The beauty world has plenty of terms and products that are so similar, it can confuse even the best of us! From skincare to makeup to fragrances and even hair care — each one has their own set of products that people misconstrue as being the same. Antiperspirant and deodorant fall under this category. If you thought these two were just synonyms for each other, we hate to break it to you, but they aren’t interchangeable.
There is one major factor that distinguishes the two and it is important to know the difference in order to properly cater to your (underarm) needs.
How Do You Tell The Difference?
Don’t worry, trying to figure out the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant isn’t rocket science. Keep on reading to enhance your beauty knowledge and learn about the difference between the two.
Say Goodbye To Odour With Deodorant
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Struggling with a bad case of the underarm odour? Then you need deodorant. Before we reveal the solution, you need to understand the problem a little bit more. So, what causes body odour?… And no, the answer is not just sweating. Just like the skin on every part of the body is different, so are the sweat glands. There are multiple sweat glands located all over, each different from the other.
Keep in mind that sweating doesn’t necessarily result in an unpleasant odour. There are two main causes of body odour — bacteria and apocrine glands. These apocrine glands which are located under your arms and near the groin area tend to release sweat mixed with fats and proteins. When this combines with the bacteria on your body, it creates that dreaded smell.
So, areas that produce a lot of sweat but don’t have a lot of bacteria or apocrine glands won’t smell bad, e.g. your face or hands.
How Does Deodorant Work?
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Areas like your underarms and groin not only have a dark environment which is a breeding ground for germs, but they also have hair follicles which tend to trap more nasties. Since bacteria & germs are one of the major factors that contribute to body odour, a deodorant works towards killing them and keep you smelling fresh.
While many women use deodorant underneath their breasts, bikini area, upper inner thigh, its main purpose is to be used only on your underarms. For these other areas, baby powder is a safer option.
Eliminate Sweat With Antiperspirants
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If you suffer from excessive underarm sweating which is wreaking havoc on your white outfits due to the nasty pit stains, you need antiperspirants. While deodorant helps reduce odour, antiperspirants blocks sweat glands. As stated earlier, the body is full of different sweat glands which help regulate the body’s temperature.
While this the body’s way of releasing extra heat, we understand how it can hamper your self-confidence. This is where antiperspirants come to the rescue. Antiperspirants, unlike deos, use aluminium salts to block sweat secretion from the sweat glands – imagine the salts as a plug and your sweat glands as a leaky faucet.
Along with this, aside from your underarms, antiperspirants can also be used on various parts of the body like hands, feet, face, back and chest. Do not apply either deodorant or antiperspirants on the groin area as this is one of the most sensitive parts of the body and it could lead to further issues.
Having trouble remembering the difference? Just remember:
-Deodorant eliminates odour
-Antiperspirant blocks sweat
Featured Image: Pexels
