When the temperature rises many men’s minds turn to sweat – and how to minimise it. After all, no one looks great standing there in a shirt with big damp circles under the arm.
The process of sweating is to help keep the body cool when the perspiration evaporates from the skin. It is a bigger problem for men as although there are slightly fewer sweat glands than women (around 2.5 million), they each produce more fluid. While working out, for example, a man can sweat on average up to two pints an hour.
There are two different sorts of sweat glands – the eccrine, which are found all over the body and produce an odourless light sweat, and the apocrine, which are concentrated in the scalp, armpits and groin. The latter release a heavier, fat-laden sweat that carries a distinct odour. The smell (AKA: BO) occurs when apocrine sweat breaks down and mixes with the bacteria on the skin. This can become a real problem in the heat as some men can sweat up to around an extraordinary two gallons a day.
So what should you be using? Well, deodorant protects against odour, while antiperspirant protects against sweat at the same time. Deodorant will keep your pits fresh, while an antiperspirant helps to control sweat, which is perfect if you want to avoid underarm wetness. Here's a better breakdown and our top pieces of product advice to use in the current dog days of summer...
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants actually prevent you sweating by utilising aluminium salts to block the sweat glands while deodorants function by masking smells. If you are applying antiperspirant rather than a deodorant it might be more effective to apply at night as the active ingredient has to go down into the sweat duct and clog it. Applying it at night can also minimise skin irritation, so you know what you should really be doing à la soir.
Here's our top picks to try for yourself...
Molton Brown
This antiperspirant stick is made up of black pepper, woody oakmoss and vetiver – AKA: the notes you need to freshen up with this summer. Invigorating is an understatement.
Clinique
You can trust in Clinique's fast-drying formula, powerful protection and long record of performance to see you through the dog days of summer.
Perspirex
The clue is in the name of the brand. Perspirex's roll-on antiperspirant is clinically proven for its super strong and effective formula, offering protection for three to five days upon use.
Deodorants
Deodorant is the product to go for if you're less inclined to sweat. Many people believe that body odor is the result of extreme sweating but, actually, your sweat doesn't have a scent on its own. As we've previously mentioned, it's all down to the bacteria on your skin and it's the formula of deodorant that breaks this down and eliminates those unhygienic scents we all want to avoid. Our top picks are as follows...
Boss
Boss' spray boasts an aromatic scent, so you can trust that you'll feel rejuvenated by its elegant ingredients while also receiving long-lasting protection.
Dolce & Gabbana
There's a reason this is called “the one”. This spicy oriental deodorant by Dolce & Gabbana is the perfect scent of rich masculinity. Trust us when we say it's the ultimate form of protection too.
Hermès
If it's a gentle aroma you're looking for in your deodorant, Hermès' natural spray is a winner. Boasting a classic woody scent, it lasts all day long and is the ultimate comfort companion for your skin.
And then...
Now that you've prevented perspiration, the big question follows: what to wear? For head-to-toe attire for any occupation (and we mean any, from pushed-to-the-limit teacher to Canary Wharf hustler), all the fashionable answers lie in our heatwave dressing guide. But to get you started, here's our top three upper-half staples to turn to after spraying. Wear each with some lightweight linen trousers and you'll be breezing through this heatwave in style...
The vest
'Tis the time to invest in, well, a vest. Our top pick? This simple tank by Sunspel – a solid base for any summer outfit, guaranteed to keep you cool in sweltering temperatures.
The shirt
A shirt is still a good shout in this heat, as long as you keep it lightweight and a bit billowing. Turn to Jacquemus' open-collared design clad in a subtle floral print for a communication of elegance.
The T-shirt
It worked for James Dean in Rebel Without A Cause, so it can work for you on this baking afternoon – the white T-shirt. Size it up a tad to avoid clinginess in the heat and opt for a design with a logo stamp to keep it stylish. We advise Dior.
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