The key difference is that deodorant fights odor, while antiperspirant fights both sweat and odor.
Here's a breakdown:
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Deodorant:
- Purpose: Masks or neutralizes body odor caused by bacteria breaking down sweat.
- How it works: Contains antimicrobial agents to kill odor-causing bacteria and fragrances to mask the smell.
- Active ingredients: Often contain alcohol, fragrances, and sometimes antimicrobial agents.
- Does not prevent sweating.
- Example: Many natural deodorants rely on essential oils and baking soda to neutralize odor.
-
Antiperspirant:
- Purpose: Reduces or prevents sweating.
- How it works: Contains aluminum-based compounds that temporarily block sweat ducts, reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the skin's surface. This, in turn, reduces odor because there's less sweat for bacteria to feed on.
- Active ingredient: Aluminum compounds (e.g., aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex Gly).
- Also fights odor due to less sweat being produced.
- Example: Many conventional deodorants found in drugstores are actually antiperspirants.
In summary, if you only want to address odor, a deodorant is sufficient. If you want to reduce sweating and odor, an antiperspirant is the better choice. Many products on the market are actually combination deodorant-antiperspirants.
