Collage by Andre Jabur
If you’re naturally sweaty or stinky, there’s probably no debate when it comes to deodorant vs. antiperspirant: you need the sweat-stoppers, and we’ve got your best picks here.
There seems to be an unwarranted disdain for antiperspirants out there, given that they use aluminum to plug up your sweat ducts and spare you some serious discomfort (and unsightly sweat marks, no less). And while it’s true that aluminum doesn’t exactly rank high for “things I want to put on my skin”, its benefit outweighs the misery I feel when sweaty—and man, do I suffer without it.
My dependence on antiperspirant really underscores why I enjoy being a grooming writer. I love functional products that make life easier—especially if that product takes away something miserable, like acne or chub rub. That’s why I’m a poster boy for aluminum-packed antiperspirants: As I mentioned above, I am a very sweaty person (not to the full extent of hyperhidrosis, but just constantly balmy), and antiperspirant prevents me from showing that off as well as from smelling like an onion.
Here is all the assurance I need for using antiperspirant: It is deemed safe by the FDA, the American Academy of Dermatology, and the Society of Cosmetic Chemists—and even the American Cancer Society shuts down key claims against its risks. So if you hate getting sweaty, put down the natural deodorant and embrace the wonders of aluminum.
The reason antiperspirants have a bad rap in the first place is because there is hearsay as to whether the aluminum can cause breast cancer (most commonly in women, but also in men). None of the claims about this have ever been substantiated, and if you speak with just about any dermatologist, cosmetic chemist, or regulatory professional—people I work with every single day of my job, for 10+ years—they will tell you that the current alignment is this: Aluminum is safe to use in antiperspirants, and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise.
Look, if suddenly that all changes, I’m not going to have my tail between my legs. I’ll just change the plan of action moving forward. But these have been around long enough that it doesn’t feel like an experiment anymore. I’ll trust the doctors and the chemists and the FDA here—not some brand that wants me to believe arrowroot powder is an acceptable substitute for aluminum.
And if you are convinced that I’m wrong, that’s fine, but I hope your certainty aligns in every other aspect of your life. If you eat any junk food or overly processed food (including red meats), drink alcohol, smoke, or even lay out in the sun in an effort to get tan (especially without adequate SPF—and with chemical sunscreens, no less)… well, you don’t seem all that concerned about cancer to me. So why wage a war against aluminum?
Without further ado, here are my go-to antiperspirants. One note here: You won’t find a lot of fancy or home-spun brands with antiperspirants, since it can be a long and expensive process to get one cleared by the FDA. After all, they’re considered over-the-counter drugs by the FDA, hence the extra (and necessary) regulations. So, the brands here are relatively straightforward: It’s the ones with a boatload of money or the ones who specifically enter the field to go to bat as a life-changing solution for sweat.
Dove Men+Care is my top-tier antiperspirant, both in stick and aerosol form. I’m a sucker for the Clean Comfort scent, which is fresh but never invasive (in that I don’t smell it more than 5 seconds after application, unless I shove my nose into my armpit). I’d rather let my fragrance of choice do the lifting in terms of casting an aroma.
I love three of the deodorants under the Clean Comfort category in particular:
All of those double as deodorants, too.
BUY ON AMAZON: DOVE MEN+CARE CLEAN COMFORT ANTIPERSIRANT
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Harry’s has a really underrated sweat-stopping stick (their Extra-Strength Antiperspirant stick). And in my opinion, it’s the most delicious smelling one at that. The brand’s antiperspirants can compete with Dove’s on longevity, too—Harry’s touts 72-hour freshness.
I think their line of “Stone” scented products is a standout (it also includes body wash and bar soap); its mineral-charcoal-lime aura is super clean and always kickstarts my serotonin. It’s a terrific way to cast a refreshing radius that matches the freshness you feel, too.
To be fair, the other two cornerstone scents in Harry’s lineup, Redwood (evergreen + thyme) and Wildlands (sandalwood + cyprus) are deliciously scented too, but I have been on the Stone stance since they rolled out these scents like a decade ago… it remains unmatched.
BUY ON AMAZON: HARRY’S STONE EXTRA-STRENGTH ANTIPERSPIRANT
Based on all of the interviews I’ve ever done on this topic with dermatologists… here are two over-the-counter brands worth prioritizing if you have clinical-grade sweat or even hyperhidrosis (a medical condition characterized by egregious sweating, often on the underarms, palms, foot soles, and/or face). And it should go without saying, but have a doctor examine your condition, too, as they can often provide prescription-grade solutions or advise on your exact individual needs.
First, Carpe is the brand to use for different kinds of egregious body sweat. They make clinical-grade antiperspirant sticks (max protection, daily application), as well as a foot lotion and hand lotion, the latter of which works really well on most other body parts below the neck. You will need to apply those twice daily, just accounting for hand washing, moisture, movement etc.
BUY ON AMAZON: CARPE
Carpe’s hand lotion dries relatively quickly on contact–it’s always about ~5 minutes for me before I feel like it’s “settled” (so I try to avoid grabbing things in that time, even though it blends cleanly from the start). It just feels heftier until after those 5 minutes.
Between the hand lotion and foot lotion, I definitely feel the hand lotion’s presence more, probably because I’m much more aware of what my hands are doing at any moment, and more self conscious about handshakes and such. BUT, if I were to go out with really sweaty palms, I would much rather prefer the slight “heft” of the dried (invisible) hand lotion; it makes handshakes (and even holding a metal subway railing or lifting weights) much less awkward.
So yeah, you will feel its presence after it dries, but it won’t be prohibitive whatsoever. It’s more of an unmovable powdery layer. Anyone who shakes your hand certainly won’t describe it as powdery, though, ha.
It withstands a couple of hand washes, too, so you should feel OK with the twice-a-day application–maybe a re-up after lunch will get you through the workday. I would even say that it feels “best” (least “present but still working well” after that first hand wash– just wait a good 30 minutes to rinse your mitts after the first app.
Compared to the hand lotion (described above), Carpe’s foot lotion tends to be less noticeable after it settles in. Then again, my feet are couched inside socks and shoes all day, so the fact that I don’t notice anything—not even sweat—is kind of the point, I guess.
I find it hard to logistically incorporate the second application midday if I’m not home or someplace private. So take note about that. In some instances, an antiperspirant body spray may suffice for your feet. Try em both out… I think this lotion is better for light to medium sweaters in the feet area.
And second (but not least), there’s Certain Dri, whose 72-hour roll-on, dry spray, and solid stick are the first over-the-counter hyperhidrosis solutions to get mentioned by my favorite dermatologists. If you have to choose one, I’d endorse the roll-on which I feel lasts longer with each application, but you can’t go wrong with any of them, in my sweaty book. (I’m sweaty—did I make that clear?)
BUY ON AMAZON: CERTAIN DRI
Here are the things that I think are most important to know about antiperspirants.
Antiperspirant is entirely safe. The main rumor about antiperspirant was that its aluminum contents had been linked to breast cancer, but even the American Cancer Society says this isn’t so. That aligns them with the FDA, the AAD, and the SCC. And while it’s not ideal to have to apply aluminum to your skin in order to prevent sweat, it’s a highly effective solution with little risk for irritation.
Antiperspirants work by applying aluminum compounds to the skin, which block sweat ducts in the target area. This blockage prevents moisture from accumulating at the surface of skin, helping to keep you dry and prevent body odor. Different “grades” and formulas will offer different levels of sweat stoppage.
While sweat itself doesn’t have a strong odor, it combines with bacteria on the skin and can create body odor. The bacteria break down the components of sweat, and their waste is what creates these unpleasant smells. In the absence of sweat defense, many regular deodorants target these bacteria specifically.
Yes and no. Many antiperspirants also have active ingredients that specifically target odorous bacteria, which is why you’ll see products often labeled “Antiperspirant + Deodorant”. However, I also inherently consider antiperspirants as deodorant given the fact that they inhibit the sweat in which your skin’s bacteria get to proliferate in the first place. So by reducing moisture, you reduce odor.
Yes you can. This might be surprising (and liberating) to learn—that it’s perfectly safe to rub or spray antiperspirant on your balls or between your legs—heck, even down the entire back if this is where you sweat. Don’t go plugging up your entire body or anything, because after all, you need to sweat in order to regulate your body temperature.
However, it’s perfectly fine to do if, say, you need to ensure you don’t have a super sweaty backside for a business meeting, or if you don’t want to sit in your own swampiness all day. It can even nix soggy feet if regular foot powders aren’t otherwise doing the trick. Personally, I will apply antiperspirant between my thighs the night before a hike or a long day of touristing, then apply anti-chafe products on the area before the hike itself.
It’s best to apply antiperspirant in the evening, before bed. It’s perfectly fine to apply it in the morning too, but just know that you’ll get the maximum efficacy out of the product if you let it soak into skin for about 6-8 hours before any potential sweating. And with most antiperspirant products lasting 24, 72, or even 96 hours these days, it’s not like you’re wasting precious time by sleeping away the first 8 hours of it.
Don’t get caught up in the dozens different types of aluminum concentrations that exist in antiperspirants. Instead, know that there are two primary classifications that the FDA uses to frame things: aluminum chlorohydrates and aluminum zirconium chlorohydrates.
The latter, aluminum zirconium chlorohydrates are more effective, although you will not find them in aerosol options since they have a potential inhalation risk. So, spray-on antiperspirants will use aluminum chlorohydrates and won’t necessarily be quite as long-lasting, nor will they satisfy someone with, say, hyperhidrosis. These strong compounds (again, aluminum zirconium chlorohydrates) are also less likely to stain clothing given their chemical properties.
There’s some fancy little chemistry at play when the aluminum compounds from antiperspirants interact with the minerals in your sweat, and the result can lead to those yellowish stains on clothing. (Yes, some sweat will still seep past the skin and onto your clothes.) Sometimes, the stains are caused simply by the residue from excessive antiperspirant application, too (and repeated instances, in particular).
To prevent staining, apply antiperspirant before bed and let it absorb while you sleep. Try using less product, or opt for stain-resistant formulations.
Brands that advertise non-staining formulas often use aluminum zirconium complexes, which are less reactive with sweat minerals and are thus slightly less likely to stain fabric. However, it’s important to note that different fabrics will have different reactions, and that every person’s skin has different “chemistry” that impacts these things as well. So what works for preventing stains with one guy may not be as effective for the next guy.
The best men’s antiperspirant, in my humble and studied opinion, is Dove Men+Care 72-Hour Stain Defense antiperspirant stick. But there are a few different options from the brand—see above for my the best three picks from them.
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