Owned by Unilever, the Axe brand includes a range of men’s grooming products, such as deodorant, shampoo, cologne, aftershave and shower gel. Axe deodorants are made with different fragrances and the invisible types have more ingredients. Otherwise, you'll find one active ingredient plus seven additional ingredients in all of the Axe Dry solid antiperspirants and deodorants.
Aluminum Zirconium Tetrachlorohydrex Gly
Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly is the active ingredient in Axe deodorant products. Classified by the International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients (INCI) as an antiperspirant, astringent and deodorant, it works by closing pores to reduce the amount of sweat, absorbing moisture and inhibiting bacterial growth. Even though there is concern over the potential toxicity of aluminum compounds, the FDA has reviewed this ingredient and approved its use in antiperspirant products.
Cyclopentasiloxane
Used in moisturizers, hair conditioners and deodorants, cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone fluid that softens and conditions the skin.
PPG-14 Butyl Ether
PPG-14 butyl ether is a synthetic petroleum product that conditions the skin and allows you to apply the deodorant smoothly.
Stearyl Alcohol
This ingredient is a fatty alcohol that has a few different functions. It softens the skin by replenishing lipids in the upper layer. It also emulsifies and thickens, which stabilizes the mixture of chemicals.
PEG-8 Distearate
PEG-8 distearate is an emulsifying agent. When multiple liquids have different properties that make them unmixable (like oil and water), emulsifying agents are used to convert them into a cohesive mixture.
Hydrogenated castor oil
Hydrogenated castor oil is an emollient, a skin conditioner and an emulsifier.
Talc
Talc absorbs moisture, protects the skin and prevents the deodorant from clumping.
BHT
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is a synthetic antioxidant used in cosmetics to prevent them from becoming rancid. It also reduces the natural odors of the various ingredients. BHT may have carcinogenic effects when taken orally, but when used in cosmetics it is not absorbed into the bloodstream. Additionally, the amount used in cosmetics—0.01 to 0.1 percent—is too small to create a cancer risk, according to CosmeticsCop.com.
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Writer Bio
Sandi Busch received a Bachelor of Arts in psychology, then pursued training in nursing and nutrition. She taught families to plan and prepare special diets, worked as a therapeutic support specialist, and now writes about her favorite topics – nutrition, food, families and parenting – for hospitals and trade magazines.