Antiperspirant or deodorant: Which one should you use?

There is a very unpleasant smell that everyone knows about: BO. Although it is a normal odor of the body, there are some products out there that can make it simply go away or less apparent! Antiperspirants and deodorants are two different products with a similar goal^[1]Heger, E. (2020, June 9). The difference between antiperspirant and deodorant, and how to choose the right one for you. Insider. https://www.insider.com/antiperspirant-vs-deodorant. But how do you know which one you should be using? 

Since there are a few important differences between antiperspirant and deodorant, as well as their purposes, today we are going to talk about what those dissimilarities are and give a few tips on how to choose the ideal product for you! First, let’s begin by defining each one of these cosmetic products.

ANTIPERSPIRANT: Made of aluminum chloride and other of this metal’s compounds, antiperspirants, as the name suggests, block the sweat ducts, making it difficult to sweat. So you can be sure that there will be no BO to bother you.

DEODORANT: Deo is a way to control body odor. It doesn’t block sweat ducts, but since it’s alcohol-based, it creates an uncomfortable environment for the bacteria that are responsible for the familiar odor that we associate with sweating.

So now you know exactly what each of these products does. But how do you know if you should use one or the other?

Antiperspirants may be the best choice for you if…

• You want to decrease the amount of sweat;
• If you suffer from hyperhidrosis (which means sweating more than a normal amount – and if you think that’s the case, go see a doctor!)
• You just feel uncomfortable with the wetness derived from sweating.

Deodorants may be your cup of tea if…

• You don’t sweat a lot, but don’t want people out there to smell your BO;
• You have sensitive skin and/or need some moisture on your armpits.

It’s also worth knowing that deodorants and antiperspirants are applied in different ways: while the former can be applied whenever you had a shower, on clean and dry skin, the latter should be applied at night, before you go to bed! By applying these products like this, they will have more lasting effects.

And are there any risks in using them? Well, while deodorant is a very safe product, antiperspirants have shown some negative effects on people with advanced kidney diseases as well as people with skin issues, such as eczema and overall sensitive skin. That’s mainly due to the use of aluminum chloride and compounds. But if you don’t suffer from the previously mentioned problems, there’s no need to worry, ok?

Oh, and another nice thing to mention is that, nowadays, there are “all-in-one” products, that act both as antiperspirant and deodorant! These cosmetics are great since they block sweat ducts and also act as antibacterial agents! So, if you really want to be free of BO and overall sweating, look no further!

As you can see, despite having differences (antiperspirants blocking sweat ducts and deodorants creating an uninviting environment for bacterias that cause the odor we all dread), they do have a similar effect: reducing body odor! So, depending on your daily activities, you may find that an antiperspirant works best for you, or just a deo will do the trick!

Another great thing you should know about is the fact that nowadays there are natural and organic versions of those products, making them safer for you and great for the environment (check about them here)! And if you love natural products – or simply amazing products-, go to the Metro Brazil website and check out all the fantastic products from the best Brazilian brands!