BEST TIPS TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR ARMPITS
When it comes to our armpits, most of us focus on that we don’t want them to be bumpy, to smell, to chafe, to sweat or to stain our clothes. But despite demanding so much of them, even those of us with an extensive face and skincare routine are happy to slather on deodorant daily, and call it a day.
But our armpits need more care because they are hardworking, delicate, beautiful parts of our bodies; s o let’s give them the nurturing they deserve.
Our underarms are one of the warmest places on our bodies and because they get limited access to fresh air, they’re often moist as well. These warm wet conditions are ripe for inflammation, irritation, itchiness, bumpiness—including painful bumps—ingrown hairs, and unwanted odour-causing bacteria. If these conditions have plagued your enjoyment of your underarms (because, yes, even underarms should be enjoyed) then it’s time to consider a gentle, therapeutic armpit care routine to combat any nasty conditions and irritations.
Consider the below tips to take better care of your armpits:
1. Cleanse Daily and Exfoliate 1-2 times per week
Use a mild, nourishing cleanser to wash your armpits daily and prevent the overgrowth of bacteria. A good quality cleansing bar is a deeply hydrating, nonirritating, therapeutic treatment. Perfect for the sensitive, delicate skin of the underarm. Once or twice a week, exfoliate with a gentle exfoliant, especially before shaving. Exfoliating stimulates cellular turnover, gets rid of dead skin cells and unclogs pores—so bumpy underarms and ingrown hairs become less of an issue.
2. Tone and Moisturise Daily
After cleansing, thoroughly dry your armpits and apply a toner to sweep away residual buildup in the pores. You need nothing more than simple Rosewater to cleanse the skin of impurities without drying it out. It also brings anti-inflammatory properties that soothe redness and promote smooth skin. Once the toner is dry, support the skin’s hydration levels by moisturising with a gentle balm or lotion.
Chamomile is also good as it offers anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that calm the skin and help heal damaged skin.
3. Keep Your Razor in Good Shape
If you shave your armpits, it’s important to maintain a clean, sharp razor. Shaving creates micro-tears in the delicate underarm skin that can become infected. Use a blade no more than 5 times and store your razor outside the shower where it can completely dry.
4. Use a Natural Deodorant
Natural deodorants are great for so many good reasons:
they work with your underarms instead of against them
they nourish the armpits instead of drying them out
they are full of beneficial ingredients that improve the look and feel of your skin
they don’t include any of the potentially harmful ingredients of conventional deodorants
they’re better for the environment 5. Wear breathable fabrics that allow moisture to evaporate. This includes natural fibers like cotton, linen, wool, bamboo and hemp.
Silk, though natural, traps moisture just like synthetic fabrics such as polyester, viscose/rayon, nylon and lycra blends.
If you’re worried about pit stains, remember that very dark-coloured clothing and bright whites are the best at hiding stains. It’s the shades in between that are most telling when it comes to sweat spots.