Anyone who uses anti-perspirant regularly will be only too familiar with the nasty yellow stains left on white shirts and blouses that can be quite difficult to remove. But did you know that deodorant residue can also accumulate on one's skin and this build-up, while not usually visible, can lead to problems?
Some commercial deodorants work by clogging or shrinking pores in the underarm region. If the chemical residue is not removed, it can block your sweat glands, preventing them from doing their job which is to lower body heat and expel toxins. Other deodorants are more basic, simply fighting bacteria and scenting the underarm, but as our busy lifestyles demand products that provide longer-lasting protection, residual traces of these can become increasingly difficult to remove. Sometimes, even after having a long soak in the bath, one's underarm areas can still feel unpleasantly sticky and unclean.
Dry-brushing your underarm skin before you shower is a good way of loosening this deodorant build-up. Exfoliating during the shower can also help remove stubborn residue.
Erb, a Bangkok-based skincare and lifestyle brand established in 2000, has developed an easier and more comfortable way to care for your underarm skin. As a part of its 135-minute Detox Body Treatment, you can enjoy a special underarm detox using products from Erb's underarm care range _ Erb Up In Arm Underarm Detox Mask and Erb Up In Arm Underarm Skin Toner.
Up In Arm Underarm Skin Toner.
Erb Spa Chamber at Erb Boutique, Thonglor 12, is small in size, but cosy and luxurious. However, since it only has a single treatment room, it can be quite difficult to book a session. Another down-side is that the chattering of customers waiting outside during busy periods can sometimes be intrusive.
Treatments on offer here include body cleansing and scrubs, foot baths, clay masks, body wraps and aromatic oil massage. The scrubbing process was incredibly aromatic, too, with the sweet scent of turmeric wafting through the air. Spice & Shine Gel Body Scrub nourishes the skin with ginger, tamarind and turmeric. This had a gentle touch as it was applied and when I took a shower afterwards my skin felt noticeably softer and silkier.
The Deep Sea Salt Clay mask has absorbent properties and can be used to draw out impurities from the skin. After putting on the face mask, the therapist will envelop the client's body in plastic film to encourage sweating. This wrap is left on your skin for about 30 minutes; if you want to speed up the process, ask the therapist to turn off the air-conditioner. Copious perspiration cleanses the skin and helps the clay mask do its job more effectively. During each procedure, whether it's cleansing, scrubbing or "masking", the underarm areas are treated with a different product from the rest of the body.
Deodorant residue is gently removed and the skin cleansed with Erb Up In Arm Underarm Skin Toner, which is gentle and non-drying, thanks to its alcohol-free formula. It contains liquorice, said to help reduce dullness and brighten the skin.
Erb Up In Arm Underarm Detox Mask contains white clay, tamarind and guava-leaf extract. It cleanses the skin and gently unblocks clogged pores, while reducing bacterial build-up and soothing the skin. Tamarind is high in natural AHA, which promotes healthy regeneration of skin cells and makes skin softer and brighter.
Ideally, this underarm detox mask should be used twice a week. It retails for 750 baht while the underarm skin toner costs 690 baht.
The treatment ends with an aromatic oil massage, during which you can ask your therapist to focus on any areas that are troubling you. Afterwards my skin felt invigorated, fresh and well moisturised, and my underarm areas feel cleaner, too. For better results, leave the oil on until your next shower, I was advised. This allows more time for your skin to soak up the nutrients from the oil.
Erb's Detox Body Treatment is priced at 3,500 baht. For more information, call Erb Boutique at Grass Thonglor on 02-715-9481.
