Our Favorite Deodorants & Antiperspirants

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It's still pretty hot where most of us live (in the U.S., at least!), and in case your usual products have disappointed you this summer so far, today we're is sharing their favorite deodorants and antiperspirants. We only mention one “whole-body deodorant” below, but we're interested to hear from readers who regularly use products like Lume, whose ads are inescapable online and during podcasts.

We haven't discussed this topic in a while (or related topics, like how to remove deodorant marks from clothes), so we're due for another one!

Note: Regarding the longtime fear that aluminum in antiperspirants causes breast cancer (the aluminum-based ingredients prevent sweating), the American Cancer Society's website states:

[V]ery little scientific evidence exists to support this idea. … To date, none of the major health organizations have found conclusive scientific evidence linking antiperspirants or their ingredients, including aluminum, to breast cancer risk. This includes the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Toxicology Program (NTP), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Kat's Favorite Deodorant

I don’t remember exactly when or why I started using men’s Mitchum deodorant, but I’ve been using it for a while now and really like it. My favorite scent is “unscented” — which is scented, but only very, very mildly.

If I’m remembering correctly, I used to use women’s Mitchum but eventually got annoyed by the scents. I also went through a brief natural-deodorant phase (Native and the like), during which I pretty much always felt like I smelled.

Then, at some point, my husband wasn’t using a two-pack of unscented men’s deodorant I’d bought him, so I tried it. Apparently, this was the answer! I liked the barely-there scent, and for the first time in a while I felt like I smelled fine all day. Whenever I’ve tried another deodorant since, it’s seemed aggressively scented by comparison, so I’ve stayed loyal to Mitchum.

One related tip, since commenters are discussing deodorant today: If you feel like yours suddenly isn’t “working” as well as it used to, try exfoliating your underarms. I first saw this suggestion from a perimenopause influencer (possibly Tamsen Fadal?) and figured it couldn’t hurt. I’ve had laser hair removal on my underarms, so I’m also not getting whatever incidental exfoliation I used to get from shaving. (Although I'll have to try Kate's tip, below!)

Interestingly, there are a LOT of products specifically for exfoliating underarms. I’ve been using this one from Pacifica and like it.

(Click here to read about Kat, or click here to see all of Kat's posts.)

elizabeth's Favorite Deodorants

As a sweaty lady with very sensitive skin, I’ve struggled to find solutions that actually work for me. A few years ago, I developed an allergic reaction to my beloved Donna Karan Cashmere Mist, and I had to trial-and-error my way through nearly a dozen products before I found something that didn’t cause me to break out in painful welts, but still did the job. The pictured clear Almay gel doesn’t cause any irritation but still provides enough antiperspirant horsepower for me to confidently move about my day.

When the weather is especially steamy, I add a benzoyl peroxide body wash to my routine to help break down any odor-causing bacteria before it starts. I like to put some Panoxyl on my underarms while I shave my legs or let my conditioner sit. I probably only use it once or twice a week to avoid irritating my skin, but since I’ve added it to my summer routine, I haven’t had any of those unfortunate moments where I’ve realized that I’m the stinky one in hot yoga class.

(Click here to see all of Elizabeth's posts!)

Ann's Favorite DeodorantS & AntiPerspirants

This summer has been a scorcher and it’s not over yet! Aside from the occasional second shower, I’ve relied on this antiperspirant for years to keep this fresh. (Mine is a different scent, but this one otherwise seems the same.) Tom’s antiperspirant provides 48 hours of both odor and wetness protection and is free of artificial dyes, fragrances, and preservatives.

If I’m going to be tourist-ing somewhere hot, or active outside, I’ll apply this whole-body deodorant to any areas that will chafe.

Finally, I’ll sometimes go old-school and apply some baby powder left over from when my kids were babies. (It's also a bargain at $2 a bottle.)

(Click here to see all of Ann's posts at CorporetteMoms!)

kate's Favorite antiperspirant

When I really love a product, I'm usually a longtime, loyal customer. One case in point: I have used Ban Invisible Roll-On for YEARS because it works great, plus it's affordable. (Let's say 90% of the time it entirely prevents underarm sweat.) This rolls on clear and stays clear, dries in a few minutes, and has zero scent. (If it gets on your clothes, it does leave a white mark like most roll-ons and sticks, though it's usually easy to rub off.) More things to like: It's phthalate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, and dye-free.

Ban's basic antiperspirant is definitely not new, flashy, or trendy, and that's why I always find it at the bottom shelf at the grocery store, where retailers put things they're not as eager for you to buy. A pair at Amazon is under $10, and Target sells each for for $4.99.

Incidentally, I'm all for “natural” and “clean” products, but to prevent body odor (why does that phrase gross me out?), I prefer something that stops me from sweating in the first place.

One more rec, and one of the cheapest things you can buy: If I don't have time to shower in the morning (or don't feel like it) and have to run an errand or something, before I put on Ban I'll use a cotton round to apply some isopropyl alcohol under my arms. (The word “armpits” gives me the ick, anyone else?)

(Click here to see all of Kate's posts!)

Readers, please share your recs! What are your favorite deodorants and antiperspirants, and do you use one type or both? Do you prefer a whole-body deodorant, or apply a regular product anywhere other than your underarms?