Did you know that you should put on antiperspirant at night? If you did, good for you; you probably smell great. But if you didn't, don't feel too bad because a lot of people have no idea, including one writer at Verge who, after 17 years, finally read the directions on his clinical antiperspirant and realized he was "applying it like a klutz." That's all fine and well, but why the heck do you need to go to bed with your antiperspirant on? Let me explain.

"Antiperspirants work by creating a plug near the top of the sweat glands," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. "These plugs limit the amount of sweat that makes it to the surface of the skin. They need time to form, however, so applying antiperspirant in the evening is best because, under normal conditions, the body is still and its temperature is lower, giving the plugs a chance to form relatively undisturbed," says Wilson. "But I like to shower in the morning," you protest. Here's some more crazy news: The antiperspirant you put on before bed will still work after you take your A.M. shower. "A study shows that antiperspirant can depress sweat for up to a day, so washing may have a minimal impact on sweating," says Wilson.

I'm sure many of you are also wondering about antiperspirant and toxicity, as well as the idea that the aluminum in antiperspirants is a health menace. "Large studies in major reputable journals don't support such connections, and we believe antiperspirants to be safe," says Ranella Hirsch, a dermatologist in Boston. So go ahead, swipe away, and swipe away before you put on your pajamas. Applying your antiperspirant at night might seem as awkward as putting sunscreen on before bed, but would you rather keep looking like a sweaty mess every day? We didn't think so.

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