Blue Ribbon Review: AKT Deodorant Balm

AKT Deodorant Balm

At first it’s weird, then it’s irreplaceable.

I describe this one as “eating pizza with a fork”, or maybe even “eating pasta with your fingers”—in that it’s a popular type of product (deodorant) but applied in a way that defies the norm.

It’s not a radical idea, though—applying deodorant with your fingers, like you would a body lotion. It just takes some getting used to since you’ve likely been using a stick or a spray your whole life. And that’s not what makes AKT innovative; deodorant balms and creams have been around for a while, but these ones are built for intense performance. Their founders have a background in theatrical dance, and they cooked up this recipe to provide maximum moisture absorption and odor mitigation. (See the ingredients below for sure evidence.)

Buy on: AKT // AMAZON// SEPHORA

Beyond that, the scents are positively delicious. My favorite is Halcyon Summers (the cyan tube, with key notes of mint, pomelo, and tomato vine), but my partner is a steadfast Orange Grove guy (the orange tube, naturally, very fresh with citrus and neroli). There’s even an unscented one if all you want it to do is neutralize odors, as opposed to casting any happy aromatics into the ether. No judgment if that’s your preference.

You can use these in more than just your pits, too. I’ve used them on my feet ahead of long travel days, and a friend of mine uses them on his underboob where he is also prone to sweat and fungal buildup.

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Buy AKT Deodorant Balm on: AKT // AMAZON // SEPHORA

Key Ingredients

I appreciate how AKT breaks this down into three key areas of concern: odor reduction, moisture mitigation, and nourishment.

For hydration and nourishment: Vitamin E, shea butter, and calendula
To eliminate odor: Sodium bicarbonate (that’s baking soda; take note in case you prefer deos without it), as well as zinc oxide
To stay dry: Diatomaceous earth, arrowroot powder

How to Make the Most of It

While it’s not necessary to add one of the brand’s tube rollers to your order, it will ensure you squeeze out every last but of the balm.

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How to Use It

Apply a pea-sized amount to each pit (on clean, dry skin). You can massage it in with your fingers, or get their gua sha applicators to evenly distribute—but I find that trickier when I have bushier armpit hairs. My fingers tend to work just fine, even when I’m not too trimmed down.

If you need a product that prevents odor, sweat, and chafing in your nether regions, try another Blue Ribbon winner—Happy Nuts’ Comfort Cream.

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Adam Hurly

Adam Hurly has covered grooming since 2013, and for GQ since 2016. He has written for just about every other men’s publication, too, with bylines found in Men’s Journal, SPY, Forbes, Robb Report, Esquire, Men’s Fitness, Byrdie, Bloomberg, Runner’s Journal, Popular Mechanics, Birchbox Man, nearly every international GQ, and more. Adam is a South Dakota native and University of Kansas graduate. He has lived in San Francisco, New York, Berlin, and now Lisbon.