Ensure you’re protected from perspiration and smelling your masculine best with these deodorants for savvy post-lock down lads.
A recent study by Unilever found that the global lock down has impacted our consuming habits, and not always in the way you’d expect. For example, sale of ice cream is up – what better way to drown your sorrows and boredom than in a Häagen-Dazs-laced Netflix orgy? In contrast, personal grooming habits have slipped, with sales of shampoo and deodorant dropping as we become herds of sweat pants people.
So, as you prepare to face the world once again, we thought it might be prudent to invest in some decent underarm care, if not for you, then for the rest of us.
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Now, it may come as a surprise, but not all deodorants and antiperspirants are born equal. Not only are these underarm essentials supposed to make us smell better, but they’re also tasked with keeping sweat at bay, which is especially useful during Asia’s balmy summers. That’s not to say all products do all jobs all the time; while a deodorant is essentially bacteria-killing perfume for your armpit, antiperspirants use more complex ingredients to physically block sweat glands. It’s important to know your requirements when you’re reaching for a new product to add to the kitchen cupboard.
There are also some things you’ll want to avoid, including aluminum, which is used in antiperspirants but has been linked to Alzheimer’s; baking soda, silica, and propylene glycol, which can cause skin irritation; and triclosan, which can harm your immune system and tweak your hormones. Instead, we suggest skipping the antiperspirant (unless you’re working on an oil rig in the Sudan) and stick to all-natural deodorant products that are not only effective but won’t replace one problem with a host of others.
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Agent Nateur Holi(man) No 5 Deodorant
Packed with all-natural ingredients, Agent Nateur’s No 5 Deodorant is aluminium-free and was developed by founder Jena Covello after she learned the adverse health effects of heavy metals. Ecocert organic certified and infused with a blend of sandalwood, cedarwood, rosa damascena, vetiver, and cistus oils for an earthy scent, No 5 also features coconut oil, which packs an antimicrobial punch, and avocado butter to leaver the skin hydrated and velvety.
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Malin+Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant
Certified as vegan and cruelty-free, the eucalyptus deodorant from Malin + Goetz is one of the brand’s bestsellers, and for good reason. Free of aluminum, alcohol, parabens, silica, starch, and baking soda, this revered roll-on features odor-killing citronellyl, as well as the calming qualities of eucalyptus essence. It drys quickly and lasts for the whole day.
Every Man Jack Dry Spray Deodorant
An easy spray-on application, the Every Man Jack Dry deodorant is also free of all those nasty ingredients, including aluminum, parabens, phthalates, dyes, and, gasp, gluten, and is also cruelty-free. There’s a choice of sandalwood or cedarwood, depending on if you want to smell like a log cabin or a humidor, while a special bottle design means you’re not filling the air with chemical propellants.
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Horace Deodorant
Having taken two years of careful development, Horace’s roll-on deodorant is fresh and elegant, sans aluminium, parabens, and alcohol. With a light and accessible rosemary, eucalyptus and sage scent, the product is packed with the good stuff, including diatomaceous earth, which neutralises bacteria; eucalyptus essential oil to sanitises the skin; clary sage essential oil to control sebum levels; and tea tree oil to reduces unpleasant odours.
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Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant Cream
If you really are struggling with your sweat, and some guys do, then you might need to ratchet things up a little. Kiehl’s antiperspirant and deodorant duo might be the solution. A light, quick-absorbing cream, it taps the breaks on perspiration using micro-sized drying molecules, while natural ingredients like orange, lemon, and linseed extract will ensure underarm hair stays soft and the skin beneath hydrated.
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