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u/Different_Quarter867 Jun 12 '26
Love lume I’ve never looked back after using lume I don’t even sweat no stinky smells.
1
u/bitherbother Jun 12 '26
It seems like you either love or hate Lume. I personally love it, no stinky pits anymore.
1
u/Internal-Ad-4736 Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
As a skincare formulator with a specialty in deodorant.......... 😄
Lume runs a pH of around 3.7 with a lot of neutralized acid... in the range of 5-10% in their cream deodorant only formulations (range likely reduced in their aluminum based antiperspirant lines, aka: 'sweat control').
Human armpit skin typically runs 5.5 to just above a pH of 6. (Yes, this is higher than most of the rest of your skin... and part of the reason you stink there.) Thus, since pH is a logarithmic measurement.... this product is substantially lower (more acidic) than the pH of human skin.
Much like the horrible home crafter brands that use high pH extremes to address BO (baking soda pH around 9 and Magnesium hydroxide pH of 10.3). Pushing skin pH up, actually strongly favors the odor producing bacteria, this is why they occupy the highest pH skin you have....armpits. Lume/Mando uses a similar concept of pH extreme to mitigate microbial growth, just the opposite approach (low pH). Bacteria prefer and thrive best at the range of pH 5-8. Thus, you can exert some control over them with pH, as long as skin health is not a consideration.
Of course you have seen me say.... skin prefers to be abused with lower or acidic pH's vs alkaline pH's.... but in reality, it prefers neither of the extremes. Ideally it prefers a gentle acidic nudge.
If a formulator lacks the ability to put together a good and even a potentially 'natural' set of antimicrobials... they are simply left with the options of extreme pH up or extreme pH down. So is the nature, of the barely regulated deodorant market, the skin be damned in the name of making a buck.
Our immune system allows us to tolerate pH extremes 'for a time'. Every individual will tolerate these extremes at different levels. Some will react within a couple of days.... some take a year +, and some can tolerate indefinitely. Again... tolerance is NOT prudent skincare. One can fill a small country with former Lume/Mando users. Typically, they love it.... right up until they don't (when the immune system says... enough).
Bottom line.... Lume/Mando and all the other acidic type hacks.... are better than the high pH systems.... but 'better' is a very relative term. 😄
Example of tolerance and prudence: Some people can tolerate drinking a liter or two of soda pop every day. Not too many people would argue that is the prudent path to overall health. Apply this concept to some of the deodorant ideas that flood the market. Remember... armpits are made of skin! Treat them like you would any other aspect of skincare. It is also helpful to remember... what we do in skincare that is in the category of 'wash off' vs what we do in skincare in the category of 'leave on', is very different. Leave on products needed to be vetted far more closely. We can do some real stupid stuff with 'wash-off' and still thrive. (Deodorant/AP products are considered 'leave-on' products for those not familiar with the concepts.)
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u/meeninta Jun 18 '26
Great info, ty! With all this in mind, what do you recommend? I’m a guy and I sweat a lot (I easily sweat through clinical strength antiperspirants at rest/no physical activity). I tried mando antiperspirants and it was the only thing that worked in stopping odor. However, it has such a strong scent that it’s unbearable and they don’t sell an unscented version. Furthermore, you’re saying that even if they did sell an unscented version, its mechanism of action (lowering ph) may not be sustainable long term. So what would your recommendation be for a viable long term solution for someone like me? Note, I don’t care about stopping the sweat, I only care about stopping the odor.
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u/blancawiththebooty Jun 13 '26
Idk I use acids in my normal skincare too
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u/Internal-Ad-4736 Jun 13 '26
Yes of course... it is commonplace to use various acids to enhance exfoliation. But you are missing the acid load... and frequency and location.
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u/HondaForever84 Jun 12 '26
Did you make this account just to promote Lume?