FitSugar

Review: Secret Clinical Strength Sport Antiperspirant

FitSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

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 -0700

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.

You Asked: Is It Unhealthy to Wear Antiperspirant While Exercising?

FitSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:10:00 -0700

Dear Fit,
I'm a big fan of wearing antiperspirant because I don't want to be stinky. Recently though, a friend of mine told me it was unhealthy to wear it while exercising because antiperspirant prevents your body from naturally excreting harmful toxins. Is this true?
- Pondering Antiperspirant Pam

This is a wonderful question as exercise and sweating go hand in hand. To hear what I have to say on the matter, read more.

Sweating is your body's natural way of regulating your body temperature. When you're hot, your body emits moisture from its sweat glands to cool you down. If you wear an antiperspirant, the aluminum used in them penetrates your sweat glands and squeezes them shut, which prevents you from perspiring. Don't worry about the idea that sweating releases toxins, since only trace amounts of toxins are present in your sweat. Remember that sweat's only purpose is to cool you off. Since your armpits aren't the only place you have sweat glands, your body can still find a way to lower your body temp if you get too hot while exercising. So as long as you can wear antiperspirant while working out without overheating, you can feel good about slathering it on to prevent odor. If you do feel it's unhealthy to stop your body from sweating, you can buy deodorant without antiperspirant, which will help control odor but won't prevent perspiration.

On a related note, you may have heard that aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer, which is what your friend may be referring to as harmful, but that myth has been debunked.

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What's Your Underarm M.O.?

BellaSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:00 -0700

People have widely varying philosophies when it comes to covering their underarm stank. Some slather on the antiperspirant, some only use deodorant, and the bravest souls go totally without. Everyone has their reasons for feeling the way they do, and people tend to feel very strongly about their choice. Which group are you in, and why?

Bellissima! Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream

BellaSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:00:27 -0700

What is a lotion that serves as deodorant, leaves no residue, smells like citrus, softens and conditions your underarms and actually helps stop you from sweating? This isn't a riddle, it's an amazing product from Kiehl's called Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream! The title alone immediately caught my attention. It's the perfect remedy to those awful and unsightly white marks that are left behind on clothes from solid, roll-on and spray deodorants.

What I especially like is that it's not at all sticky and icky like you might imagine. It's exactly what it says it is: a smooth cream that conditions sensitive skin and fights odor without any grimy or residual after mess.

Also, it claims that it's unscented but it's made with orange, lemon and linseed extracts so there is a slightly refreshing and citrusy scent. Not so bad, right?

One last notable mention is the rounded and raised top of the tube, which has a small hole for monitored distribution. This has been developed for hard to maneuver areas like your underarms and backs of your knees (does anyone else do that)? I've tried and now I'm in love! I can't wait to hear what you think, too.

Kiehl's Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream is available in a 1.7 oz tube ($11.50) and in a 2.5 oz tube ($16).

Doing Drugstore: Dove Ultimate Clear Cool Essentials Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant

BellaSugar — Tue, 15 May 2007 16:03:51 -0700

Ever since Dove branched out from its old-school White Beauty Bar, I've been really impressed by the brand's hair and skincare offerings. Its shampoos, conditioners, and body washes are both gentle and gentle on the pocketbook.

So when I saw that brand was now in the deodorant business, I had to try the Dove Ultimate Clear Cool Essentials Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant ($4.49). I will definitely be buying this cucumber-scented deodorant again; to find out why, read more

I have a weakness for cucumber scents, and I'm always on the lookout for a good translucent deodorant to wear with sleeveless tops. In both these regards, Dove succeeds. I thought cucumber in a deodorant might be weird, but it's actually a very unobtrusive scent that simply smells clean, unlike fragrances like baby powder, which can be overpowering.

The stick goes on to my skin almost entirely clear, and unlike some other transparent deodorants, it has no sticky texture. But this best thing about Dove Ultimate Clear is its anti-sweat protection. You know how with some deodorants, you want to reapply between daytime and night? Never with this stuff. Even at the gym, when the rest of me is sweaty, this stuff keeps my underarms dry. I'd also recommend it for people with sensitive skin, as I've never had any problems with irritation. If you've tried it, tell me what you think.

What Do You Know About Deodorant?

BellaSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:00:39 -0700

Back around the fifth or sixth grade, I distinctively remember our teacher declaring, "We all need to have a talk." It wasn't the standard chat about monthly cycles or why boys sometimes don't want to leave their desks to go write at the chalkboard. It was a nun's version of personal hygiene. In her speech, we heard all about how often we should be bathing, washing our uniforms, and not offending others with our stanky pits.

Deodorant is not just a 20th-century convenience. In fact, various cultures have been using some form of odor-blocking for centuries. In modern times, it's estimated that upward of 95 percent of Americans wear deodorant. So, whether you choose antiperspirant over deodorant or you prefer a more natural approach for your underarms, see what you know about this odor-reducing product now.

Source: Flickr User lolaleeloo

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The Natural No Antiperspirant Update: Pit-y Party

BellaSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0800

Hi! It's been a few weeks since I last talked to you, and though I've been testing out tons of beauty products and working on Fashion Week, you'll be happy to hear that I've pretty much stuck with my natural hair and skin regimens. Shortly before The Natural ended, though, I dropped antiperspirant in favor of natural deodorant, and changing over has been an experience. Now that I'm a couple months in, I've got some tips and a couple funny stories to share. So just keep reading!

Deodorant Myth Debunked

FitSugar — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 11:20:00 -0800

In the past, I only used deodorants that were aluminum-free, because I heard, like many of you probably have, that the aluminum and other chemicals can seep into your skin and cause breast cancer - that clogging your pores prevents toxins from escaping, so they stay in your body.

This is not true.

The FDA has squashed this myth, quoting the National Cancer Institute (NCI), saying that "no existing scientific or medical evidence links the use of underarm antiperspirants or deodorants to the subsequent development of breast cancer."

The American Cancer Society (ACS) agrees. They say that sweat glands are not connected to the lymph nodes. Most cancer-causing substances are removed by your kidneys, and released through urine by the liver, and also when you poop. The lymph nodes don't release toxins through sweating.

Well there you have it. Antiperspirants do not cause breast cancer. Go ahead and buy any deodorant or antiperspirant your little heart desires.

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Product Review: Stella McCartney Soft Deodorant

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:00:00 -0700

Bear with me a moment while we talk about something a little unusual. A couple of years ago, I decided to make the switch from antiperspirant to deodorant. At the time, I was suffering from some pretty gross breakouts, and I had a crazy theory that antiperspirant, by blocking my sweat glands, was sending toxins to my face and turning them into pimples. (Like I said, it was a crazy theory.)

Anyway, when I went shopping for aluminum-free deodorants, I wasn't too excited by the, er, natural selection. Tom's of Maine left a slimy trail in my underarms, and the "crystal" deodorant irritated my skin. Then I tried Stella McCartney's deodorant (well, not hers-but you know what I mean). To find out how it works, read more

I love Stella eau de parfum because it's soft but complex, and the deodorant is just as pleasing. It's a roll-on, and the formula itself is a milky, watery liquid that takes about 30 seconds to dry. By design, a deodorant doesn't stop you from sweating, but after about a week I realized that I just don't sweat that much in the first place. Having softly scented underarms that match the fragrance on my wrists made me feel luxurious-or at least as luxurious as one can feel when we're talking about perspiration.

Stella Soft Deodorant is $19, and I've found it only at Nordstrom. As a sweat-blocker goes, it's pricey, but the cost is completely justified if you love the scent (which I do) and you treat it as part of your "fragrance wardrobe." Have you tried it? What do you think?