Getting Married With Confidence by Cheryl Gabiola Galvez

   The last few days leading up to the wedding can feel like a marathon event for some brides. The day of the wedding is analogous to the last sprint just before you cross the "finish line." And just like in any exciting, anxiety-filled and sometimes, stressful activity, you're going to sweat and you're going to perspire. With a day like your wedding day, where social interaction is at its zenith, you will want to find an effective, all-day remedy to control offensive odor and wetness. To ensure freshness and dryness, you will want to test and research various brand deodorants and/or anti-perspirants for maximum protection.

   First, let's demystify the difference between a deodorant and an anti-perspirant. A deodorant provides only odor protection. Body odor comes from the apocrine glands which secrete nutrients upon which bacteria feed. The collapse of these nutrients by the bacteria causes the undesirable odors. An anti-perspirant controls both odor and wetness caused by perspiration or sweat. The eccrine glands secrete the majority of our body's perspiration in large, clear-fluid amounts. Although sweating is a natural process for the body to regulate body temperature and to maintain moisture in the skin, deodorants or anti-perspirants can either help mask the offensive odors and/or control the wetness.

   Every bride's body reacts to heat and stress in different ways depending on the makeup of her body chemistry. Jaclynn Berry, an experienced and licensed professional cosmetologist, stress therapist and bridal consultant explains, "From my years as a model, we were 'instructed' to use the Mitchel™ brand of deodorant, and to begin this 3 days prior to the event. This was their best protection for their clothing. I still use it, using the above steps whenever I feel it will be needed." Because every bride's body reacts differently to various topical products, make sure you test a different brand for a span of a few days to see if it works for you. Make the following notes when evaluating a particular brand of deodorant:

1. Does it sting after I take a shower?
2. Does it irritate my skin, cause an allergic reaction or produce a rash?
3. Does it control odor after stressful activity (for example, aerobics class or a tennis match)?
4. Does it control my perspiration?
5. Does it leave wet rings on my clothes?

   Brides who perspire or sweat more than others may benefit from the use of underarm shields to control the wetness. "Since most wedding gown materials don't 'breathe,' cotton shields help a great deal. They can be found in one or more of these places: large drugstore chains, department stores (undergarment department), and medical supply stores," says Jaclynn.

   Using a combination of effective deodorant or anti-perspirants and/or cotton shields should help to control odor and wetness. A combination of this remedy will ensure the dryness and freshness that you need for all-day confidence. Jaclynn recommends to not wait until the big day to try this remedy. "Take 'trial runs' with this or any other procedure MONTHS ahead, see if you like it. Taking a trial run also lessens the stress factor!"