Deodorant vs antiperspirant. What’s the difference?

When it comes to cosmetics that help to fight against perspiration, there are two options: deodorant or antiperspirant. Some falsely consider them equal while the two are products with very different actions and use. Do you know what is the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant? How do the two of them work? And most of all, which one should you choose?

Hidrosis is a quite common issue. It makes everyday life more difficult because excessive sweating is not comfortable. Luckily, we have plenty of options that can help us solve the issue – you can eliminate it with medication or with cosmetics.

The two most popular cosmetics for sweating are the above mentioned deodorant and antiperspirant. We use both of them in situations when we want to feel fresh for longer. Their action and use are very different, however.

Antiperspirant – the action

Nowadays, the more common choice is an antiperspirant that is considered to be a cosmetic with more intense action. The truth is that it simply works differently.

Antiperspirant inhibits sweat production, which means that it works on the cause of the unpleasant smell. For this reason, antiperspirants are also called blockers because they narrow sebaceous glands and make it impossible for the sweat to get outside the body. To put it simply, we stop sweating… literally. No more wet stains under the armpits.

Unfortunately, antiperspirants also have their dark side. Some claim that frequent use of blockers can lead to irritations and skin dryness – after all, an antiperspirant disturbs the natural balance in your organism which removes excess water and toxins along with the sweat.

The ingredients of antiperspirants

Where do the properties of antiperspirants come from? From their composition, obviously. The popular ingredient in blockers is cosmetic talk that absorbs sweat and provides freshness for longer. However, it is not the substance that is responsible for preventing sweating.

The two important ingredients in antiperspirants:

  • aluminum,
  • alum.

Those of you who know a thing or two about antiperspirants know that aluminum can be harmful. It goes also for the antiperspirants that is why the ecology trend and natural antiperspirants based on alum are trending.

Deodorant – the action

When it comes to deodorants, we choose them less probably due to the simple fact that they do not provide the dryness effect of antiperspirants. No wonder because deodorants are entirely different. Those cosmetics do not inhibit sweating but simply eliminate the unpleasant smell. It’s possible because they contain special fragrances that neutralize the smell and eliminate bacteria responsible for it. The antibacterial action of deodorant is a huge advantage but for many, it is insufficient to just give up the 100% protection provided by antiperspirants.

Antiperspirant or deodorant?

What should you choose when you want protection against the sweat? A lot depends on how much you sweat and the effect you expect.

  • If the only thing that bothers you is the smell and you are not sweating too much, then the best solution for you will be deodorant. it does not impact the natural organism balance, does not cause dryness (on the contrary, it can moisturize), and eliminates bacteria.
  • If you sweat too much and you dream of dryness and freshness then you should go for an antiperspirant. It works better because it inhibits sweating and this way gets rid of it once and for all.

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