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Deodorant Questions You've Been Too Afraid to Ask

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Most of us prefer to smell fresh and clean, which is why we shower and wear deodorant daily. But how much thought are we putting into our deodorant choice? We just want it to work and not harm our skin! Below are some common answers to the questions about deodorant you may never have asked yourself, but have likely pondered.  Why isn't my deodorant working? There are a few reasons deodorants fail. One issue is that sweat and bacteria latch onto synthetic fabrics. If you’ve ever noticed a BO smell five minutes after putting on a clean shirt, it’s probably because the human-made fibers of your shirt are holding onto past deodorant applications. Many deodorants and antiperspirants contain waxes, aluminum, and baking soda—none of which rinse out of clothing very well. Another reason your deodorant may not be working is because you aren’t extending the application far enough. Try applying it 1-2 inches beyond the hair-bearing area of your underarms and into the fold

Strategies for Reducing Chafing During Workouts

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Friction from skin on skin or skin on fabric can result in dreaded chafing, especially for those who participate in endurance sports. If you’ve ever rubbed your inner thighs raw on a long run, you know the feeling. It’s referred to as “chub rub,” except you don’t have to be chubby to get it. For women who prefer to go braless as well as men, chafing (and bleeding!) can also occur as a result of the friction between the nipples and shirt. Some people even wear bandages to prevent this from happening. You get the idea. Chafing is painful. The skin swells, reddens, burns, and can even bleed from the constant skin-on-skin rubbing or skin-on-fabric rubbing. Not to mention the pain when you get into the shower with freshly chafed body parts. Chafe happens. But you can minimize this type of irritation with the following tips, including using an aluminum free deodorant between your thighs or anywhere else you are likely to chafe.  Hydration Before, During, and After Your

5 Things You May Not Know About Deodorant

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Raise your hand if you wear deodorant every day without giving a second thought to how it works or what’s in it. If you’re thinking about switching deodorants because your old one is irritating your skin or not working, or you just want to learn more about what you’re putting on your body, here are five facts about deodorant. The Best Deodorants Can Stop Odor from Occurring—Others Just Cover It Up The best deodorants will halt the odor-causing reactions on external skin. Other products say they inhibit bacterial growth, but they don’t maintain the healthy physiological pH of your skin. Some even contain baking soda, which can cause rashes or otherwise irritate the skin. You don’t need a heavily scented deodorant to cover up odor; you need the right one! Sprays, gels, and heavy fragrances may be problematic, especially if you have skin sensitivities. A Deodorant Is Not an Antiperspirant An antiperspirant blocks sweat glands with aluminum compounds. Deodorants do

It’s Not You—It’s Your Deodorant

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If you’re walking down the street one morning and suddenly realize you don’t smell that great and might even be sweating through your shirt, it’s time to look at what’s going on here. The main assumption is that your deodorant has mysteriously stopped working and that the stench is a sign of that. But before you cast your deodorant aside, consider these other factors that can contribute to why your deodorant doesn’t seem to be as effective anymore. Sweat on its own does not have an odor. The smell is caused by bacteria digesting sweat (and other fluids on your skin). Also, let’s make a quick distinction between deodorants and antiperspirants: · Deodorants do not prevent you from sweating, but the best contain powerful ingredients to stop stink before it starts (others might just use scents to try to “cover up” any odor). · Antiperspirants deal with sweat directly by plugging up sweat glands with aluminum to help prevent wetness from occurring. Now, let’s take a

How to Deal with Summer Sweat and Odor

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Sometimes we just gotta roll with sweaty thighs, trickles of sweat down the nape of our necks, and beads of sweat on our foreheads. That’s summer for you. But if your summer is sweatier (and more stinky) than you’d like it be, the following are some things you can do to embrace a steamy day.  Put Deodorant on Your Private Parts Guess what? There are deodorants out there that not only go on your underarms, but are also meant for other parts of the body, including underneath breasts, in-between thighs, and the bum. Look for a multipurpose, aluminum free deodorant that helps prevent odor in your pits and on lady bits. Dry Off Well After getting out of the shower, it’s important to dry yourself off completely, especially in the areas where you sweat a lot. You are only as clean as those first few moments after stepping out of the shower. After that, bacteria and sweat start going to town, doing their best to make you stink. Use a tiny smear of a multipurpose, vegan, cruelty free de

How to Get Rid of That Smell Down There… Do You Need to?

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It can be embarrassing for some women to talk about the scent of their vaginas, but it’s normal and healthy to have a slight odor down there. Most of the time, it’s not the vagina’s fault. It’s simply the result of living a full and busy life, which can involve workouts, sex, skipped showers, periods, leaky bladders, and so on.  Don’t buy into a societal dialogue that it’s “not normal” or that a vagina just “smells bad.” Unless you have an infection, there’s no need to stress over vaginal odor or try to “fix” anything about your private parts. From practicing good hygiene to using deodorant for sensitive skin , here are a few things you can do to help with bothersome odors that crop up from time to time. Trim It Up Women shouldn’t feel obligated to shave. However, keep in mind that the more pubic hair you have, the more surface area you have for bodily fluids and bacteria to hang out in, which can lead to odor. The fact is that pubic hair can trap bodily fluids such as residual

4 Things You Don’t Want in Your Deodorant

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We’ve been smearing deodorant on our underarms for over 100 years, so you’d think by now we’d stop trying to control body odor with products that contain subpar or harmful ingredients. Maybe your deodorant’s ingredient list isn’t something you think about every day as you put it on, but what are you willing to put up with in your deodorant? We all want to smell good, but shouldn’t try to do so at the expense of our health. Here are four ingredients you might consider putting on your deodorant “no” list: Parabens You may already be boycotting parabens because research suggests these chemicals are harmful to our skin and health—but do you know what they are? They are a type of preservative that is used to prolong the shelf life of health and beauty products. Parabens are used to help prevent the growth of mold and bacteria in products. Some of the most common parabens are butylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and ethylparaben. Be sure to buy a deodorant that i