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Everything You Wanted to Know About Natural Deodorant. And How to Choose the Right One
Curious about making the switch to natural deodorant? Or wondering if using one is right for you? You’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re answering alllll the questions you may have about natural deodorant and finding one that’s right for you. Landing upon a deodorant that actually works–trust us, we’ve been through the process of trial and error–can seem as hard as finding the proverbial needle in the haystack. Ones that manage to control odor, effectively, are few and far between. Not to toot our own horn, but Apothekari’s natural deodorants do. Q: Does Natural Deodorant Work? If you’ve already been on a hunt to find the perfect deodorant, then we feel your pain. Hard as rock crystals that tug at your skin, sticky globs that drip down your arms and oil based ointments that stain your shirts. Not only are they messy, inconvenient and mean to your clothes, many of them just don’t work. We were about to give up too, until we decided that if the perfect deodorant didn’t exist, that we’d create our own. One that really works! Apothekari’s new spray deodorants rely on a triple combination of odor destroying ingredients that stop the stench: Natural odor eating enzymes that break down the stinky stuff in sweat so that you won’t smell Probiotics to help increase the concentration of good bacteria on your skin, which attacks the bad bacteria that leads to odor Glycolic acid, which keeps skin at a friendly pH and inhibits the production of the smell inducing bad bacteria. Plus we’ve included soothing allantoin and caffeine to ensure that your pits not only smell fresh, but feel soft and smooth too. Is It Safe to Use Natural Deodorant? Natural deodorants differ from antiperspirants because they are free from aluminum, the ingredient that stops sweat–and the ensuing odor–from developing. Instead, they rely on ingredients that can do one of several things: Absorb wetness (arrowroot powder, cornstarch) Increase or decrease skin pH to make it inhospitable to odor causing bacteria (baking soda, glycolic acid) Antibacterial properties (tea tree and other essential oils) Act as probiotics (ethylhexylglycerin). Most of the ingredients are safe (except for baking soda, whose high pH can lead to skin irritation and rashes and which we’d never recommend in deodorant) and well tolerated by most individuals who use them. When/How Often Should I Apply the Deodorant? Apply deodorant after showering or bathing, to your pits, feet or anywhere else on your body that needs some freshening up. Since we’re all different, use how much you sweat as a gauge. You may want to reapply before physical exercise or when heading out for the evening. It’s safe to use our deodorants more than once in a day. Do You Sweat More With Natural Deodorant? Yes, you will sweat more with natural deodorant compared to an antiperspirant. Antiperspirants minimize sweating, while deodorants works to control odor and have no impact on the amount of sweat. Is It a Gimmick? Well formulated deodorants actually deliver on their promise of controlling odor. Keep in mind that a deodorant isn’t an antiperspirant, so they won’t stop the sweat, but if they are made with the right ingredients, then they will help to keep you smelling fresh. Q: Antiperspirant vs Natural Deodorant Antiperspirants work by blocking sweat glands, reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the skin’s surface. The bacteria that live on your skin don’t have any sweat to break down so the odor causing by-products are not produced. Natural deodorant doesn’t reduce sweat, but prevents odor with ingredients that reduce the odor causing bacteria and/or by masking it with scent. While many natural deodorants rely on baking soda to help reduce bacteria by increasing the skin’s pH to 8-9; we use glycolic acid, instead, which helps skin to stay within it’s ideal pH, and minimizes the risk for irritation. What is the Most Effective All Natural Deodorant? The most effective deodorant is one that’s right for you. Although there are some ingredients known to help control odor (we listed a few above), not every deodorant works for every person. It’s a matter of body chemistry, individuality and the formulation itself. You may need to try a few deodorants before you find one that’s right for you. But we can tell you that the majority of people who use our deodorants, have nothing but positive things to say about it! But you don’t have to trust us; check out the testimonials on our pages. Q: What is the Healthiest Natural Deodorant? There isn’t just one deodorant that can claim to be the healthiest, but there are certain things to look for when choosing a healthy deodorant. pH Balance. pH is a scale that ranges from 0 to 14 and measures the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. High pH (14) means alkaline and low pH (0) is acidic. pH 7 is considered neutral. Your skin is naturally acidic, sitting somewhere between 4.5-6.5 and covered by a fine layer called the ‘acid mantle’. This layer helps to keep skin healthy, locking moisture in, and offering protection against harmful substances, including bacteria. It’s important to maintain this level to enable the ‘acid mantle’, the fine layer that sits on top of our skin, to function properly, retaining moisture and keeping germs out as well. If the pH is disturbed often or for a long period of time, your skin can become very unhappy. It’s why we avoid baking soda (or magnesium hydroxide) in our formulations. These high pH substances–greater than pH 8 or 9, may work initially, but over time, can lead to itching and irritation including rashes and even chemical burns. Apothekari’s natural deodorants are free from baking soda; the slightly acidic pH means happy skin. Aluminum Free. Aluminum is the key ingredient in antiperspirants and works by plugging sweat glands to prevent sweat, and the ensuing odor. And while you may be concerned about the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease or breast cancer, studies have disputed that they’re connected when it comes to your health. But it’s not without its downsides. Aluminum is the ingredient that stains clothes yellow. And, it can irritate skin in sensitive individuals so, for these reasons, you may want to avoid it. CAVEAT: Many deodorants claim to be aluminum free yet may contain kaolin clay (chemical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4, or aluminum and silica). If you’re trying to avoid aluminum, don’t make the mistake of choosing one with kaolin clay. Our deodorants don’t contain any aluminum-containing ingredients. Baking Soda Free. Although it works to control odor, baking soda is a high pH ingredient (see point 1 above) that kills the good bacteria on your skin that keeps it healthy. This disrupts your skin’s natural ecosystem, and over time, can lead to red, itchy and irritated skin. Probiotics. Probiotics work to increase the amount of ‘good bacteria’ that live on your skin. These good bacteria destroy the ‘bad bacteria’ that lead to odor so you’ll definitely want to use a formulation that contains probiotics. Is Baking Soda Harmful in Deodorant? We’ve discussed our concern with baking soda in deodorant above. It may be considered a natural ingredient, but stripping your skin’s natural pH leads to skin irritation. If you’ve tried natural deodorants before and experienced itchy, red or irritated skin, then baking soda is most likely to blame. Our natural deodorants are B.S. free in more than one way! There’s no baking soda in our formulations. Instead, we rely on a combination of odor neutralizing enzymes, probtiotics and glycolic acid to help keep your underarms–and other body parts–smelling fresh and feeling clean all day. Q: What Causes Body Odor? Sweat itself is odorless but when it’s released from either your eccrine glands (over most of your body) or apocrine glands (hairy areas) it mixes with the bacteria that live on your skin. These bacteria break down certain proteins in your sweat into acids, which lead to body odor. Apocrine sweat, which comes from hairy areas, is higher in protein. And when it’s broken down, it leads to smellier acids. It’s why body odor tends to occur more frequently in your pits and groin. Why Do I Smell Like BO With Natural Deodorant? See the point above. It means that your deodorant just isn’t cutting it. We’ve found that ingredients like coconut oil or a blend of essential oils, which start off smelling pretty, are the worst offenders. Does Natural Deodorant Make Your Armpits Stink? If the formulation you’re using is not effective, then yes you will smell! It won’t be able to effectively fight against odor, leaving you smelling like you’re trying to cover something up. Or worse yet, like a pair of damp, smelly gym socks. Get thee to a new formulation. Have you tried ours? Q: What Deodorants Have No Parabens? Ours have no parabens! Parabens are a class of preservatives that are used in both food and cosmetics to help keep them safe from developing bacteria, mold or fungi, which can be harmful to your health. However, many people are concerned with their safety profile and link to hormone disruption, which harm fertility and reproductive organs, affects birth outcomes, and increases the risk of cancer. While there is little evidence to suggest that parabens actually do any of this, many people wish to avoid parabens in their personal care products. For this reason, Apothekari’s natural deodorants are made without parabens. However, you can be assured that they are preserved properly, to ensure your safety. Q: Can You Just Switch to Natural Deodorant? Yes you can! While antiperspirant plugs the sweat glands to prevent sweat from developing, it is perfectly safe to stop using antiperspirant one day and then start using a natural deodorant the next. Your pits and other body parts will be very happy if you choose the right formulation. However, if you opt for one that contains high pH baking soda or magnesium hydroxide, then you may experience a reaction, including itching or a rash. Despite what you’ve been told, your body is NOT releasing toxins, it is simply reacting to an ingredient (baking soda) that is not good for your skin. If this happens, stop using the product and wait for the reaction to clear up. In some cases, it may not and if it lingers for longer than a 2-3 days, please check in with your doctor. What Happens When You Start Using Natural Deodorant? If you’re changing over from antiperspirant to natural deodorant, the main difference you’ll notice is an increase in sweating. Antiperspirants form plugs to block sweat glands and the odor that follows. Once you stop using an antiperspirant, it can take about a week for these plugs to disappear. The result will be an increase in sweating, but as long as you’re using an effective deodorant formulation, you shouldn’t notice a smell. Natural Deodorant for Men Men and women sweat a bit differently. Men tend to sweat more than women, and their sweat also smells a bit different. However, there’s no reason that they can’t use the same type of natural deodorant as it will work the same way, regardless of your gender. Is It Suitable for Kids/Teenagers? Yes, our deodorant has been formulated for anyone and everyone to use. Is Natural Deodorant Suitable to Use in Pregnancy? Natural deodorants are fine to use during pregnancy. If you have any concerns we advise checking with your healthcare practitioner. FAQ About Apothekari Natural Deodorant If you’re new to our natural deodorant, here are some answers to frequently asked questions and how to use it for optimal efficacy. How Do I Use the Deodorant? Mist 2-3 sprays to underarms, feet, under boobs or groin/underpants. Our deodorants are designed to control body odor and not cover up your natural odor. External use only. How Long Will One Bottle Last? Everyone is different, so it varies depending on how frequently you use it and how much you apply at one time. If you’re using to control odor under your arms only, we find that one bottle lasts between 2-3 months for most people. Prep Your Clothes First! Lingering odors from waxes and oils found in anti-perspirants, natural deodorants, and fabric softeners may be left behind in clothing–causing it to smell even after washing. If this is the case, you may need to treat the clothing first with an enzymatic detergent before washing. Try doing this before tossing in the hamper. Please don’t blame our deodorant if your clothing smells from old odors! Do I Need To Detox Before I Use Your Natural Deodorant? Unlike many other deodorants, you do not need a pit detox with Apothekari. Our natural deodorant is baking-soda free, so you don’t need to worry about developing a rash or burn under your arms, which often happens with baking soda. Baking soda-based deodorants have a high pH (8-9), while your skin is happy at a pH around 5. Our approach respects your skin’s pH and chemistry–ensuring that you won’t experience the irritation often seen with other natural deodorants.
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Here Are the 3 Deodorant Ingredients You Should Avoid
When it comes to deodorant ingredients, some are healthier for you than others. Here are 3 that aren’t great for your skin so avoid them if you can. (Our natural deodorant does not contain them). For more information about natural deodorant, check out this post, where we’re discussing EVERYTHING you wanted to know. Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants Baking Soda Is Not Good For Your Skin! These days baking soda is used as a natural cleaning alternative, a fridge deodorizer or a tooth whitener. It’s also one of the most commonly used deodorant ingredients, but unfortunately, it’s not good for your skin. Baking soda works by absorbing odor and by changing the pH (the acid/alkaline balance) of your skin from slightly acidic (4.5-6.5) to highly alkalinic (8-9). This helps to kill the bacteria that causes odor, but it also kills the good bacteria that live on your skin and keep it healthy. The pH change also disrupts the ‘acid mantle’, a fine, oily layer that sits on top of our skin and which helps to protect it from external damage. The result? Increased risk for skin damage and infection More breakouts More dryness and irritation including itchy, burning armpit rashes, and which may take weeks to resolve. Caution: Baking soda free formulations made with magnesium hydroxide may be gentler but can still disrupt your skin’s pH balance and may not be as effective. Our natural deodorant doesn’t contain baking soda or magnesium hydroxide and is pH balanced with gentle and skin conditioning lactic acid. Kaolin Clay & Potassium Alum Both Contain Aluminum If you’re trying to avoid aluminum due to health concerns or a sensitivity, you’ll want to make sure that you stay away from products containing kaolin clay (chemical formula: Al2H4O9Si2 – aluminum, hydrogen, oxygen, silica) or potassium alum (chemical formula: KAl(SO4)2·12H2O – potassium, aluminum, sulfate, heavy water), two deodorant ingredients often found in formulations claiming to be aluminum-free. Aluminum works in anti-perspirants by plugging up your sweat glands to reduce perspiration, technically leading to less odor. While there has been a lot of worry about the link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s Disease and breast cancer, the data shows that there is no significant link. Aluminum does however, come with other side effects including: Staining your clothes yellow Causing itchiness and skin sensitivity Our Natural Deodorant is TRULY aluminum-free. Parabens. Not So Good For You Deodorant Ingredients Widely used (and highly effective), parabens are preservatives used in both food and skincare to help keep them safe from contamination that may be caused by bacteria and fungi. They’re considered safe by regulatory bodies like the FDA and Health Canada, but some studies have shown that they mimic estrogens, which have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive problems. Most scientists consider their effect too weak to cause harm, but recent research out of Berkeley University in California suggests that more research is warranted before deeming them to be perfectly safe. Until we know for certain, all Apothekari products, including our natural deodorant, are paraben-free. Apothekari is Formulated with Healthier Deodorant Ingredients We’ve spent nearly two years developing our natural deodorant so that you can remain odor free without potentially harmful ingredients. In addition to being free from aluminum, parabens and baking soda, we avoid waxes, which can cause odors to linger in clothing. Our Natural Deodorant uses enzymes to neutralize odors plus is pH balanced with lactic acid to condition skin, leaving you to smell fresh and feel clean all day! Want to learn more about our deodorants? Some Deodorants Are Healthier Than Others. Here’s Why Sweat Confidently With This Natural Deodorant How Our Deodorant Is Different Compared to Others
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Some Natural Deodorants Are Healthier Than Others. Here’s Why.
Some natural deodorants are healthier than others and better for you. Here’s why – in this post. Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants For more on this topic, EVERYTHING you wanted to know about natural deodorant, check out this post. Our Natural Deodorants Are pH Balanced You’ve likely heard the term ‘pH balanced’ when it comes to skincare, but do you know why it matters when it comes to natural deodorants? pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline something is and the pH scale ranges from 0-14, with a high pH being alkaline and a low pH being acidic. 7 is considered neutral. Our skin is naturally acidic, varying around a pH of 4.5-6.5. It’s important to maintain this level to enable the ‘acid mantle’, the fine layer that sits on top of our skin, to function properly, retaining moisture and keeping germs out as well. Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants In most cases, pH-balanced is considered to be between pH 4 and pH 7. Skincare products that you leave on your skin, like natural deodorants, should respect the skin’s pH, to help keep it healthy. Many natural deodorants are formulated with baking soda, which leads to a very high pH, 8-9. Over time, this disruption in your skin’s pH can lead to itching and irritation including rashes and even chemical burns. It’s the reason that Apothekari Natural Deodorant is free from baking soda and has a pH that will keep your skin happy and irritation free. Some Natural Deodorants Contain The Aluminum You’re Trying to Avoid! We often choose natural deodorants in order to avoid certain ingredients like parabens and aluminum, so it’s important to read labels to make sure this is the case. Some natural deodorants claim to be aluminum free yet may contain kaolin clay (chemical formula Al2Si2O5(OH)4), or aluminum and silica. Aluminum is an ingredient found in anti-perspirants and it works by blocking your sweat glands to prevent you from perspiring and helping to prevent odor. While there is some concern that aluminum may be linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, there’s little evidence to suggest that’s the case. Aluminum does, however, have a tendency to stain clothing and can cause skin irritation so it may be a good idea to avoid it for those reasons. If you’re trying to avoid aluminum, make sure that your natural deodorant is free from kaolin clay, as ours is. Our Unique Formulation is Different If you look closely at ingredient lists, you’ll notice that most natural deodorants contain baking soda, often combined with essential oils to mask odor. The high pH from baking soda not only leads to skin irritation, but also disrupts your skin’s natural habitat, killing the good bacteria that help keep skin healthy. At Apothekari, we avoid baking soda in our deodorant, relying instead on ingredients including odor neutralizing enzymes. Our formulation not only prevents body odor but also helps to keep our skin’s protective barrier intact. Learn more about how our natural deodorant is different here. Truly free from aluminum, parabens and baking soda, we believe our natural deodorant is a healthier alternative to others. Are you ready to give Apothekari a try?
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Get a Gift! With One Of 3 Skincare Sets
Get a gift from Apothekari when you purchase one of 3 skincare sets during the festive season! We’ve partnered up with three local companies to offer you a gift when you purchase one of the following: Shop Apothekari Ageless Skin Set Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants Promotion Details One gift per set purchased per customer Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion Doesn’t apply to past purchases Runs until December 13th or while supplies last *We reserve the right to make a substitution if we run out of your chosen gift. Gift 1: Get a Gift of Beautiful Flowers & Beautiful Skin! Ready, Set, Glow and wake up to healthy, beautiful & ageless skin with our Ageless Skin Set. Get a gift of a beautiful bouquet from Bear’s Blooms ($30 value) with the purchase of this set. We’ll include a gift card, which may be used for a bunch of locally grown flowers, which will be delivered straight to your door!* Included in the Apothekari Ageless Skin Set: A is for Anti-Aging Serum – A gentle and effective retinoid serum that helps to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, reduce hyperpigmentation and reverse sun damage. Use daily at night. Bespoke Vitamin C Serum – Vitamin C (choose 10% or 15%) plus antioxidants help to fight against free radicals, which can accelerate the aging process. Each bottle is made to order guaranteeing freshness. Apply daily every morning. Daily Infusion Moisturizer – Moisturize, hydrate and plump skin with this moisturizer. Use daily morning and/or night as needed. Cloud Nine Foaming Cleansing Crème (sensitive, dry skin) or AHA-Mazing Clean Cleansing Gel (all skin types) – Cleanse skin to remove dirt and makeup and ensure absorption of active treatments. Choose one. *Bear’s Blooms currently delivers to Vancouver, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, and White Rock. If you live outside this area, you can substitute another one of the gifts from our promotion. Gift 2: Pamper Your Body & Your Senses Punch up the smoothness and pamper your skin with an invigorating exfoliating polish and luscious moisturizing butter for the body in our Smooth Skin Body Set and get a gift of a beautifully scented candle from Canvas Candle Company! (value $15.95) Our Smooth Skin Set contains two of our customer favorites and are perfect for bath time indulgence or to pamper someone special: Shea Body Butter – Extra-rich, protective cream made with the highest quality organic shea butter from Africa provides luscious moisture for the skin to heal dry, cracked and callused skin. Bamboo Lemongrass Foaming Body Polish – Revitalize and invigorate your skin and your senses with our foaming body polish! The Best Coast Gold Travel Tin captures the essence of living on the West Coast of British Columbia. Enjoy the sweet scents of evergreen and cedarwood rooted with an earthy vetiver essential oil. This 6oz candle burns for up to 40 hours. Gift 3: Protect Against Odor & Protect Your ‘Stuff’ Sweat confidently and protect against odor, with our Natural Deodorant that works! Available in a set of 3 featuring a variety of essential oil blends, get a gift of a handmade and embroidered cotton pouch from KimandWhit (value $20) when you purchase this set! Use it to protect your essentials including make-up, your glasses or your new deodorant! Our natural deodorant is free from aluminum, parabens and irritating baking soda. We harness the power of enzymes to keep you feeling fresh all day!
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Sweat Confidently With This Natural Deodorant!
Sweat confidently! Prevent body odor with our new natural deodorant free from aluminum, parabens and baking soda, available in 3 essential oil scents. Shop All Apothekari Natural Deodorants We’ve been working on this product for over 2 years and are very excited to introduce it to you! Formulated with healthy ingredients that respect skin’s natural chemistry, our natural deodorant contains mild, natural and environmentally friendly ingredients, including an enzyme that neutralizes odors caused by perspiration; leaving you smelling fresh all day! Convenient roll-application means no messy hands either. For more information regarding natural deodorant, check out this post, where we’re discussing EVERYTHING you want to know. What Causes Body Odor? If you exercise, when you’re too warm, feeling nervous, anxious or stressed, chances are you’ll sweat. Sweat is released by sweat glands – eccrine (over most of your body) or apocrine (hairy areas) – to help cool your body down. Sweat itself is odorless until it combines with the bacteria that live on your skin, especially in moist areas like your armpits and groin. The bacteria on your skin break down certain proteins in your sweat into acids. This by-product of the bacteria breaking down the sweat is what results in body odor. Sweat produced by apocrine glands (as compared to the eccrine glands) is high in protein, resulting in more smelly acids. It’s the reason why body odor tends to occur more frequently under the armpits and groin. Anti-Perspirant vs Natural Deodorant An anti-perspirant works by blocking sweat ducts, thereby reducing the amount of sweat that reaches the skin’s surface. Bacteria can’t break down the sweat so the odor causing by-products are not produced. Most anti-antiperspirants rely on aluminum salts, which are effective because they stop the sweating that ultimately leads to odor. While there has been speculation that aluminum is linked to breast cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease, the data to support this is weak at best. Aluminum, does however, come with other side effects including skin irritation and that horrible yellowing on the underarms of your white shirts. A natural deodorant, doesn’t reduce sweat, but prevents odor with ingredients that reduce the odor causing bacteria and/or by masking it with scent . Natural deodorants often rely on baking soda to help reduce bacteria by increasing the skin’s pH to 8-9; a range that sits much higher than our skin’s ideal pH, and which can cause irritation. For this reason, our deodorant is free from baking soda. Free From Aluminum, Parabens & Baking Soda Apothekari Natural Deodorant is formulated without irritating baking soda or aluminum salts. This helps to reduce the potential for skin irritation and also means no yellow stains on the underarms of your white shirts! Our formulation contains odor neutralizing enzymes along with lactic acid. This combination helps to prevent body odor, while also conditioning skin and respecting and maintaining the healthy physiological pH of your skin. We offer 3 different essential oil scent blends, to help keep you feeling fresh all day. Like all our products, our natural deodorant is also paraben free and cruelty free. It’s taken us years to perfect this formula and we hope you love it as much as we do! Read more about our philosophy here… Using Apothekari Natural Deodorant & FAQ If you are new to our natural deodorant, here are some answers to frequently asked questions and usage for optimal efficacy: Does Apothekari Natural Deodorant Control Wetness? Our deodorants don’t contain aluminum (which stops perspiration) so we are not an anti-perspirant. You will still sweat, but you won’t smell! How Should I Apply? Give the deodorant container a shake and then roll under each armpit. Allow a few minutes to dry before dressing. How Long Will One Container Last? Everyone is different and much depends on how frequently and how often you apply. With daily roll-on application, we find that one bottle lasts between 2-3 months on average. Prep Your Clothes. Odors can linger from waxes and oils found in anti-perspirants, natural deodorants and fabric softeners. These may be left behind in clothing causing it to smell even after washing. If this is the case, you may need to treat the clothing first with an enzymatic detergent before washing. Try doing this before tossing in the hamper. Please don’t blame our deodorant if your clothing smells! You Do Not Need to Detox! You know those natural deodorants that tell you to detox? Well, unlike those, you do not need a pit detox with Apothekari because our deodorant is baking soda free! Without baking soda, you don’t need to worry about developing a rash or burn under your arms. Baking soda deodorants have a high pH (8-9), which can cause skin irritation. Our skin is happy at a pH around 5 – our approach respects your skin’s pH and chemistry ensuring that you won’t experience the irritation often seen with other natural deodorants.
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