Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Anti-Chafe Products

There are a ton of products out there that keep you chafe free. I'll be sticking with the three that I've used on several occasions (note that the photos below include the small BodyGlide applicator).



Mission Anti-Friction Cream

FEATURES:
- Sweat resistant - True as far as I can tell. No issues with it coming off during hot and sweaty workouts in the summer.
- Helps defend and relieve chafing, cracking and chapping - True as well. At least on the "defend" part. Didn't notice any dramatic change with the "relieve" part.
- Preservative free/paraben free - I'm taking their word on it.

APPLICATION:
Just like a lotion, you squeeze some on your hand or finger and apply as needed. It has a distinct odor (like chocolate, probably due to the cocoa seed butter) and a thick consistency (almost like thick toothpaste). It is also greasy so it takes some extra effort to get it off your hand after you apply it. The tube is small enough to carry around as needed and it lasts at least a few hours.



INGREDIENTS:
Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isononyl Isononanoate, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, C4 - 24 Alkyl Dimethicone/Divinyldimethicone Crosspolymer Cyclomethicone, Beeswax, C18 - 36 Acid Triglyceride, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Oil, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Melia Azadirachta Seed Oil, Tocopherol Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Zinc Oxide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

OVERALL:
This is a great product and my number two choice to anti-chafing creams. It is a bit thick and a bit greasy when you put it on, but it lasts a long time, it smells good, and best of all, it works!

Asics Chafe Free - Endurance

FEATURES:
- Marathon tested - I'm sure it has been.
- Waterproof - I'll have to believe them on this one. Didn't run in the water or wear it swimming.
- Soothing - Yep, it feels nice when you put it on.
- Reduces friction - True again, it reduces friction and chafing.
- Helps prevent blisters - I'd say it does just because it helps reduce chafing.
- Suitable for bike chamois and wetsuits - I'll have to trust them on this since I haven't tried it with either.
- Controls and relieves chafing - I know it "controls" chafing but like the Mission cream above, I'm not sure that it "relieves" much chafing.

APPLICATION:
The applicator on this is a bit odd. It's a bit like those giant markers you use to write on car windows with. A giant sponge with a hole in the middle for the cream to come out of. Which means it's a pain to put on because you have to squeeze some out, then roll it around like a paint brush then squeeze more out and roll it around some more. You get the idea. It's nice you don't get any on your fingers, but when the tube runs low and that applicator tip starts to bend around on you, you end up with some on your hands anyway.



INGREDIENTS:
Water, Boron Nitride, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, VP/Hexadecene Copolymer, Polyacrylate 13, Polysobutene, Polysorbate 20, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Potassium Sorbate, Disodium EDTA, Alow Barbadensis Leaf Juice

OVERALL:
Meh. Nothing exciting here. The only thing that makes this unique over the Mission cream is that it doesn't smell, it has a funky sponge applicator, and their website doesn't freely offer up the ingredients.

BodyGlide Anti-Chafe Balm

FEATURES:
- No mess - About 90% accurate. You can actually over apply this product which can cause a bit of a mess, but that's really your own fault.
- Non-greasy - Not greasy but it is waxy. In fact, it's just like chap stick.

APPLICATION:
The texture is just like chap stick. The container is just like deodorant. Combine the two and you have BodyGlide. I've used the larger applicator and the smaller one and the only trouble I've had is when I get to the end of the tube, the remaining amount tends to pop out. More distressing though is that I'm out of BodyGlide.



INGREDIENTS:
Active ingredients: Allantoin 0.5%
Inactive ingredients: Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, C18-36 acid triglyceride, Capric/captylic triglycerides, Tocopheryl acetate, Tribehnin

OVERALL:
Like Asics, BodyGlide doesn't have the full ingredient list readily available online. Despite that, this is my go-to anti-chafe cream. It's easy to apply. It doesn't smell or stain your clothes. And most importantly, it works. And it works well. In fact, it works so well, this product has saved my ass. Literally and figuratively. I've used it on my feet, my nipples, and my nether regions. It forces my thunder thighs to play nice with each other and it keeps the monkey butt away. The only down side (if you want to call it that) is that it takes a bit of extra scrubbing to get it off. Personally, I don't want to take it off, I want to put more on.

MEASUREMENTS:
You can see my measurements in this gallery if you'd like.

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