10 Hacks For Sweating Less In Your Favorite Summer Outfits

1. Stay Hydrated (Less Caffeine)

Although you might think that the more water you drink, the more likely you will sweat, that actually isn’t the case at all. The reason why it’s a good idea to consume more water (and to stay hydrated, period) is because hydration is what helps to keep you cooled off internally. And while we’re here, try to drink less caffeine and alcohol if sweating less is your mission as well.

Not only are they both diuretics (which means that they can cause you to urinate more often), caffeine and alcohol also can speed up your heart rate which can raise your body temperature and cause you to feel hotter/sweat more too.

2. Wear Breathable Fabrics

Even though you’ve probably heard the term “breathable fabric” before, if you’re not exactly sure what it means, it’s all about utilizing materials that allow air and moisture to move freely throughout their fibers. Some fabrics that qualify include (organic) cotton, bamboo, silk, polyester and linen.

So, say that you have a hot (no pun intended) date coming up and you’re nervous about sweating a lot. Wearing something that is made of one of these fabrics will significantly reduce the chances of too much sweat showing up (and out).

3. Eat Spicy Foods Less Often

And while you’re on that date, if you happen to really like spicy food, you might want to pass on it for that particular meal. You see, foods that have peppers (for example) in them also contain a chemical called capsaicin — and when it gets into your system, it can cause your nervous system to make your body feel warmer. So is the case with vinegar-based foods.

Listen, that doesn’t mean to never have them again; just be aware of what you could be getting yourself into, sweat-wise, if you (for instance) enjoy Indian, Mexican, Jamaican or Haitian cuisines — you know, dishes that have a reputation for turning up the heat.

4. Drink Iced Black Tea

There truly is nothing like a tall glass of iced tea during the summer season. Well, when it comes to reducing sweat, the something new that I recently learned is black tea is great for that. Apparently, the strong amount of tannic acid that’s in it can help to (temporarily) close your body’s pores so that less sweat comes out of them.

As a bonus, the tannins can also kill the bacteria that can cause sweat to smell underneath your armpits. So yeah, do you and your body a solid and make some iced black tea before summertime ends. Some delicious recipes can be found here, here and here.

5. Apply Some Clary Sage Essential Oil

If, like me, essential oils are totally your thing, definitely make sure that you have a bottle of clary sage oil somewhere in your possession. It reduces stress. It works as an antidepressant. It makes PMS and perimenopause-related symptoms more bearable. It increases blood circulation. It can help to give you more quality sleep.

And, since it has been scientifically-proven that stress can cause you to sweat more, and also since clary sage has the ability to calm your senses down, that’s why it makes the list of proven hacks that can help you to sweat less.

6. Also, Apply Some Apple Cider Vinegar. Then Some Aloe Vera Gel.

An article that I wrote for the platform earlier this year is, “10 Natural Body Deodorant Alternatives To Try As The Weather Warms Up.” Two things that were mentioned in it include apple cider vinegar and Aloe vera gel. The main reason is because apple cider vinegar can dry out your skin without irritating it as well as kill bacteria and odor while Aloe vera gel cools down your skin, so that you don’t sweat as much. A great all-natural way to sweat less, for sure.

7. Wait Before Putting on Your Clothes

Do you like to take hot showers, even in the summertime? If that is indeed the case, once you step out of your tub, wait about 10-15 minutes before putting any clothes on. Since bathing in hot water will absolutely increase your body temperature, you need to give your system a few moments to cool down before covering it up with fabrics that could potentially warm it back up again.

8. Work Out in the Morning or the Evening

While you might have always been taught that the hottest time of the day is somewhere around noon, that actually isn’t the case. Although it semi-depends on where you live and the climate that you are in, sometime between 2-4 p.m. (you can read about it here and here) tends to be when heat is at its peak.

So, if working out is a part of your weekly routine, try to schedule your sessions before or after those windows — that is, if you want to sweat less during the process (and once you are done).

9. Know the Possible Side Effects of Your Meds

Did you know that, reportedly, around 70 percent of Americans are currently on at least one form of medication? And that’s exactly why I included this tip within this article because the reality is that many prescriptions have a side effective of (excessive) sweating. If you’re wondering if one of your meds are, you can click here to see a pretty comprehensive list.

10. Rock Some Sweat Pads

I’ve got a friend who is an excessive sweater and something that she would do a commercial for if she could is sweat pads. These are especially beneficial if you happen to be wearing something that isn’t made of a breathable fabric and you want to keep sweat rings from showing up on your clothing.

A variety of options to choose from can be found on Amazon here. They will keep you feeling confident and sweat-free in your outfits — for the rest of the summer and honestly, all year-round!

Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.