Oil: Rich in essential fatty acids that moisturize the skin, Castor Seed Oil also helps eliminate skin irritation and discomfort.
- Sunflower Seed Oil: The vitamin E in sunflower oil has antioxidants that help with premature aging and wrinkles, keeping your skin looking young and fresh.
- Ozokerite: Ozokerite is great at naturally stabilizing all the ingredients, producing a denser, harder deodorant that goes on clear and lasts much longer than most softer compounds.
The Detox Period: Changing From An Antiperspirant To A Deodorant
Kudos to you for wanting to make the switch to a natural deodorant! Your body thanks you. Now for the hard part, the detox. After years of loading your sweat glands with aluminum, your body has to adjust and get rid of everything that has been trapped from conventional antiperspirant deodorant. A lot of people give up because they think that natural deodorant isn’t working. Trust us, it will! If you can make it through a week or two of detox, you will not only smell better overall, but your body will be a way healthier, toxin eliminating machine! Here’s what to expect during the detox.
- JUST STARTING: Your body has already started eliminating toxins but you might smell a bit different or even sweat more. Hold the fort.
- FEW DAYS LATER: You’ll likely start to experience some smell change. Congrats! Your body is in full detox mode - that's great.
- WEEK OR SO: You might be sweating more than normal. This is totally fine. You’re in the home stretch!
- TWO WEEKS: Detox should be complete - no more odor or excessive sweating!
Again, this might look different for everyone. Some people experience no problems at all, while others might take a little longer to detox. It all depends on your body. Just know that regardless of how long the detox takes, you’ll be better off in the long run.
Tips For Applying Deodorant Properly
Apply Deodorant At Night: Applying deodorant at night actually makes the deodorant last longer. At night, your body temperature is cooler and your sweat glands are more receptive, this allows the deodorant to penetrate the skin and work more effectively.
Don’t Apply Deodorant After Your Shower: We are all guilty of this, and it seems like it would make sense. Stepping out of the shower, our pores would be open and the deodorant would be more effective right? Unfortunately, not. Our skin can still be wet or damp after the shower and water will wick away the deodorant, causing it to be much less effective. Instead, dry your pits with a towel and wait until your skin is totally dry before applying.
Use The Correct Technique: Right technique with deodorant? Yep, there is a proper technique. A lot of us will give our underarms a quick swipe and be out the door, but unfortunately this isn’t the way to do it and it makes your deodorant less effective. The right way to apply deodorant is to swipe slowly from the bottom of the pit up and make sure you cover the entire area.
Don’t Ignore Armpit Hair: If you’re rocking some long armpit hair, you might want to consider trimming it down a bit. A lot of times our armpit hair prevents deodorant from actually reaching the skin, thus making it ineffective. If shaving your pits isn't your thing, be sure that you apply enough pressure and make sure the deodorant reaches your skin.
Apply Where It's Needed: Who would've thought, you can use deodorant on other places than your pits? Absolutely. If you’ve got sweaty hands and feet, don’t hesitate on swiping some on your palms or across your feet to get the same benefits you see on your armpits!
Try A New Brand: A lot of us dudes have a brand that is old reliable. But, if you’re still experiencing sweat and stench after using a deodorant after a few week , it probably means that it’s time to switch it up and try a new brand or type of deodorant.
Grooming & Lifestyle Tips To Reduce Sweat & Body Odor
Have A Well Regimented Grooming Routine: If you haven’t developed a well regimented grooming routine, what are you doing my guy? A man having a grooming routine is an absolute must to eliminate that musk. This means showering every day (especially since it’s summer time), trimming excess body hair, using shampoo and conditioner and using a high-quality body wash that will keep you smelling fresh all day long.
Have A Signature Scent: Every man has a signature scent, what’s yours? Don’t have one? Having a signature scent is one of the best investments you can make in yourself. Having a high-quality cologne will fit your summer time vibe and make you not just smell incredible but allows you to impress that spicy senorita that you’ve been after. Thus, sparking your summer 2022 romance. You’re welcome.
Proper Diet: Look, who doesn’t like garlic and onions? But, if you are constantly smelling like a walking Italian restaurant, maybe dial it back a little bit and clean up your diet. Foods like garlic, onions, eggs along with greasy fried food items can have an effect on how you smell. Plus, if you’re consuming a diet of junk food and fast food, this could be having an effect on your digestion causing you to be gassy and bloated.
Wear The Right, Loose Clothing: Summer is here gents! Which means it’s time for lighter, more breathable clothing. This is a common mistake a lot of dudes make and one that we don’t typically think about. If you’re wearing thick heavy cotton, canvas or denim, put it away for the fall and winter times. Summer weather calls for clothing that allows more air to flow through and your body to breathe. Fabrics like linen, silk, chambray or any performance pieces from brands are going to be an excellent choice to keep you and your body cool all summer long. Go for lighter color clothing too, not dark.
Use A Balls & Body Powder: Kanye West famously said “No one man should have all that powder”, or was it power? Doesn’t matter, the point being that using a quality, talc-free balls powder on your feet and private parts will give you the power to not smell like a wildebeest and eliminate swamp-butt for good. If you’re not using a body powder, you are truly missing out and ultimately subjecting yourself (and those around you) to those stinky body parts.
Use a High-Quality Deodorant or Antiperspirant: Using a high-quality natural deodorant is going to be an excellent choice to make sure your pits stay cool and stink free all day long. If you are a person who sweats a ton or you live in a super humid area, a healthy antiperspirant is probably a better choice. But for most, a natural deodorant will do the trick, and ours is the perfect choice!
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