Some Sweaty Strategist Writers on How to Survive the Heat
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On the occasion of this horrifically hot summer, we brought together a particularly sweaty crew of Strategist writers to talk about how they are dealing with the dampness.
Deodorant feels like a natural place to start. What is everyone using these days?
Dominique Pariso:People need to weardeodorantwith aluminum in the summer. I understand how people feel aboutanti-perspirant, but when you’re on the subway and people are not wearing aluminum deodorant, there’s a smell situation that happens.Natural deodorantjust doesn’t work as well for absorbing moisture or preventing sweat in the first place.
Tembe Denton-Hurst:I personally cannot wear aluminum because I have hidradenitis suppurativa and aluminum clogs my pores and creates lesions, so I do wearNative deodorant, which is natural. I think because it has a powdery texture, it helps with drying ever so slightly. The scents are also good. Cotton and Lily is pretty neutral.
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Amelia Jerden:I also wear Native, and I would co-sign that — it’s not an anti-perspirant, but the scents are good and it keeps you slightly dry.
TDH:Whatever you use, I say reapply and keep your arms down. There’s no reason you should be participating in any hand-raising activities if you know you stink.
DP:There is an important distinction between sweat and smell. I don’t think my sweat has much of a smell, but I sweat a lot, so we’re talking just a lot of … wet.
Okay, so how are you staying dry?
DP:My best piece of advice is to apply your anti-perspirant at night. When I started doing that, it helped me a lot. Basically, it works better at night because your sweat glands aren’t as active, so it allows it to soak in more. I use theSweatBlock Max Clinical Antiperspirant Wipes, but you can do this with any anti-perspirant.
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TDH:I sweat a lot, especiallyunderneath my boobsand in my scalp, so I’m a big proponent of apersonal electric fan.
DP:The personal fan is a must. If you’re on that subway platform and it’s a hundred degrees, you’re going to get sweaty, and it is the only thing that helps. TheVersionTechis the one in my opinion. It’s extremely powerful.
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TDH:I also love these thick littleScünci No Damage Stretch Fabric Headbands. I’m a natural-hair girl, so I’m not trying to keep my hair straight or anything, but they do absorb a lot of the scalp sweat.
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And what are you doing about … smell?
TDH:From a scent perspective, a goodbody washis key. I love theL’Occitane Cleansing & Softening Almond Shower Oil. Also moisturized skin holds on to scent better, so a moisturizer-perfume combo is good. You should pick scents that don’t contrast strongly with sweaty skin.
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DP:Things like marine notes, salty, beachy scents, I think work well for sweat. It’s not for everyone, butDiptyque’s L’Eau Papieris nice and so is itsIlio scent. Diptyque has good staying power without being too strong.
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TDH:I really likeMaison Francis Kurkdjian’s Gentle Fluidity, the silver version. It’s woody and aromatic, and the notes are really nice. It’s spicy and very slightly sweet, but it also feels really neutral — what’s cheaper, though, is just getting in the shower. Two showers a day.
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DP:Sometimes you just have to wash your hair or your body and start fresh.
Lauren Ro:I’m a big fan of the cold body shower.
Are you wearing anything specific to stay cool?
AJ:I have basically given up on jean shorts. I think they’re demonic. I’ve tried to fully move to linen and cotton, and I wear a lot of tank tops. I’m currently loving theLos Angeles Apparel Baby Rib Sleeveless Boatneck Top.
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LR:I always put on a linen shirt over a tank top or else I feel a bit naked. It also helps with the sweat. I’ve been wearingUniqlo’s Premium Linen Long-Sleeve Shirtfor years.
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TDH:I am big into sweat-wicking fabrics, so I’m wearing polyester everything. I love theOld Navy High-Waisted PowerSoft Leggingsin particular. They’re thick without being suffocating and compressive without being restrictive.
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DP:This is a little TMI, but if you sweat in your intimate areas,period underwearis the trick. In the summer, I kind of just wearKnix Ultra Leakproof Zones+ High Riseperiod underwear all the time and it takes care of that.
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TDH:I do have a triangle-of-sweat situation, but I’ve noticed that if I’m not wearing cotton I sweat more, so I’m a big proponent of cotton underwear.
AJ:That’s so real. I’m also a 100 percent cotton underwear person.
TDH:I just buy whiteHanes Cotton Brief Underwearin a pack. I don’t try to do anything fancy.
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