Beat the sweat with our guide to choosing the best antiperspirant to stay fresh & dry, whatever the occasion
This article is sponsored by Sure.
You might have your holy grail haircare range, your can’t-be-without cleanser and your must-have make-up favourites, but have you ever put that much thought into choosing an antiperspirant? Us neither! Yet they’re just as essential to your daily routine as your go-to beauty products.
A great antiperspirant is one that you’ll probably forget you’re wearing since it keeps you smelling fresh and feeling sweat-free all day. And it turns out, some antiperspirants do the job better than others. Here we tell you more about what to look for in an antiperspirant and the best ones to choose from Sure.
What is an antiperspirant & how do they work?
Sweating is completely healthy and a normal part of our body’s day-to-day functions. Sweat doesn’t actually smell by itself, it’s only when it mixes with our skin’s natural bacteria that you may start to notice that tell-tale whiff of body odour. Whilst that might not bother you on a chill day spent at home, it’s not ideal when you’re out and about trying to get on with your day. That’s where an antiperspirant comes in.
An antiperspirant does what it says on the tin – it helps stops sweating (perspiring). Most are formulated with aluminium salts, which help reduce the amount of sweat your body releases from the sweat glands under your arms before it can mix with the bacteria on your skin. Many also have anti-microbial properties which help kill the bacteria that causes odour when you sweat.
If you’re thinking ‘isn’t that what a deodorant does?’, then let’s break things down even further…
What’s the difference between an antiperspirant & a deodorant?
Most of the time people use the word deodorant as a catch all for anything you might be spraying or rolling under your arms to combat sweat and body odour, but there’s actually a difference between antiperspirants and deodorants.
Deodorants are there to help mask body odour, but they don’t stop sweat so you may still feel some wetness under your arms. Whereas antiperspirants cover your sweat glands to actively help stop sweat from being released.
The good news is, Sure's antiperspirants essentially do both – they help stop you from sweating while offering a nice, clean-smelling scent.
How do I know if I need a deodorant or an antiperspirant?
Whether you choose to go for a deodorant or an antiperspirant is all down to personal preference. If you’re spending a day at home, not moving around very much or if it’s the dead of winter and you couldn’t break a sweat if you tried, then a deodorant may be all you need to mask signs of body odour.
On the other hand, if you’ve got a busy schedule, a very active lifestyle or the weather is hot and humid, an antiperspirant could be the better option to stop sweat getting in the way of your day. Many are designed with long-lasting and continuous protection so that you only need to apply them once to keep you covered all day.
What should I look for in an antiperspirant?
If you’ve decided an antiperspirant is the best option for you, here are some things to consider when making your purchase.
Type
There are three main types of antiperspirants, each with different properties to consider:
Roll-ons – also known as liquid antiperspirants, these roll on wet under your arms before drying down
Sticks – also known as solid antiperspirants, these are usually cream-based formulas that roll on under your arms covering quite a big surface area in one go
Sprays – also known as aerosols, these are sprayed under your arms and usually dry down straight away
Scent
Antiperspirant-deodorants come in a whole range of scents, from cotton and powder fresh to floral or fruity fragrances. The type of scent you choose is all down to personal taste and a bit of trial and error until you find the one that smells just right.
Alternatively, if you’d rather not have a scented antiperspirant, or fragrance irritates your skin, then there are plenty of fragrance-free options to choose from.
Level of protection
Many antiperspirants are labelled with a time-based indication of how long they’ll help stop sweat coming through, such as ‘72h protection’. They might also include words such as ‘continuous’, ‘long-lasting’ or ‘non-stop’ to reassure you that they won’t let you down.
Some have extra benefits such as ‘invisible protection’ which is a great option if you’re going to be wearing dark clothes. This can help you avoid the possibility of white marks transferring from your antiperspirant.
What’s the best Sure antiperspirant?
Want an antiperspirant that ticks all the boxes? It’s got to be one from Sure’s 72h Nonstop Protection range . These antiperspirant sprays are designed to work in sync with your body, with unbeatable anti-sweat Microtechnology which provides 2x more powerful protection* against sweat for 72 hours.
Get all-day freshness thanks to the innovative MotionSense technology which releases bursts of fragrance every time you move. Simply put, the more you move, the more it protects, so it’s the perfect option for anyone with an active on-the-go lifestyle.
They’re also made with an alcohol-free** formula which helps you feel fresh, dry and protected without causing irritation.
Here are our top two picks from the range:
Try: Sure Women 72h Nonstop Protection Bright Bouquet Antiperspirant Deodorant Aerosol
Size: 250ml
If the scent of summer is more your thing, then you’ll love the Bright Bouquet fragrance of this antiperspirant spray which releases bursts of fruity strawberry and apricot alongside sweet and sensual notes of vanilla.
How to use Sure 72h Nonstop Protection Antiperspirants
1. Make sure your skin is dry before applying
2. Shake the can
3. Hold the can 15 centimetres away from your underarm and spray evenly in a well-ventilated area
4. Avoid contact with your eyes and any broken skin
Check out the full range of Sure antiperspirants and deodorants for superior protection.
*Vs Sure Essentials range
**Ethyl alcohol
