Sweating is natural. Although some of us do it more than others, whenever perspiration transpires, it's simply our body's way of cooling our system down whenever our body temp begins to rise. While some people believe that sweat can also rid us of toxins, many health professionals say that is basically a myth; that things like alcohol, mercury and other stuff that can ultimately "pollute" our system typically leave us via our kidneys and liver.
Anyway, since summertime is the season when it is the hottest outside, of course, this means that we're going to sweat more than usual. And while this is a reality that is basically unavoidable, there are a few things that we all can do to keep us from dripping in our clothes or simply feeling ickier than we want to. Are you ready to be cool and drier — at least drier than you were last year — this summer? Here are 12 ways to make that happen.
1. Wear Natural Fabrics
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When it's super hot outdoors, most of us would like nothing more than to tear off all of our clothes. Since that's not the um, smartest thing to do, make sure that you put on clothing that is made out of material that's considered to be a breathable fabric. That way, you'll be able to get some good ventilation going on, so that you're not feeling all hot 'n sticky. As far as breathable fabrics go, (organic) cotton, polyester, rayon, nylon and linen all make the list.
2. Take Your Drawers Off
Even though you'll need to put some clothes on when you're in public, if you want to go commando, no one has to know that but you. And here's the thing — when your "girl" (wink) isn't trapped up in tight panties, that makes it easier for any sweat that may be going on down there to evaporate more quickly. This ultimately means less moisture, less odor and oh, less chaffing too. If going throughout your day with no drawers on happens to be a no-no for you, make sure that the panties you do wear are a lighter hue and that you opt for cotton fabric the most. Again, because of the breathable factor thing.
3. Eat Less Spicy Foods
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For the most part, when it comes to this particular point, it's peppers that you should scale back on. The reason why is because they have a chemical in them called capsaicin. While on one hand, it's able to do things like speed up your metabolism, keep your insulin levels balanced and even relieve a low-grade level of topical pain, peppers also trigger nerves in your body that produce a warming effect; one that can sho 'nuf cause you to sweat if you eat too many spicy foods. So, you might want to push the plate back…just a little bit.
4. Drink Less Caffeinated Drinks Too
I know. Some of y'all probably feel like you would just die if you didn't have a tall glass of iced Coke, Pepsi or even — wait for it — sweet tea.
The reason why you've gotta watch this though is caffeine is a stimulant, right? Well, when you consume it, one thing that it does is stimulate your nervous system which can get your body all excited which can lead to excessive sweating.
If this seems far-fetched, try going a couple of days without any caffeine and see if you feel a little drier because of it. I'd be surprised if you didn't.
5. Do Stay Hydrated, Though
blackCAT/Getty ImagesOn the flip side, definitely make sure that you get a lot of non-caffeinated fluids into your system. Aside from the fact that it will keep you from becoming dehydrated, remember that a big part of the reason why we sweat when we're hot is it's our body's natural way of cooling our system down. The more fluids you take in, the easier it is for your internal cooling system to work properly. Of course, water is the best route to take; however, green tea can be beneficial too. While it does have some caffeine in it, the benefits help to offset that on a few levels. Aside from the fact that it's loaded with antioxidants and bioactive compounds, the high amount of Vitamin B and magnesium that's in this particular kind of tea will actually help to constrict your sweat glands which means less sweating. Iced green tea, anyone?
6. Add Some Apple Cider Vinegar to Your Regimen
Definitely something that everyone should have in their possession is a couple of bottles of apple cider vinegar (the kind that has "the mother" in it because that means it's as unfiltered and unrefined as possible, so that you are able to get the most out of it). As far as your skin goes, apple cider vinegar is dope because it's high in anti-inflammatory properties and it has acetic acid and alpha hydroxy acid in it too. These things work together to unclog pores, balance pH levels and exfoliate your skin. Since apple cider vinegar is also a strong astringent, applying it to places like your underarms can safely close pores and reduce sweating. As a bonus, if you put it directly on your armpits, it can lighten the skin (if it happens to be dark under there) over time. Just make sure to dilute it with one-third amount of water. Apple cider vinegar can be pretty potent and could irritate your skin if it's applied "full throttle".
7. Apply a Mixture of Baking Soda and Cornstarch
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OK, so let's talk about baking soda and cornstarch, as it directly relates to your skin, for a moment.
As far as baking soda goes, it contains powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties that are great when it comes to soothing skin irritation, reducing pimples and even speeding up the healing process of bug bites. Plus, since it has an alkaline base, baking soda is also able to fight the bacteria that's found in sweat and decrease the odor that oftentimes comes from it. Cornstarch is great for soothing sunburn, relieving itchy skin and absorbing body odor. In fact, that's why both baking soda and cornstarch are top ingredients in a lot of deodorants.
To get rid of some of the sweat and odor underneath your arms, mix two tablespoons of baking soda with two tablespoons of cornstarch, three tablespoons of coconut oil and a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil scent. Mix it all up until it turns into a thick paste; then apply directly. It's a natural remedy that will help to keep you dry for hours on end.
8. Try a Lil’ Bit of Salt and Lime Juice
Hey, it might sound crazy, but a lot of people are huge fans of this combo. Since sea salt is able to absorb the sweat that comes out of your pores and lime juice has a natural acid in it that is able to reduce excessive sweating, applying both the sweaty spots (avoid your genital region or anywhere you may have a cut; it could sting like nobody's business!), can cause you to sweat (and smell) a lot less.
9. Workout in the Mornings or Evenings
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This is probably the most "duh" tip out of all of the ones that I've shared. Still, it's kind of amazing how many people will opt to workout during their lunch break when that happens to be the peak of the day as far as heat goes. If you want to sweat less while you're outdoors, try exercising early in the morning or during the evening hours. The sun will not be so high, so you won't be as hot.
10. Pick Up a Cool-Midst Humidifier
Vaporizers are something that many people who sweat a lot tend to have in their possession. That's because vaporizers add steam to the air which can keep your skin moist and you feeling comfortable. If you want to sweat less, though, get a cool-mist humidifier. It does just what it says — adds a cool temperature midst into the air that's around you. Places like Walmart and Target carry them at a pretty affordable price.
11. Reduce Your Anxiety
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Hyperhidrosis is a medical term for people who sweat excessively. The interesting thing about this particular condition is that it can be a side effect of anxiety (especially social anxiety). So, if for some reason you're restless, anxious, nervous, irritated or agitated and you're noticing that you're also sweating quite a bit, even if you're indoors, your anxiety levels could be why. An article that could help you out a bit is "Feeling Anxious? These 12 All-Natural Hacks Can Calm You."
12. See Your Doctor
It really can't be said enough that sweating is natural. However, if you feel like you are sweating more than normal or that you can't seem to stop, no matter what you do, it can never hurt to make an appointment with your physician. If they do determine that you've got hyperhidrosis, they might decide to put you on a mild antidepressant, give you a deodorant that requires a prescription or put you on a Botox regimen (which will block the nerves that trigger sweating), so that you can feel more relaxed and get back out to enjoying your summer season to the fullest!
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While speaking to xoNecole, Eva shares that she’s a lot like the beloved 1994 character in many ways. “Lyric is so me. She's the odd flower. A flower nonetheless, but definitely not a peony,” she tells us.
“She's not the average flower you see presented, and so she reminds me of myself. I'm a sunflower, beautiful, but different. And what I loved about her character then, and even more so now, is that she was very sure of herself.
"Sure of what she wanted in life and okay to sacrifice her moments right now, to get what she knew she deserved later. And that is me. I'm not an instant gratification kind of a person. I am a long game. I'm not a sprinter, I'm a marathon.
America first fell in love with Eva when she graced our screens on cycle 3 of America’s Next Top Model in 2004, which she emerged as the winner. Since then, she's ventured into different avenues, from acting on various TV series like House of Payne to starring on Real Housewives of Atlanta.
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Eva praises her castmates and the play’s producer, Je’Caryous for her positive experience. “You know what? Je’Caryous fuels my audacity car daily, ‘cause I consider myself an extremely audacious woman, and I believe in what I know, even if no one else knows it, because God gave it to me. So I know what I know. That is who Je’Caryous is.”
But the mom of three isn’t the only one in the family who enjoys acting. Eva reveals her daughter Marley has also caught the acting bug.
“It is the most adorable thing you can ever see. She’s got a part in her school play. She's in her chorus, and she loves it,” she says. “I don't know if she loves it, because it's like, mommy does it, so maybe I should do it, but there is something about her.”
Overall, Eva hopes that her contribution to the role and the play as a whole serves as motivation for others to reach for the stars.
“I want them to walk out with hope. I want them to re-vision their dreams. Whatever they were. Whatever they are. To re-see them and then have that thing inside of them say, ‘You know what? I'm going to do that. Whatever dream you put on the back burner, go pick it up.
"Whatever dream you've accomplished, make a new dream, but continue to reach for the stars. Continue to reach for what is beyond what people say we can do, especially as [a] Black collective but especially as Black women. When it comes to us and who we are and what we accept and what we're worth, it's not about having seen it before. It's about knowing that I deserve it.”
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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When I resolved to walk away from my 13-year relationship, admittedly, I wasn’t thinking about dating at all. My ex was a good man. He was kind, he was cool, but I knew he wasn’t my man. God knew that, too, even before I did.
We had reached a fork in the road: I was growing deeper in my faith, wanting to center God in every part of my life, including my purpose. He was walking a different path, and we were no longer aligned. Turns out, you can spend 13 years with someone and still be emotionally malnourished.
As our relationship came to its end, I learned that longevity isn’t proof of alignment. I learned that a man being “good” isn’t enough. A man can be kind but not called to walk beside you in your purpose. That being unclear about your values will always cost you time.
And delaying your desires in the name of comfort? That’ll cost you even more. I knew I never wanted to make that mistake again.
Still, even knowing it was right to let him go, walking away felt like mourning a death. I dated casually after that: flings and situationships here and there. But they took more than they gave. I was left depleted more than fulfilled, so I made a conscious decision to stop dating altogether.
Around the same time, my mother was diagnosed with a brain injury that left her unable to form short-term memories. My sister and I became her caregivers along with my dad. But just as I got her stabilized, my father was diagnosed with blood cancer. At one point, he was bedridden.
So no, I wasn’t thinking about love. I was thinking about survival.
For two years, I didn’t give out my number. Didn’t go on a single date. I was tired, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But not just from dating. From everything.
Those two years weren’t about fear, they were about focus. I was caregiving, grieving, and building a startup from the ground up. I had nothing left to give romantically. So when my birthday came around in September 2023, I knew I needed stillness to replenish what I had lost.
I went to Joshua Tree alone, I booked a tiny home in the middle of the desert, and I told myself: “I’m going to be still.” For five days, I read, prayed, fasted, and listened to jazz and classical music. No distractions.
Courtesy of Shirley Vernae
On the drive back to LAX, it hit me like a ton of bricks, and I couldn’t unsee it: I had invested in every other area of my life, except my love life. I realized then that my love life deserved a strategy, too.
So, I did what I always do when I want to grow in an area: I found someone wiser. I found an expert who could guide me in the form of a dating coach, and I hired him. Because love is too sacred to leave to chance. And I was finally ready to build it on purpose.
To some, hiring a dating coach might’ve looked like desperation. But desperation doesn’t look like pausing for two years, it looks like settling for crumbs and calling it a meal. You’ll mistake attention for affection, and chaos for chemistry. Desperation doesn’t discern. It just consumes.
That wasn’t me. Not only was I not desperate, but I was a little too comfortable being single.
I didn’t invest $10K+ in a dating coach because I was desperate. I invested because I was done repeating old patterns. Strategy is getting honest about your desire and then building a pathway toward it with clarity, with guidance, and with God.
I had invested in every other area of my life, my business, my health, and my growth. Why would my love life be the one place I left to chance?
So no, I wasn’t desperate. I was ready. Ready to stop guessing. Ready to stop wasting time. Ready to become the kind of woman who could receive the kind of love I prayed for.
But before I could become her, I had to face the parts of me still holding on to old beliefs.
When I walked away from that relationship and got into therapy, everything shifted. My therapist helped me unpack my wounds, my conditioning, and the patterns I couldn’t see on my own. And when the fog cleared, I was 100% sure: God had given me this desire. And I was not going to let doubt, distraction, or misalignment steal it from me.
This wasn’t just about having a plan, it was about being in divine alignment.
Between 2023 and now, I’ve invested close to $12,000 in coaching. I joined Anwar White’s Get Your Guy program in October 2023. The program was $7,500 over six months—that’s $1,250 a month, less than some people spend on luxury items they’ll outgrow. And for me? It made perfect sense.
After starting the program, I met my now-husband that December. We became official in spring 2024, and he proposed in January 2025.
But the real shift wasn’t him. It was me. I no longer chased anything—not men, not clients, not friendships. I stopped striving and started trusting. I started existing, and I let what was aligned come to me.
And when he came, he came steady. Consistent. Intentional. Reliable. Joyful. He was deeply committed to my happiness before anything else. He doesn’t move unless it’s with care for my heart.
With him, there is no performance. No eggshells. No pressure. Just alignment.
We walk together, in purpose. I now have a partner who is in service to me, not in competition with me. A partner who lightens my load. Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He helps me think. Helps me build. Helps me breathe. He makes my life easier, and that is something I had never experienced before.
I still reinvest in my love life by continuing to work with Anwar. His programs have taken me from dating, to courting, to exclusivity, to engaged, and now to being married. Because each of those phases required a new version of me. Because I had never been here before.
@shirleyvernae I hadn’t been on a single date in 2 years. Met my fiancé last year and got engaged 2 months ago. You’re the CEO of your love life. It’s time to act like it ❤️ # CEO ##Fiancé##Engaged##Relationships##Dating##Engagement
Through Anwar’s program, I was gifted the most pivotal mindset shift of them all:
That love doesn’t have to feel like a struggle. And that’s my new standard.
One of the most powerful things Anwar said to me was, “You can’t do the wrong thing to the right guy.” And that truth set me free.
Before working with him, I thought love had to be proved. Performed. Earned. I thought I had to be perfect. Healed. Small enough to fit into someone else’s version of love. But that was never true.
There are men who are devoted to creating ease in your life. Men who see your softness as strength and your boundaries as beauty.
My now-husband, Ty, is one of them. He is steady. He is consistent. And no matter how much I struggled, no matter how I tried to self-sabotage, he stayed anchored in one mission: to bring ease, to bring peace, to bring safety.
So the shift? I stopped performing. I started discerning. I raised my standards. I stopped doubting. And I let myself be held.
Yeah, the biggest shift was realizing I am worthy of love that doesn’t come with chaos. Love that’s safe. Love that’s solid. Love that’s soft.
That’s what happens when you stop settling and start showing up with faith, clarity, and strategy. That’s what happens when you become the CEO of your love life.
Being the CEO of my love life meant I stopped outsourcing it to luck, fate, or vibes. I no longer left it up to chance or timing, or wishful thinking. Just like I build businesses with vision, strategy, and intentional partnerships, I built a love life that reflects those same values.
A good CEO doesn’t try to do it all alone. A good CEO casts vision, brings the right experts to the table, delegates with wisdom, and trusts the process. That’s exactly how I approached love. I partnered with God. I partnered with mentors. I aligned my actions with my desires. That’s not control, that’s stewardship. And that’s what changed everything.
I knew sharing my journey online was going to stir something up. And it did. Some people were inspired. Some were uncomfortable. But their discomfort wasn’t about me. It was about what my story confronted in them: scarcity, shame, old beliefs about what’s “worth it” and what’s not.
And I’m okay with that. I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to be aligned. That’s my assignment.
To the woman who’s feeling discouraged, let me say this: Time is a tool, don’t let it become your tormentor. You are not late. You are not behind. You are not disqualified. Your desire for love is not shameful, it’s sacred.
Don’t let what society says, what the media projects, or what a non-believer has spoken over you define what’s possible. The only thing that’s true is what God has said. And God has said, “All things are possible to him that believes.”
If you’re feeling stuck, let that be your invitation to do something different. You don’t have to do this alone. Ask for help. Get support. Find a coach, a mentor, a couple you admire—not the shiny ones on social media, but the ones who’ve walked through fire and still chose each other.
Date with intention. Choose love on purpose. Marriage is a gift from God, and it is never too late to receive it. There is strength in being seen, supported, and walking in purpose together.
And for my Black women especially, softness is your superpower. Discernment is your birthright. You are the prizeand the picker. Dating with intention isn’t about being aggressive, it’s about being aligned.
We are not desperate. We are divine. Even in your healing, even in your becoming, know this: you can never do the wrong thing to the right guy.
And the right guy? He’ll meet you right there: in your wholeness, and in your work-in-progress.
To keep up with Shirley Vernae Williams and her journey as a storyteller, producer, and love life CEO, follow her on Instagram @shirleyvernae and learn more about her work at williebstudios.com.
Featured image courtesy of Shirley Vernae