Sweating is nature's way of helping us stay cool, but it's one of our body's functions that is considered socially "uncool." For centuries, people have been trying to overcome the unpleasant aspects of this very normal and necessary physical response.

Women in particular take great pains to avoid public sweating. This has something to do with the ideal woman being sweat-free and sweet smelling 24/7. The only accurate part of this myth is that women's sweat glands are less active than men's. Yet we have a greater number of sweat glands than men, so it all evens out. Women also have menstrual cycles and pregnancy, which can cause hormone fluctuations that increase sweating. Let's not even go into the night sweats of menopause!

There's a wide array of deodorants and antiperspirants available, all promising to keep us dry and fresh for hours, even days. But which ones work best? Finding the right deodorant requires a bit of trial and error. Here are some things to keep in mind when shopping for deodorant/antiperspirant products: