Antiperspirants are products that help manage sweating, and they contain many ingredients, including aluminum salts. However, there are antiperspirants that are aluminum-free, and they use other active ingredients to control sweat. Here are some details about the ingredients and materials used in antiperspirants:
Ingredients:
- Aluminum: Aluminum-based compounds are the most widely used active antiperspirant ingredient because they effectively plug up sweat ducts to temporarily stop the flow of moisture to the skin.
- Emollient oil: Without some sort of moisturizer like castor, mineral, or sunflower oil mixed into antiperspirant ingredients, the product wouldnt roll or glide on smoothly. These emollients also keep the product from flaking once it dries on your skin.
- Alcohol: Aluminum compounds and other active antiperspirant ingredients are often dissolved in alcohol because it dries quickly and feels cool when applied to skin. Alcohol is typically found in roll-ons and aerosols, as well as some gels.
- PEG Distearates: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) distearates are emulsifying agents found in many cosmetic products including antiperspirants. This antiperspirant ingredient makes it easier to wash off the product.
- Fragrance: Fragrance provides a distinct, pleasant smell to the product.
Materials:
- Parabens: Parabens are preservatives that are still found in some antiperspirants, though most major brands are paraben-free these days. If youd prefer to avoid parabens, check your antiperspirants ingredients list for words ending in "-paraben," such as methylparaben or propylparaben.
- Aluminum-free: There are antiperspirants that are aluminum-free, and they use other active ingredients to control sweat.
Positive:
- Aluminum-based compounds are the most widely used active antiperspirant ingredient because they effectively plug up sweat ducts to temporarily stop the flow of moisture to the skin.
- Emollient oils keep the product from flaking once it dries on your skin.
- Alcohol dries quickly and feels cool when applied to skin.
- Fragrance provides a distinct, pleasant smell to the product.
Negative:
- Some people may prefer to avoid antiperspirants that contain aluminum or parabens[[6]](https://ww...
