Have You Been Using Antiperspirant All Wrong?

Edited By: Natalia J.

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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.

antiperspirant how to woman applying deodorant

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, where we address several other deodorant-related issues.