Kalisa Questions:
I recently tried a Degree Ultra Clear Antiperspirant (specifically, the one that promotes itself as “Little Black Dress-approved”) and, after using it just a couple times, lots of tiny little hard bumps appeared on the surface of the product. Not too comfortable on the freshly-shaven sensitive girl-parts. What causes these and is there anything I can do to prevent them?

The Right Brain Responds:
It’s hard for us to diagnose the problem without actually seeing the product, but we do have a couple of theories. (We always do, don’t we?)

First, let’s set the stage by looking at the ingredients in Degree:

Active Ingredients: Aluminum Chlorohydrates

Inactive Ingredients: Cyclopentasiloxane, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, PPG-14 Butyl Ether, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fragrance (Parfum), Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Steareth 100, Helianthus Annus Seed Oil (Sunflower), BHT

There are a couple of interesting points to note about this formula. First, instead of the more common zinc-based aluminum salts the product uses Aluminum Chlorohydrate (AC) because it’s easier to formulate with in clear systems. But it’s also possible that the AC is crystalizing out, forming the little solid bumps that are the scourge of your arm pits.

It’s also possible that the product is drying out because you didn’t put the cap on tightly (or because the cap is defective) and the stearyl alcohol (the other major solid in the formula) is solidifying causing the bumps.

In either case, you’ll be in a lot of discomfort if you keep using it as it is. We suggest cleaning the top of the stick and replacing the cap tightly. If this doesn’t solve the problem, throw that stick away and buy a replacement: if you really like the way Degree works and smells (aside from the armpit gouging dots-of-death, of course) then buy another Degree. (Heck, if you write a complaint letter you’ll probably get a coupon for a free one anyway!) And if Degree doesn’t suit your temperment, then try another brand that promises to be safe for LBDs.

As a side note, we see that 3 of the 4 people who reviewed this product on drugstore.com said that it left white marks on their skin/clothes. Even though those comments may not be statistically significant, they don’t make Degree sound very “Little Black Dress” approved afterall!

We hope this helps!

PS The Barbi Doll pic is for Glitterati, wherever she is!

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