FitSugar

Review: Secret Clinical Strength Sport Antiperspirant

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Products marketed toward female athletes always pique my interest. Plus it is great to know that somebody out there knows we exist and like gear! When I saw a new antiperspirant by Secret with the word "sport" as well as the phrase "designed for athletes" on the front of the package, I was curious to try it. It was really the name of the sport fresh scent "marathon" that hooked me. Maybe if I wore this clinical strength formula I could run a marathon - only kidding.

I wore Clinical Strength Secret ($8) on a couple of runs and experienced absolutely no underarm sweating, and received no post-run comments about my stink factor from my 3-year-old. Then I read the fine print: this deodorant isn't really for female athletes. It was designed for women who suffer from excessive sweating, know as hyperhidrosis in medical speak. Secret recommends applying this clinical strength antiperspirant at bedtime, to allow for the active ingredient aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex Gly to dissolve into your pores effectively plugging the sweat ducts for 24 hours. Honestly, the formation of "plugs" in my armpits while I sleep creeps me out a bit. I don't need 24-hour protection from sweating.

Although this product has a girly "sport fresh scent," its "prescription strength wetness protection" is overkill for me. However, it is truly effective and if you sweat regularly due to stress or physical exercise this could be the underarm protection you need. You can find it at DrugStore.com.

Have any of you tried Clinical Strength Secret? Tell me what you thought in the comments section below.

Antiperspirants Don't Let You Sweat

FitSugar — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 03:30:00 PDT

Taking care of yourself, watching what you eat and exercising, you might be a little more sensitive about what you put on your body. While the myth that aluminum in deodorant causes breast cancer has been debunked, you might not feel comfortable with using antiperspirants that contain aluminum since they actually prevent you from sweating.

The aluminum in antiperspirants is drawn into the cells of your dermis (the middle layer of your skin), and it squeezes your sweat gland ducts closed, trapping sweat, preventing you from perspiring. It is not the sweat that creates odor, but the bacteria on your skin and the sweat combined. There are some important days when I can't avoid antiperspirants, but other days I like to just use deodorant. It seems more natural.

I have tried many aluminum-free deodorants and here are some that I have liked.

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Is there an aluminum free deodorant out there that you like? Let me know in the comment section below.

Why I Wear Men's Deodorant

Heather Dale — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:05:16 PST

Allow me to preface this piece by saying that I'm not some tree-hugging hippie who doesn't shave her legs. Confession: I am more eco than not, but when it comes to the products I slather on my body, I am very mindful of what gets absorbed into my body through my skin.

In terms of deodorant selection, it's been an on-going dilemma - do I go the all-natural route and opt for the aluminum-, artificial preservative-, and synthetic-free deodorants that won't mask my stinky after-gym odors? Or do I buy the generic drugstore brand that will keep me sweat-free and smelling like freesia throughout the day?

Here's the thing, it hasn't been proven that antiperspirants cause breast cancer, but I'm still not comfortable with wearing deodorant that blocks my sweat glands and contains aluminum.

Continue reading to see why my medicine cabinet looks like this.

DrSugar Answers: Is There a Connection Between Antiperspirants and Cysts?

DrSugar — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:16:28 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's answering a reader's question about cysts.

Dear DrSugar,
Recently I've been getting reoccurring, painful bumps in my armpits. I talked to my doctor about them, and she said they were most likely cysts, and as long as they go away, then I'm fine. I'm not concerned they're cancer or anything bad, but I'm just wondering if deodorants or antiperspirants can cause cysts? I also occasionally use "Certain Dri" antiperspirant for my excessive sweating, but I've recently stopped because I don't sweat as much anymore now that I've lost some weight. Could these deodorants/antiperspirants be the culprits?
Pitted Against Cysts

Learn DrSugar's answer when you read more.

DrSugar Explains Hyperhidrosis, aka Excessive Sweating

DrSugar — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 09:47:34 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's explaining the condition known as hyperhidrosis, aka excessive sweating.

Even though Summer is winding down, it's still quite warm in many parts of the US, which inspired an explanation on excessive sweating, known as hyperhidrosis in medical terms. Hyperhidrosis can be a difficult condition to have and for some can be quite embarrassing or cause social anxiety.

The Mayo Clinic defines hyperhidrosis as frequent or constant excessive sweating. Sweating is the body's mechanism for cooling itself down, which is a normal response to an increase in body temperature. However, people with hyperhidrosis sweat in quantities above the amount needed to regulate and cool the body's temperature. According to Medicine Net, an estimated two to three percent of Americans suffer from hyperhidrosis, which typically affects the underarms, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. Underarm hyperhidrosis typically starts in puberty, whereas the hands and feet hyperhidrosis can begin even earlier in life. While some people with excessive sweating can have neurologic, metabolic, or other systemic medical conditions, most people with hyperhidrosis are typically otherwise healthy. To learn more about hyperhidrosis, keep reading!

Link Time: Kelly Rowland Gets a Fragrance Campaign

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:45:00 PDT

Kelly Rowland is the face of Diddy's new fragrance - The Cut
Oscar de la Renta on his new fragrance and tattoos - StyleList
How to get rid of puffy eyes - InStyle
The best budget facial moisturizers - Real Simple
Get your Fall makeup bag in check with new Sonia Kashuk brush sets - Refinery29
Video: going-out makeup looks - College Fashion
Why you should rotate your curly-hair products - Naturally Curly
Craft time: makeup magnet board - The Frisky
Antiperspirants go glam: 8 fashionable deodorants - The Beauty Bean

One-Night Stand Beauty Tips to Get You Through the Morning After

Jaime Richards — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 05:00:00 PDT

Whether it's a one-night stand, you've crashed on your friend's sofa, or you're involved in a friends-with-benefits-type situation, sometimes we're all caught unprepared. And this isn't in the birth control or condoms sense (as could be the case in each of these scenarios); this is about not having beauty basics on your person the morning after.

So what's a girl to do when all she has in her purse is just an ID, cash, lipstick, and a phone? The answer is to MacGyver it. While you can start by doing the old lipstick-as-a-blush trick to get you started, if it's a guy you've shacked up with, chances are he doesn't have a flat iron lying around or a well-stocked supply of the fancy under-eye cream available. So to get tips for making your walk of shame all the more bearable, just read more.

New Product Alert: DKNY Charmingly Delicious Scents

BellaSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:00:01 PDT

Nom nom nom. DKNY is adding two more fragrances to its ever-expanding Delicious food chain. Be Delicious and Red Delicious are limited-edition versions of the original fragrances. They still have that apple scent, but this version is a little lighter and less intense for the warm months ahead.

Be Delicious Delicious Charmingly Delicious now contains more watery notes, citrus shimmer and is overall less potent. Red Delicious Charmingly Delicious has an added vanilla, red fruit assortment, rose and violet essence additions.

What I like about these fragrances is that they aren't overly sweet (particularly Be Delicious Charmingly Delicious). They are great for daytime when you are looking for a strong scent (perhaps in the place of an antiperspirant) - and the packaging is perfect for any teenager or apple lover. Both eaux de toilette cost $55 for 4.2 ounces (quite a substantial size), and they come with removable apple charms.