Things should be called by their proper names. We are constantly calling them by what we believe we understand and identify. Just as resting is not the same as digesting, a deodorant is not the same as an antiperspirant. Although it is normal for us to confuse sweat with bad odor, they are not things we can equate. Deodorant neutralizes the odor we emit due to the bacteria that grow on our skin, while an antiperspirant regulates the moisture produced in the underarms to control sweat.
Deodorants: Neutralizing Odor
As we mentioned before, deodorants are primarily designed to neutralize body odor caused by bacterial growth on the skin. How do they do it? They contain antimicrobial ingredients that inhibit the growth of bacteria on the skin, thus reducing the odor associated with the bacterial decomposition of sweat. Essentially, deodorants fight the problem at its source, keeping you fresh and confident throughout the day.
The advantage of deodorants is that they do not clog pores or interfere with the body's natural perspiration process. This means that they allow sweat to be released normally through the skin's pores, which is essential for regulating body temperature and eliminating toxins.
Antiperspirants: Reducing Sweating
On the other hand, antiperspirants are designed to reduce the amount of sweat produced. How do they achieve this? By containing aluminum salts or other compounds that form temporary plugs in the sweat gland ducts. These temporarily block them, reducing the amount of sweat released to the surface of the skin.
In other words, it prevents one of the body's physiological functions: sweating. This is essential for eliminating toxins and environmental contaminants that accumulate in our system. This can have short-, medium-, and long-term consequences such as autoimmune diseases, allergies, chronic inflammation, etc. An endless list of possibilities.
“Which is better?”
Actually, neither is worse than the other. What is clear is that the important question is: is it better to sweat or not to sweat? Certainly, letting your body follow its natural course is better than not sweating. The main mistake is that we are not aware of all the work that goes on behind it.
It is paramount to know that sweating is one of our body's tasks for eliminating toxins, and that doesn't mean we have to smell bad. According to Professor of Dermatology at the University of California, Nina Botto, “people have strong preferences and sensitivities to smell. People, since the beginning of time, have used perfumes or colognes to mask odor,” but that won't make us live longer or better.
So, is it better to eliminate the odor?
Well, it depends; even the smell of our sweat has a function. First of all, the smell of sweat has more to do with the salts and proteins we produce than with what we smell when we are at a gym or in a transit area with many people.
In fact, the impact that other people's sweat has on our psychological perception is currently being studied. A study by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm (Sweden) showed a decrease in social anxiety in people who were exposed to the sweat of others while receiving psychological treatment. There is still no proven relationship between the emotional state of those from whom the sweat was collected and what was perceived by those diagnosed with social anxiety.
In a way, there are odors imperceptible to humanity; however, even if sweat is odorless, it does have a taste, and it is also capable of transmitting sensations that we ourselves are not conscious of.
Smell allows us to live
Our sense of smell is a gift and has more history behind it than we can imagine. It allows us to detect situations, identifying them as dangerous or stable. Imagine yourself in a room with people who have no connection to each other… you could identify the scents of their deodorants and perfumes and create a story around what you perceive to describe their lives, their hobbies, and even what they have eaten during the week. This has a reason: our brain activates memory when we use our sense of smell. Because we can also feel through smell, in what we call Aromachology (1989), that is, the psychology of scent.
It allows us to live, and if we lived in a society that allowed us to know what is in front of us from the start, without having to search for the traps placed in our path, pheromones perfumes would not exist. In the cosmetics industry, there is research into how to attract more through smell, and their use to attract consumers is the order of the day.
Even that is a lie that has been drilled into our heads… What truly attracts us to people as a society is the scent of our bodies, not the scents with artificial essences that perfumes or deodorants impregnated with toxins usually carry. That is called marketing, and it plays an important role, as you will or will not buy depending on its scent.
There is a very competitive market, and it is not at all easy to enter the cosmetics industry without using toxins and while being conscious of people and the planet. That is why other brands that already have a history with easily recognizable scents have the upper hand.
But that is already coming to an end; after taking advantage of social ignorance about the ingredients that are consumed, we have finally opened our eyes. And as always, there are healthy alternatives!
Start your detox
If you are looking for a natural deodorant, without aluminum or essential oils, that is vegan and protects you for 24 hours with the highest quality, we leave you a list so you can throw yours in the trash TODAY:
If you have sensitive skin, we recommend our best sellers: Silver breeze, Silver Touch, and Silver Sea. With them, you will have 24-hour protection and guaranteed hydration thanks to their Dead Sea minerals.
If you want the same effect but your skin doesn't need that extra delicacy, try So Fresh, So Pure, or Soft Breeze. All of them have powerful 100% natural ingredients that support you thanks to their great efficacy against bacteria and excessive sweating.
You can choose whether you want it in cream or solid form; neither is better than the other, you just have to see what adapts best to you and which scent you like more.
Additionally, if you choose the solid deodorant, you have a special promotion where you can combine them however you want and purchase an applicator to improve the experience.
And, if you opt for the cream option, you have the possibility of reusing the container, so you can buy the refill of your favorite when it runs out without having to buy it again. Consuming with values has never been easier!
