RELATED: This Is the Absolute Worst Time to Brush Your Teeth, Dentists Say. For most of us, putting on deodorant and antiperspirant comes moments after our morning shower—or at the very least, the last step before donning our outfit for the day. But according to experts, early in the day might be the worst time if you’re trying to get the most out of your sweat protection. “The best way to amp up the effectiveness of your hygiene routine is to use antiperspirants before you go to bed,” Lisa J. Pieretti, the executive director at the Hyperhidrosis Society, told WFMY, a local CBS affiliate in Greensboro, North Carolina. “Then in the morning, you can swipe a deodorant, which helps minimize any kind of concerns that you may have for odor during the day.” While deodorants and antiperspirants perform different tasks, there’s a chance you’re already using a product that combines both into one. Still, this doesn’t change the fact that anything that’s going to keep you from sweating should be applied at night before going to bed. “Antiperspirants and deodorants are often confused, people think of them as being the same, and that they are equal, but they’re really not,” Pieretti explained. “Antiperspirants stop sweat, and deodorants actually help neutralize any odor, and neutralize bacteria that may cause odor.” RELATED: If You Do This in the Shower, Stop Immediately, Doctor Says. Still, when it comes to the best time to put on your deodorant, it’s not necessarily the actual time of day as much as it is what you’re doing right before you swipe. Experts point out that deodorant must be applied to dry skin, ironically making that moment immediately after you get out of the shower one of the worst to put it on. Instead, wait until you’ve toweled off and had enough time to let your armpits thoroughly air dry before you apply. For more lifestyle tips sent right to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Experts say this is because even though sweat itself doesn’t smell right as it comes out of your body, it does develop that infamous funk once it begins to mix with the naturally-occurring bacteria that lives on your skin. Since swiping or spraying deodorant on top of this mixture won’t stop the smell from forming, your best option is to shower and reapply afterward if you weren’t able to get to your stick before your sweat session.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb RELATED: 40 Percent of People Only Wash This Clothing Item Once a Year, Survey Says.
