Good Things Come To Those Who Sweat.
However, here’s 10 Antiperspirants Ready to Go to Battle for Your Armpits
Are you a sweaty guy? Does a stressful day or even relatively warm temperatures send your armpits into overdrive? Does “natural deodorant” do just about nothing for your underarm sweat? Dealing with underarm sweat seems like it should be one of the easier steps in your hygiene routine, so if you’re already applying and reapplying some type of body care product that works for everyone else, why isn’t it working for you?
You might not actually be addressing the problem properly. If you’re a heavy sweater and you’re using deodorant instead of antiperspirant, you’re already starting off a step behind. The first thing you should do is familiarize yourself with the difference between deodorant and antiperspirant.
Men’s Deodorant vs. Men’s Antiperspirant
- Deodorant: Fragrance is combined with acidic or salty ingredients such as alcohol, witch hazel, zinc oxide, and baking soda to kill bacteria-causing odor, and absorb sweat, although the main function of deodorant is to help keep your sweat from smelling. Whereas deodorants are typically safer for sensitive skin, some ingredients found in common deodorants can irritate sensitive skin.
- Antiperspirant: Aluminum compounds such as aluminum chloride or aluminum chlorohydrate are used to physically block apocrine glands (commonly referred to as a sweat duct to must of us), preventing the flow of sweat. Aluminum was previously thought to increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but that has been largely, and many might argue, successfully, disproven. Currently, antiperspirants without aluminum may help absorb sweat and make you feel dry, but it’s the aluminum that is proven to actually clog sweat glands and prevent you from sweating, which makes it the gold standard for excessive sweat.
When should you apply antiperspirant? President of the American Academy of Dermatology, David Pariser, M.D. told Consumer Reports that the best time to apply antiperspirant is at night. That’s not to say you can’t sport it any time of the day — it’s just more effective when worn right before bedtime since your sweat glands are less active and the aluminum has a better opportunity to settle in.
Perspiration on its own is virtually odorless. The rapid multiplication of bacteria developed in sweat is what results in such a stink, which is why you smell a lot worse at the end of a sweaty day than at the beginning. Research published in 2016 reveals that those who use an antiperspirant regularly have less bacteria growing in their pits than those who simply use deodorant.
It goes without saying that not all antiperspirants are made equal. The reality is you might seek other features best suited for your armpits. And that can come from a variety of products depending on the situation. Finding the best one takes a bit of observation, research, and testing. Nothing we can’t help you with.
So without further ado, let’s get into the best antiperspirant for men.
Best Antiperspirants for Men
Best Overall Antiperspirant
Jack Black Pit Boss
An antiperspirant worthy of its moniker, Jack Black’s multi-purpose stick remains a top seller. It smells attractively good and lasts longer than your average deodorant or antiperspirant. We also love that it provides great glide action. The Pit Boss supports rich ingredients free of colorant and parabens to condition skin as well. Pairing it with the company’s Cool Moisture Body Lotion will up your scent profile and cool down an overheated body, helping further eliminate wetness.
Promising Review: ”While totally forbidding any sweat, its incredible duration coupled with its highly masculine scent makes this antiperspirant-deodorant like no other. Modern and intensely refreshing, it’s a complete update from long-standing grocery store competitors. Two days later, if for some reason I haven’t yet showered, I still smell like it, I’m still not sweating, and there’s no underlying emergence of body odor. Truly outstanding. It also leaves no white residue on clothes, which you know is huge. Do be careful if you’d like to wear cologne, as not all fragrances will pair with this product’s intensity. All things considered, a really elite product offered at a great value.” — All Seeing I
Best Antiperspirant Deodorant
Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick
If you want to banish body odor for a full 48 hours, and never have to worry about your friends catching a whiff of your pits, then Dove Men+Care’s deodorant is the effective deodorant that should top your list. It uses an alcohol-free formula and an included moisturizer, so you won’t have to worry about sensitive skin irritation. It also ditches sulfates, fluorides, and parabens — all the iffy ingredients a lesser antiperspirant deodorant might rely on — without compromising its Clean Comfort scent.
Promising Review: ”This deodorant is great for people with sensitive armpit skin. A lot of other products have irritated or caused a burning sensation, but not this stuff. I like this scent but prefer the Extra Fresh scent. This stuff really helps control the excessive sweat and keeps odor away.” — Kyle
Best Clinical Strength Deodorant
Certain Dri Prescription Strength Antiperspirant
This clinical strength, water-based antiperspirant remains an over-the-counter favorite for severe perspiration treatment, thanks to its mild nighttime application and effectiveness. Despite coming in without scent, users have the luxury of applying a nice scent antiperspirant or deodorant of their choice during the day should they want to. The company claims the product is made to keep perspiration at bay for up to 72 hours and many online reviews support this claim.
Promising Review: ”This is the first deodorant anti-perspirant that actually works for me! I have anxiety and I randomly start sweating and it’s incredibly embarrassing. I always have sweaty armpits. I strategically dress in order to avoid having obvious sweaty pits. It’s embarrassing and it causes me even more anxiety. Anyway, this worked from the very first application! I put it on at night, wear my usual deodorant in the morning and it has kept me dry for a week now! I’m ridiculously excited about this, I’ve had this problem since high school!” — MLK77
Best Antiperspirant Scent for Body Odor
Helmm Refillable Antiperspirant
Why shouldn’t your morning antiperspirant skin swipe feel more like a luxury experience? Helmm’s refillable antiperspirant offers a selection of luxury scent while not skimping on wetness and body odor protection to keep your pits dry and extra comfortable. But it’s the elevated packaging that separates this antiperspirant from the pack. The real beauty behind its handsome design is that it reduces plastic waste by more than 60 percent per unit, and all the cartridges are recyclable.
Promising Review: ”Very pleased with Helmm — the reusable container is sturdy and the scent is subtle but very pleasing. I like how sturdy the reusable container feels — definitely built to last a lifetime.” — Ryan
Best Antiperspirant for Sensitive Skin Irritation
Dove Men+Care Clean Comfort Dry Spray Deodorant
We’ve become smitten with Dove Men+Care’s dry sprays. They deliver a cool sensation to the armpit area that can be best described as refreshing. The Clean Comfort option is our favorite, employing Dove’s one quarter moisturizer technology to release moisturizing properties that boost the skin’s natural moisture barrier for softer results. Absorption is instant and provides up to two days of underarm wetness protection.
Promising Review: ”I purchased this pack for both my husband and teenager and they love it. Will be purchasing again!” — Madelynn
Best Antiperspirant Wipes
SweatBlock Clinical Strength Antiperspirant
Half antiperspirant, half body wipe, this package of SweatBlock towelettes specializes in sweat control, relying on the active ingredient list such as aluminum chloride, vitamin E oil, assorted tannins, and phytosterols derived from natural plant extracts to stop extreme wetness from excessive sweat. Application requires more effort than more traditional antiperspirants by suggesting trimming underarm hair first before pressing (not rubbing) onto the skin. Yet those who’ve tested it rave about its high-quality performance.
Promising Review: ”I have SEVERE craniofacial hyperhydrosis … as in, I stopped leaving my house unless absolutely necessary because of the buckets I’d be sweating for no reason. Didn’t matter the temperature, the situation, the lack of clothing I was wearing to stay cool, there was nothing in 10 years that stopped my face and head from dripping sweat in public. Four weeks ago, I tried SweatBlock. I can’t honestly say it worked the first time I used it. I was still sweating, although not as much (maybe I used it wrong?), but I figured this product wasn’t going to work for me. I figured I’d try one last time on week two just to see what would happen. LITERALLY LIFE CHANGING. For the first time in over 10 years I was able to go out and run errands and NOT A DROP OF SWEAT was seen that day!!! I can’t even imagine my life without this product. If you have sweating on your face, you know the humiliation that comes with it. This stuff gave me back my life and that’s priceless.” — EmElle
Best Antiperspirant for Inflammation
Kiehl’s Shaved Pits Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Cream
Another hybrid freshener with skincare benefits, this unscented cream contains a trio of extracts — lemonseed, linseed, and witch hazel — that condition and soothe underarms. This provides relief for manscaping types looking to buzz down their pits. Kiehl’s uses drying molecules that absorb sweat and leave zero residue behind. That’s one way to maintain your button-ups and save money on dry cleaning. It’s potent enough to curb sweat for close to 24 hours on a moderately active day.
Promising Review: ”I’ve used this product for the past 10 years and it works. No scent. No problem. No sweat.” — Lisey
Best Smelling Antiperspirant
Molton Brown Re-Charge Black Pepper Antiperspirant Stick
Molton Brown has released its own antiperspirant stick featuring the London grooming staple’s signature scent. It offers slick glide application and active ingredients to diminish underarm wetness by blocking pores. Adding antioxidant-rich andiroba tree oil into the mix helps keep irritation down to a minimum.
Promising Review: ”Not too much odour and no propellants so I have always felt that it is more environmentally caring although not sure how they actually make the stuff. It lasts for ages and really keeps you dry all day.” — Amazon Customer
Best Antiperspirant for Athletes
Art of Sport Antiperspirant
Sporty types who need to give their pits some TLC have an antiperspirant to call their own. The Art of Sport specializes in body care for athletes, using formulas infused with natural ingredients that wick away moisture. It glides on smoothly and leaves a musky scent on the skin to stimulate your senses when sweating and working out. Choose from a variety of scents including sandalwood, cedar and vanilla, eucalyptus, and citrus and green pear.
Promising Review: ”The scent is sporty, but not tween. Manly, but not wood chips and beard oil. It last longer than 48 hours, I gave it the 72 hour test and it was still holding. It isn’t a layer cake, I can add a fresh skim in a pinch and it refreshes like new. I was skeptical. Men’s products all claim to be the one. And prices almost never equal quality. I have bars of reputable brands that are trash in comparison. This is the one. I’m so glad I took a shot with Art Of Sport. I love the smell of AOS in the morning, it smells like Victory.” — Burke
Best Roll-On Antiperspirant
Mitchum Men Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-On
Mitchum is a brand that has done right by your dad and his dad before that. Investing in its roll-on antiperspirant wouldn’t just honor your patrilineality, but your armpits as well, providing excellent wetness protection at a budget price. The company’s exclusive formula “releases pure oxygen,” combating odor produced by bacteria to promise up to 48 hours of sweat-free performance.
Promising Review: ”Oddly enough, my husband and I both use this deodorant. It truly has NO smell. You have to work hard to get this stuff on your clothes. My husband can go for more than a day without putting more on when it used to be that he was stinky after work. I can go three days if need be. They stopped selling it at Target. It’s a bit pricier here than Walmart but I’m a sucker for Prime shipping. It’s also nice to only have to deal with one deodorant floating around the bathroom.” — valentineslover
