Pit stop.
June 27, 2008 1:48 PM Subscribe
Is there any noticeable difference in effectiveness between spray, stick, gel, or roll-on anti-perspirants? If so, why?
I haven't done controlled tests, but I haven't noticed any real difference myself. The aluminum compounds are what make them all work. Last I checked, I don't believe that anyone knows quite why.
posted by echo target at 2:10 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by echo target at 2:10 PM on June 27, 2008
I use one of those "Thai stone" deoderants. Works great for me but has caused rashes on some people I have recomended it to. Suposedly works by killing some of the bacteria that funk up your pits with their waste products. Made a real difference in how toxic my heap 'o dirty clothes was back when I had to live in the same room with it and my own sniff tests at the end of a long day in the sweatshops I've worked in. Just rub it on after a shower while those areas are still wet and that's it. No stains, stickyness, or corporate odors. Just your own sweet pheromones.....
posted by Redhush at 2:33 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by Redhush at 2:33 PM on June 27, 2008
I don't believe that anyone knows quite why
On the contrary.
posted by dmd at 2:34 PM on June 27, 2008
On the contrary.
posted by dmd at 2:34 PM on June 27, 2008
It's ultimately a matter of personal preference and amount of active ingredient. The "soft solid" - the stuff that's sort of between gel and stick - tends to work best for me. Roll-ons can sometimes be drippy.
If you're looking for something heavy-duty, Certain Dri is the most hardcore antiperspirant you can find at a drugstore. It pretty much plugs up your pores, so I'd recommend it in extreme cases only. Some people find it itchy, and the summer when I wore it a lot of my shirts got weird bleachy marks in the armpits. I wasn't sweating there, so it must have been the Certain Dri.
posted by Metroid Baby at 2:42 PM on June 27, 2008
If you're looking for something heavy-duty, Certain Dri is the most hardcore antiperspirant you can find at a drugstore. It pretty much plugs up your pores, so I'd recommend it in extreme cases only. Some people find it itchy, and the summer when I wore it a lot of my shirts got weird bleachy marks in the armpits. I wasn't sweating there, so it must have been the Certain Dri.
posted by Metroid Baby at 2:42 PM on June 27, 2008
Response by poster: I use roll-on myself and don't have any problems with it; I was just curious as to whether the different types are ever marketed as being for different uses, or whether they are only distinguishable as a comfort/personal preference thing.
posted by modernnomad at 2:48 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by modernnomad at 2:48 PM on June 27, 2008
Speaking only for myself, the gels work far, far better for me than the roll-ons or sticks. Never tried sprays; gels work well enough there isn't any point in me trying anything else.
posted by Justinian at 3:36 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by Justinian at 3:36 PM on June 27, 2008
I think the different formulations have to do with how quickly they dry (for those that prefer getting dressed quickly), whether or not they wash off easily (swimmers?), whether or not they leave white marks on clothes, etc.
posted by xo at 4:40 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by xo at 4:40 PM on June 27, 2008
Pit Rok.
Truly an amazing value... this crystal has lasted for two years and it's only 50% gone.
Works fine, and no aluminum to worry about or fragrances.
The above may be true for all crystal deodorants, but I just know this one.
Made in the UK I think, but you can find it here in the States.
Oh, wow, I finally got to shout out my deodorant love.
posted by artdrectr at 5:02 PM on June 27, 2008
Truly an amazing value... this crystal has lasted for two years and it's only 50% gone.
Works fine, and no aluminum to worry about or fragrances.
The above may be true for all crystal deodorants, but I just know this one.
Made in the UK I think, but you can find it here in the States.
Oh, wow, I finally got to shout out my deodorant love.
posted by artdrectr at 5:02 PM on June 27, 2008
You can pack stick in your hand-luggage and travel odour free!
The current air security restrictions are all a big conspiracy by the TSA agents working in collusion with the deodorant stick manufacturers to pump their stock price!
posted by Static Vagabond at 7:23 PM on June 27, 2008
The current air security restrictions are all a big conspiracy by the TSA agents working in collusion with the deodorant stick manufacturers to pump their stock price!
posted by Static Vagabond at 7:23 PM on June 27, 2008
I just moved from gels back to stick after realizing that in the humid summer here, the gel just never quite dries.
posted by mendel at 8:20 PM on June 27, 2008
posted by mendel at 8:20 PM on June 27, 2008
Just for comleteness sake I want to mention that those rock deodorants are in all probability alum. So they work just like regular deodorants (see dmds link above). The advertising blurb on the site artdrecter's (how appropriate) link points to, tries to imply that there is no aluminum in it, but notice that they just exclude some very specific formulations of aluminum (which may or may not be bad for you).
posted by mmkhd at 3:24 PM on June 28, 2008
posted by mmkhd at 3:24 PM on June 28, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
Personally, I find my preference to be pasty-stick > roll-on > gel >>> spray. Actually, let's say roll-on in winter, and when it gets warm, I switch to stick. The gel never stops feeling sticky, and the spray just seems antique and weird.
posted by Weighted Companion Cube at 2:01 PM on June 27, 2008