A guide to caring for your underarms
We often tend to our faces and bodies, but what about our underarms? These often-overlooked areas are just as worthy of attention, especially since they're home to delicate skin, sweat glands and their own unique MICROBIOME. From PH BALANCE to hyperpigmentation, here’s your go-to guide for nurturing your underarms with intention.
WHY YOUR UNDERARMS MATTER
The skin under your arms is thinner and more sensitive than skin on other parts of the body. It’s also prone to friction from clothing, profuse sweating and the daily use of deodorants — all of which can disrupt your SKIN'S BARRIER. Because this area has a naturally moist environment due to a high concentration of sweat glands, it’s more prone to irritation, sensitivity, ingrown hairs, breakouts and skin concerns like pigmentation and discolouration.
THE IMPORTANT OF PH-BALANCE
The skin's optimal pH is around 4.5–5.5 and is slightly acidic. This acidity is known as the acid mantle, a protective layer made of sebum, sweat and dead skin cells that helps to keep moisture in and harmful bacteria and pollutants out. Using products that are too alkaline or formulated with harsh ingredients (like high foam cleansers) can disrupt this balance and strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to inflammation, dryness and increased odour. We recommend using gentle pH-balanced products formulated with NATURALLY ACTIVE INGREDIENTS.
HOW TO CLEANSE YOUR UNDERARMS
It goes without saying, but cleansing your underarms daily is essential in keeping them healthy and happy. This especially rings true after exercise or sweating. Reach for a mild and low-foam cleanser free from harsh stripping ingredients like strong alcohols and synthetic dyes. We prefer to avoid foaming soaps as these can be quite severe on the skin. Instead, choose a cream or gel-based wash. While we'd avoid scrubbing too hard in the underarm area, a little bit of exfoliator won't go astray. Disperse a small amount of BODY POLISH into the underarm using gentle, circular motions. This will help to clear out the pores and resurface the skin, and it's gentle enough to use a few times a week.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT DEODORANT
Traditional antiperspirants often use aluminium to physically stop the body from sweating, which can result in clogged pores and irritation. Deodorants, on the other hand, do not stop the body from sweating, they just neutralise the odour caused from sweating. There's a big buzz around natural deodorants in the beauty world, but fair warning: in order to work they do typically require the body to go through a temporary 'detox' period. Whether you're going down the conventional or natural route, we'd advise on choosing a formulation that's aluminium-free, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and made without denatured alcohol and parabens.
HOW TO SHAVE YOUR UNDERARMS
Shaving itself is a form of physical exfoliation. Not only does it remove unwanted hair, but it also removes the topmost layer of skin. This can cause irritation in the underarm area when done flippantly or with a lack of care. To reduce the chance of aggravation, always ensure you're using a CLEAN AND SHARP refill blade along with a well-formulated SHAVE CREAM (i.e. never DRY SHAVE your underarms!). Shave cream provides slip and glide, allowing your RAZOR to seamlessly glide across the skin without unnecessary friction or pressure. Allow the hair and skin to gradually soften by hanging out in your shower or bath for a few minutes before shaving. Rinse with lukewarm water afterwards and gently pat the underarm dry, or apply a cold compress if needed. Using a bit of Body Polish before shaving can reduce the chance of INGROWN HAIRS and keep the area smooth.
TREATING UNDERARM SKINCARE CONCERNS
The underarm is susceptible to its own range of skincare concerns, with some common ones being acne/folliculitis, hyperpigmentation and dryness. BODY ACNE often appears on the chest and neck, but can also crop up under the arms. Underarm acne can be caused by clogged pores, excessive sweat or friction. Cleanse the area daily, wear naturally breathable fabrics and spot treat the area with ingredients like NIACINAMIDE or SALICYLIC ACID. Hyperpigmentation refers to a discolouration of the skin, where some patches or spots appear darker. It happens when excess melanin (the pigment that gives skin its colour) is produced and distributed unevenly in the skin. You can use a gentle exfoliator, like our Body Polish, to increase skin cell turnover which in turn fades dark spots and evens out tone and texture. Even though the underarm errs towards being more moist, dryness can still occur. While the skin is still slightly damp after stepping out of the shower or bath, apply a small amount of non-comedogenic moisturiser to lock in hydration and fortify the skin's barrier. Our BODY MOISTURISER is made with deeply nourishing ingredients like SQUALANE, soybean oil and VITAMIN E.