Messi Biology states that magnesium hydroxide is playing an increasingly important role in the personal care sector, particularly in antiperspirant and deodorant wet wipes. First, we need to understand why sweat produces unpleasant odors. The sweat secreted by the human body is actually odorless in itself; however, when sweat is decomposed by bacteria on the skin’s surface, it produces unpleasant fatty acids, which is what we commonly refer to as body odor. Traditional deodorant methods often rely on perfumes to mask the smell or alcohol to kill bacteria. In contrast, magnesium hydroxide adopts a much milder and more scientific approach: adsorption and neutralization.
Magnesium hydroxide is weakly alkaline, and this characteristic is the key to its deodorizing function. When acidic substances in sweat encounter magnesium hydroxide, an acid-base neutralization reaction occurs. This not only cuts off the generation of odor molecules at the chemical source, but also converts already generated odor gases into odorless or low-odor salts, thereby achieving true deodorization rather than simply masking the scent.
In addition to deodorization, magnesium hydroxide also excels in antiperspirant performance. It possesses a special layered structure with a large specific surface area and exceptionally strong adsorption capacity. When magnesium hydroxide microparticles contact the skin, they can act like countless tiny sponges, effectively absorbing excess moisture and oil from the skin’s surface and rapidly reducing feelings of dampness and slickness. This physical moisture absorption, combined with chemical deodorization, instantly restores dry and refreshed skin.
The safety of magnesium hydroxide is extremely high; it is non-toxic, non-irritating, and non-flammable. Compared with alcohol-based wipes that may cause stinging and dryness, wipes containing magnesium hydroxide are much milder and skin-friendly, making them suitable for sensitive skin and children. Furthermore, it possesses certain antibacterial properties, inhibiting the proliferation of bacteria on the skin surface and reducing the generation of odors from the source. With its excellent adsorption capacity, acid-base neutralization ability, and high level of safety, magnesium hydroxide has become an ideal antiperspirant and deodorant ingredient in wet wipes.