Is a Cream a Paste?

Three questions...(1) Is a cream a paste? (2) Is a paste a cream? (3) And what’s up with Silver?

The answers: (1) No, (2) No, and (3) see below.

Call me pedantic – that’s ok – but in the world of deodorant a cream is not a paste, nor is paste a cream. Just like an apple is not an orange.

Why this conversation? The new Underbalm® Silver was recently launched and we’re pretty that we have a unique offering for you, and it’s a cream! We’ve been asked “so what’s the difference between this and the other Underbalm®???”

The original trademarked Underbalm® and Underbalm® Magic is a balm, or a paste. Basically, a deodorant paste or balm is a combination of oils and dry ingredients. The drys are the odour neutralisers/actives and moisture absorbers; and the oils form the base of the product that holds it all together.

A cream on the other hand is an emulsion – Underbalm® Silver is a water-based formula where water and oils and actives are emulsified together. So you wont get any variation in the consistency of the product at high or low temperatures, which is why it’s able to be packaged in a metal tube.

This is not to say that a cream is better than a balm/paste – it’s just another offering we wanted to provide our customers. We also want to ensure we keep innovating to give you the best natural deodorant options on the market.

And what’s up with Silver? Well it’s antimicrobial – it literally attaches onto the bacteria that cause smells, and destroys them. Your body has no need whatsoever for silver, and the silver doesn’t absorb into skin, it’s not interested. It just hangs out on the outer layer of the skin doing its job.

Is the silver in Underbalm® Silver colloidal silver? No. Colloidal silver contains particles of silver that release silver ions over time in an uncontrolled rate. We use a solution that is already stabilised, so the silver ions are already in a defined concentration.

So there you have it – in the world of deodorant, a cream is not a paste, and a paste is not a cream. And the new Underbalm® cream has a silver lining 😊