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We don't treat our underarms nearly as nicely as we do our faces — and we totally ought to. Just like skin on the rest of the body, armpits need some occasional T.L.C. to stay free of irritation and smelling nice (or, at the very least, not bad). If you've ever sworn off antiperspirants made with aluminum and/or baking soda, you know exactly what I'm talking about; those ingredients trap sweat inside pores and can wreak havoc on pits. As I've recently learned first-hand, switching to natural deodorant can ignite a big change in the way your armpits sweat and smell.
A lot of people write off natural deodorants because they find themselves sweatier (or smellier) after the switch — which can happen. But there's a good reason for that, according to Alyx Cali Rosen M.D., a board-certified dermatologist based in Miami. "Switching to a natural deodorant doesn't cause excess sweat," she previously told Allure. "It's more that your body goes back to producing its normal amount of sweat without an antiperspirant."
On top of that, the way a natural deodorant reacts with the natural bacteria living in your underarms can heavily affect the way you smell when wearing it. "Other symptoms may include having an odor for a period of time until the body gets used to the change or the user finds a product that works well for them and to combat their [personal] body odor."
But Megababe has created a product that helps you reduce that newfound odor so you can finally enjoy living the natural deodorant life without anyone else sniffing you out. The Happy Pits Underarm Mask, $16, is a potent cocktail of vitamin C, glycolic acid, and charcoal, ingredients you likely already know and love because you've used them on your face.
Charcoal is basically a dirt vacuum for skin, according to cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. "When dirt and oil in your pores come in contact with the carbon, they stick to it — and then get washed away when you rinse," she previously told Allure. Meanwhile, the mask's vitamin C and glycolic acid work together to fight discoloration and protect skin from everyday pollutants.
As instructed by the brand, I use this mask twice per week on clean and dry skin. You know when you've just taken a shower and you're just hangin' around in your towel because you're too lazy to put on real clothes? That's when I use it (hence my very sexy towel wrap situation above. She's single, folks!). Might as well because this is not something you can use while clothed — and you don't want to risk it washing away while you're actually in the shower. Thanks to its squeezy tube packaging, this mask goes on quickly and without mess, similar to how you swipe on deodorant. During the five brief minutes I leave it on, I can feel a slight, refreshing tingle, which is how I know the glycolic acid is working its magic.
After my five minutes are up, I wipe the mask away with a warm, damp cloth, leaving a fresh feeling and less irritated skin in its wake. I'm a sweaty person in general — seriously, if there were a sweaty award, I'd win it — but the absorbing powers of the charcoal in this mask really do the trick.
It stays pretty wet when it's on, by the way, so I recommend just lying back and enjoying the short amount of time during which you don't have to do anything. That's low-key my favorite thing about this mask; yeah, it helps me reduce sweat and odor, but it also forces me to have five motionless, responsibility-free minutes every now and then. There isn't much that can get this busybody to do that without complaint.
More on deodorant and body odor:
- The 13 Best Aluminum-Free Deodorants We've Ever Tried
- The Best Baking Soda-Free Deodorants for Sensitive Underarm Skin
- How to Tell If Your Bad Body Odor Is Cause for Concern
Now, see how deodorant has evolved within the past 100 years:
