Deodorants: Does A Clinical Strength Anti-Perspirant Really Work The Best?
I just found something interesting with regard to "maximum strength" ingredients in anti-perspirants.
Yes, much like my recent experiment with dry skin body lotions and body washes, I decided to research deodorants and anti-perspirants. I was eager to explore some of the newer formulations, in hopes of finding one I really liked... finally.
For the most part, I've been a loyal Secret Invisible Solid user (or whatever their "best" formulation was before that one came out). However, I'll try anything new that hits the store shelves, hoping that it will one-up the Secret. It's very good, but not great, in my opinion. And a great deoderant/anti-perspirant is imperative to enjoying your day to day life. Take it from a girl who oh-so-obviously sweatted through the armpits of her brand new business suit during an interview one time. (But I still got the job.)
Upon closer inspection of the labels on anti-perspirants on store shelves, I found that the ones I was most interested in have very high amounts of Aluminum Zirconium (or technically, Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly).
Here's the most surprising thing... (No, it's not what you're probably thinking.)
Clinical Strength?
The "regular" Secret (Invisible Solid) contained 19% of Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly, whereas the new "clinical strength" Secret (and other brands like Dove Clinical Strength, for that matter) contain 20% -- which is the maximum amount available in an over-the-counter anti-perspirant.
Yet the "regular" formulations were half the price (or more!) of the "clinical strength" formulations!
I believe this is partly due to the fact that most of the "regular" formulations were on sale at these particular stores (Target & Walmart), whereas the "clinical strength" formulations are still new and less likely to be on sale at this point.
But, if you ask me, that huge price difference for relatively little difference in the active ingredient simply comes down to one thing: pure marketing.
I'm no expert, but I'm guessing there can't be that much of a difference between the 19% "regular" Secret and the 20% "clinical strength" Secret. Not to warrant that much of a price hike, right?
Here are the amounts of Aluminum Zirconium Trichlorohydrex Gly in some popular anti-perspirants on the store shelf yesterday:
Secret Clinical Strength - 20% (I tried it as a free trial size recently, and I didn't notice any difference between this one and "regular" Secret)
Secret Invisible Solid - 19% (my old standby favorite; the one I always go back to)
Dove Invisible Solid - 18.5% (ah hem, this one is NOT "invisible", but that's beside the point)
Degree Invisible Solid- 17.6% (on the other hand, this one is highly "invisible")
Right Guard Sport Clear Stick - 8.6% (I think their products stop body odor best)
Dove Ultimate Clear - 14.8% (an older formulation that I just happened to still have in my bathroom cabinet)
Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant
I can't help it, 
I sweat a lot. So I've tried almost every type of deodorant and anti-perspirant that's ever come out -- including Certain Dri.
Certain Dri is a bit different. It contains 12% Aluminum Chloride, which is the same active ingredient in prescription-strength antiperspirants. The only difference is "prescription antiperspirants contain 20-25% aluminum chloride in an alcohol solution, which may cause stinging and drying of the skin." Source
I started using Certain Dri many many years ago when it first debuted in QVC -- back when they used to be the first to get "new" products. I liked it so much, I stocked up way back then. And, to this day, I still have a couple of never-opened boxes of Certain Dri. Yeah, I know. Time to toss 'em, because anti-perspirant doesn't have that good of a shelf life.
Interesting side note: Two of the Dove Ultimate Clear bottles I found in my cabinet today have an expiration date of 2151!!! No kidding. The Secret Invisible Solid I purchased yesterday have an expiration date of 2010. I guess the shelf life varies with deodorants and anti-perspirants. (The more Aluminum Zirconium, the shorter the shelf life?)
The fact of the matter is, I've always liked how the Certain Dri does an AMAZING job of lessening how much I actually sweat. The only downside: it does nothing to stop any odor. So I stopped using it.
Today, they sell an additional product specifically for odors: Certain Dri Underarm Refresher. Or, you could just use your own deodorant (or a low-dose anti-perspirant) to ward off any perspiration odor.
And, if you commonly have sweaty feet... they even make a similar product for feet! It's called Certain Dry Feet!
Insider Scoop About Certain Dri
Certain Dri works best when you use it for several nights in a row. It effectively closes off your pores, making sweating less likely.
From the package instructions inside the Certain Dri box:
Q: What is an anti-perspirant?
A: A true anti-perspirant should shrink and close off underarm pores to inhibit the flow of perspiration. The more effective the formulation, the more effective and longer lasting will be the anti-perspirant relief.
Q: Is it safe to close off underarm pores?
A: Yes. Both underarms represent an area of only about 6 to 8 square inches. Nature simply and safely redistributes the perspiration around to the other 2,700+/- square inches of the body's skin surface.
Here's a great review of Certain Dri vs Secret Clinical Strength. I agree with her findings, based on my own side-by-side (or would that be underarm-by-underarm?) comparison of the same two anti-perspirants. (And nearly 200 more reviews here.)
At this point, I'm inclined to go back to using Certain Dri on occasion (a couple nights a week, for longterm wetness protection), and Secret Invisible Solid (for daily odor control).
Anyone got any thoughts on this topic?
By the way, I've considered the aluminum levels in anti-perspirants, and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do to stay dry and fresh-smelling. So products like Tom's of Maine deodorant are out, as they're completely ineffective on someone like me.
Geesh... I cannot believe some of the things I talk about on this website and the deep, dark inner secrets I divulge about myself! Hopefully someone can benefit from this information.
I am also a Mitchum's user - Clear Unscented Gel for 25 yrs. Be sure to buy the men's version (dark green lables) as opposed to Lady Mitchum, which does not work as well.
There seems to be alot of differences of opinion on antiperspirants, BUT everyone seems to be forgetting the real reason for the antiperspirant. You need to look for one with the highest amount of active ingredient. According to several rank sites, Mon Ray Antiperspirant is the most effective with sweating and excessive sweating. Take it from someone who has tried every product out there, Mon Ray works! The company even guarantees it. What more could you ask for.
mitchems UNSCENTED clear gel for deodorant. it works great. make sure you get the unscented. smells really good! funny huh? it's the only thing i've found that works well for me.
Yes, i also ordered klima online... didnt work for sweat at all, just burned my skin, so soon i am going to purchase (a less expensive) certian dri
Hi Lauren, I was in the grocery store the other day and was about to purchase the Dove Prescription strength. Someone mentioned it to me...($7.99!) I think you have the right idea with putting it on at night, that's exactly what the bottle says, so perhaps that does help so it works overnight. I will bite the bullet and try that...if that doesn't work I might try this Certain Dri. I sweat so much and towards the end of the day it's just stinky...I currently have Trader Joes...but like Tom's of Maine doesn't really help someone in my situation. Of course it's lasted forever and don't really want to waste it...but I'm ready for something new. Thanks for the advice to everyone! :)
I too like Certain Dri, but also have a BIG problem with odor. I have recently started swabbing with alcohol, then lemon to kill (slow?) the bacteria that causes odor. This, with a strong deodorant AND antiperspirant has done the trick for me. I actually ordered something on-line called KLIMA ($25 for 1.7 oz YIKES!), which has only 3% more aluminum chloride than Certain Dri, but for some reason seems to work better for me.
Thank you so much for this article! I am the victim of the "nervous/anxious/interview" sweat, so I have been trying a million different kinds of antiperspirants. I had tried all of the "clinical strength" (dove, degree etc...) except Secret, so I was about to go spend $8 in hopes that it would have that extra wetness protection, but I wanted to check out some side-by-side reviews first. I was so excited to read about someone who sweated like me, and I am gonna run out and buy Certain-dri the next chance I get. Thanks so much, this is exactly the type of review (listing the ingredients side by side) that I needed!
Certain Dry ruined my clothes.
Hm, I found this article very interesting. I actually have enjoyed using the Dove Clinical Strength. If I put it on the night before I really do sweat less and even when I do sweat I smell tons better. Perhaps it is a different ingredient that makes the huge difference. Certainly a single percentage point up wouldn't require the directions of applying before bed. I'll have to research this some more.
Thanks this article was very helpful to me because i sweat a lot expecially when i get nervous or excited. And sometimes i just sweat for no reason. I have to try ur favorite product Certain Dri because nothing i used works. I even try man's deodrant its help a little but the i hate the smell.