THE EXTRA-DRY DATE

Perspiration is a natural function of our body. But sometimes sweat marks on your shirt and moist hands are just what you don?t need...

"The ceiling fan over the table is going around and around and doing its very best to keep the temperature in the cozy little restaurant at a bearable level ? in vain. My hands are soaking wet, and I can feel little drops of sweat making their way down the inside of my arm. And it?s not even really that warm. I suppose the heat I am feeling comes from inside. After all, it?s my first date with this fantastic guy. I want everything to be perfect. He is the man of my dreams and I?m all dressed up for him. Freshly tinted hair, subtle but seductive make-up, and, of course, an exciting perfume. But now my nervousness has taken the upper hand, and I?ve started to perspire. My fingers run over my forehead to wipe away the annoying moisture. Dammit ? did I smear my eye make-up? The door opens, and he comes in. Before he spots me, I can?t resist discreetly sniffing at my armpit. ?Please, dear deodorant, do your job!"

Your perspiratory glands always start working when you need it least ? on a first date, at an important interview, or during a heavy argument. Just when you want to come across especially serious and cool ? whoosh! ? without any advance warning, these huge, obvious sweat marks appear on your silk blouse. How embarrassing! At the end, you give your customer or heartthrob a soaking wet handshake or ? even worse ? let yourself be hugged, even though you just know he can smell the perspiration. And the more aware you are of your own perspiration, the more annoyed and embarrassed you are because of it, the harder your perspiratory glands go to work.

Perspiration is the body?s air conditioner

The perspiration itself actually has no odor at all. It is only when it becomes older and it is decomposed by the bacteria that are naturally found on healthy skin that the typical perspiration odor develops. But why do you perspire at all? Just one of nature?s nasty little tricks? Of course not. Perspiration is the body?s natural air conditioner. When the moisture on our skin evaporates, the change from one physical state (water) to another (vapor) has a cooling effect. The second important effect is that it washes toxins out of the body. There are good reasons why saunas are so popular and are considered healthy and preventative. Besides, perspiration helps us to ?sniff out? whom we feel comfortable with. Before we have even exchanged a few words with someone, our body has already reacted to the way he or she smells. The body?s own sexual scents ensure that we will choose a suitable partner, because a person?s individual aroma reveals a great deal about him. We unconsciously ?sniff out? his eating habits, his frame of mind, and even his genetic make-up.

Little helpers against serious perspiration

People are constantly giving off scent messages, which may be perceived as stimulating, exciting, or even unpleasant. Since in our culture a strong body odor is often considered unpleasant, it is generally prevented with the help of deodorants. In addition to perfume oils that provide the preferred fragrance, deodorants primarily contain antibacterial ingredients that help to prevent the formation of odors. Another type of deodorant contains enzyme inhibitors ? because these little nuisances on our skin need certain enzymes to do their work. Without them the bacteria would become unemployed, so to speak. Antiperspirants work according to a different principle. They intervene at an earlier stage and prevent the formation of the perspiration itself with the help of aluminum salts, which constrict the perspiratory glands.

If you think your date might last a bit longer, you should choose a deodorant that makes you feel totally safe. With Fa deodorant sprays, you will stay really cool as long as your date may last! Of course, a few simple tricks can also help keep you from getting into a sweat at all. Often clothing that is too tight and made of synthetics is responsible for the perspiration. Instead, you should pamper your body with light clothing made of wool or cotton. Alcohol and caffeine are also real sweat-inducers. Sage tea, on the other hand ? even if it isn?t especially trendy ? inhibits perspiration.

The man of my dreams has now worked his way through the groups of tables over to me. With some satisfaction, I notice the furtive glances of other women, immediately turning to the newcomer. Now the situation is getting serious! A flirtatious smile, a cautious handshake... Hey ? he?s even more nervous than I am. Okay. I find that sort of endearing. After all, who wants to go out with a callous, ice-cold macho, whose façade hides any trace of nerves. Suddenly it doesn?t seem that warm to me anymore ? even if I still hope and pray that it will turn out to be a hot evening...