Less powerful anti-perspirant?

August 22, 2021 6:11 PM

Can someone recommend an anti-perspirant that's only effective for a few (12-24) hours?

I don't mind the aluminum compounds, I'd just like less of them. Most anti-perspirants at my local Walgreens are claiming 48 and 72 hour protection and have 15% and higher of the Al compounds. I don't even see claims about "all day" protection any more. Surely there are some?

posted by ASCII Costanza head to Health & Fitness (6 answers total)

Best answer: In my experience, the non-aluminum, natural deodorants are 12-hour deodorants. Same with the solid deodorants from Lush. But, it's very individual. Some people can use the natural unscented crystal, some people (me) find they are entirely useless.

For conventional, Speed Stick unscented is usually all-day but not all-weekend.
posted by blnkfrnk at 8:04 PM on August 22, 2021 [2 favorites]

I am a seriously smelly person, and I find No Pong quite effective for 8-12 hours.
posted by stray at 8:28 PM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

Antiperspirant, not deodorant, right?
posted by tristeza at 8:53 PM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]

i switched to nuud early in the pandemic, which uses silver as an antibiotic instead of aluminum to plug the sweat ducts.

i'm active 2-3 hours every day and my workout clothes no longer stink. i'm not sure it's a full anti-persperant but it really does last 48-72 hours with just a pea size dot in each pit. it's pricey but i'm on maybe my third tube in 18 months?
posted by noloveforned at 6:36 AM on August 23, 2021 [1 favorite]

I like the Tom's of Maine antipersperant (this one, which is different from their aluminum-free deoderants). I don't get all that sweaty/stinky, and it doesn't feel as intense as other antipersperant brands.
posted by mosst at 7:12 AM on August 23, 2021

As far as I know, only one ingredient can truly function as an anti-perspirant, and that's aluminum. Everything else is just deodorant. There are anti-perspirants that provide bigger doses of alumimun to last longer, such as Certain Dri, but I'm not aware of any that go below a certain basic level. I'm somewhat informed on the topic since I am somewhat allergic to aluminum - I found that different forms of aluminium may affect the skin differently, and I personally found I like Vanicream. For deodorants I like Native. I'm not sure if you are asking because of skin sensitivity but thought I'd mention it.
posted by Dansaman at 10:28 PM on August 23, 2021