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The Best Deodorants for Sensitive Skin

 
The Best Deodorants for Sensitive Skin
The Best Deodorants for Sensitive Skin [ Photo ]
Published Feb. 9, 2022|Updated Feb. 9, 2022

Are you tired of your armpits feeling itchy or irritated? It’s probably time for you to switch to a deodorant that’s designed for your sensitive skin. Certain ingredients in traditional deodorants and antiperspirants can cause redness, irritation, or even pain if you have more tender skin in that area.

To help you overcome this obnoxious and even painful problem, we wanted to give you a comprehensive guide to choosing the right deodorant for sensitive skin. We also wanted to offer you a list of the 16 best deodorants for sensitive skin to get you started in your search. Let’s check it out!

If you stick around, we’ll explain some of the ins and outs of sensitive skin and natural deodorants later on. We promise that information will come in handy as you research your next new deodorant, and we hope that the following 16 products can offer a good launching off point for your search.

1. Blu Atlas Deodorant

Our favorite deodorant for sensitive skin is Blu Atlas. We’ve found its all-natural ingredients and ability to keep you dry, fresh, and smelling great to be of excellent quality. It doesn’t have aluminum, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. It does have a subtle fragrance that helps to mask odors that won’t dry your skin because it’s naturally derived.

It’s also well-priced at $12 per stick if you subscribe to the monthly subscription service. That way, you can have it delivered monthly without having to worry about it!

2. Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream

Kiehl’s is a unique natural deodorant that comes in cream instead of stick form. If you have extremely sensitive skin, cream deodorant is an excellent option because it adds in moisture and boosts your skin’s protective barrier. Simultaneously, it reduces sweating and blocks bad odors from bacteria growth. It can also soften and soothe skin, so it’s perfect if you often experience irritation.

Kiehl’s is both a deodorant and an antiperspirant, so it will absorb sweat and help reduce sweating. It’s unscented, but it contains orange, lemon, and linseed extracts, so you might get a whiff of that when you put it on.

3. Native Deodorant

One of the first all-natural deodorants came from the health and beauty brand, Native, a company that helped to bring more attention to the benefits of all-natural deodorant. It’s free of parabens and aluminum, and all of its products are cruelty-free, meaning there’s no animal testing.

We like that Native uses safe and effective ingredients for reducing sweating and blocking odors while also keeping your skin hydrated. It uses coconut oil, shea butter, tapioca, and probiotics to restore moisture to your underarms and fight off bacteria that might cause odors.

It comes in a variety of fragrances including coconut, charcoal, eucalyptus and mint, and vanilla. However, there’s an unscented option as well if you need it.

While Native has tens of thousands of positive reviews, some have complained about it staining their clothing and causing further irritation. So while you might have a great experience with it, be aware that others have had some issues with it.

4. Ursa Major Base Layer Deodorant

Ursa Major’s Base Layer Deodorant is free of baking soda and aluminum. It’s also unscented, so you don’t have to worry about fragrances affecting your tender skin. However, if you wanted to try it, Ursa Major does have some deodorants with fragrances, including their Hoppin’ Fresh deodorant that uses hops.

It goes on smoothly and offers long-lasting protection by eliminating bacteria that can cause odors. It also contains shea butter, aloe, hops, kaolin clay, and other ingredients that soak up sweat and retain soft and smooth skin in your underarms.

5. Dove Advanced Care Sensitive Deodorant

For a great drug-store option that’s not necessarily all-natural, but is still a great product for sensitive skin, try Dove Advanced Care. They have an unscented deodorant made for sensitive skin that both men and women can use to target dry, irritated skin.

This product does have aluminum, making it a highly effective antiperspirant. If you can’t handle aluminum on your sensitive skin, steer clear! Otherwise, give it a try for a great budget option that’s easy to find.

6. Schmidt’s Natural Deodorant

Schmidt’s is a popular natural deodorant that offers long-lasting protection without aluminum. It also doesn’t use baking soda to dry up sweat; instead, it lets charcoal soak up perspiration and impurities while fighting off bacteria.

Schmidt’s has a full-line of fragrances to choose from, including the pictured Fresh Fir & Spice deodorant popular among men. You can choose a variety of spicy and floral fragrances or unscented to fight off odors and keep your skin looking and feeling great.

7. Corpus Plant-Based Deodorant

While this option is a little pricier than others on our list, Corpus is excellent for those who want an earth-conscious, plant-based deodorant to protect their sensitive skin. As a bonus, it smells great!

It has a smooth, gliding texture that goes on invisible and won’t stain your clothing. There are no “unclean” ingredients that might irritate your skin, and you’ll recognize all the ingredients listed.

You can find it at Nordstrom for $24, so it’s well above the price point for most deodorants on this list. Because of the cost, it’s not our first pick, but if you require a completely plant-based deodorant for your natural skincare needs, by all means, give this one a try!

8. Almay Sensitive Skin Deodorant and Antiperspirant

Here’s a hypoallergenic fragrance-free antiperspirant and deodorant that you can find in drug stores for about $4. It’s the cheapest on our list, so while you won’t find the same quality, it’s a good choice for those counting pennies.

Almay’s sensitive skin deodorant is fragrance-free and uses glycol to help your skin retain moisture. It does have an aluminum content of about 25%, so it’s a product you’ll want to avoid if you can’t handle aluminum. But if you need a hydrating deodorant for almost nothing, consider this one.

9. Aesop Deodorant Spray

Every list of best deodorants for sensitive skin needs at least one spray option on it, and we like Aesop’s deodorant spray. First of all, it uses a pump spray bottle instead of an aerosol, so it’s easier on the environment. It’s also hydrating and smells very good, with vetiver root as the base fragrance. You might also smell hints of the sage, rosemary, and eucalyptus essential oils that help to kill bacteria and prevent odors.

It’s a long-lasting option that won’t stain your clothing. Deodorant sprays can be great for armpits sensitive to friction because you don’t rub anything into your skin when you apply it. The spray can boost your skin’s protective barrier and prevent further irritation as well.

It’s by far the most expensive deodorant on our list. A small bottle costs a whopping $60 on Amazon! The ingredients are of high quality, but we don’t necessarily think you need to spend that much for a great deodorant. Still, we wanted to offer the option for those who want a boojier option.

10. Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Unscented Deodorant

Tom’s of Maine is a widely recognized name in all-natural deodorants, so it makes sense that this one would be a good option to consider. It’s unscented and long-lasting, offering odor protection for up to 24 hours. You don’t have to worry about perfumes or dyes bothering your skin either. The same goes for the scented versions of Tom’s deodorants, which use only naturally-derived fragrances for those who have just moderately sensitive skin.

The price is great at about $6 per stick, and it uses aloe and sunflower seed oil to help rehydrate dry skin. All in all, it’s a pretty easy choice if you want a budget option with a household name in natural skincare.

11. Vichy 24-Hour Aluminum-Free Salt-Free Dry Touch Deodorant Stick

Vichy Laboratories offers a great hypoallergenic deodorant that offers 24-hour protection without aluminum or salts. It glides smoothly and dries quickly, so you don’t have to worry about staining or excessive sweating.

There are no scents or dyes that might irritate your skin, and it’s free of alcohol, parabens, and other chemicals your tender skin won’t like.

On the downside, reviewers say you have to reapply it frequently if it’s hot outside or you’re working out. And it’s not cheap at $17 a stick. But others say it’s well worth the price.

12. Nécessaire The Deodorant

Sephora sells a pricey but effective all-natural deodorant called Nécessaire The Deodorant. It’s a very basic formula that doesn’t need aluminum, baking soda, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or parabens to do the job. Instead, it uses lactic and mandelic acids to naturally exfoliate and smooth skin, helping to prevent many issues that those with sensitive skin often face.

It keeps you dry with ingredients like clay, silica, and zinc. It does feature a pleasant eucalyptus fragrance that cools irritated skin and helps to fight off odors. However, there’s a fragrance-free version if you need it.

You can get it at Sephora for $20.

13. Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream

We’ve got another cream deodorant for you that’s super hydrating and effective. It’s ideal for those who suffer from a pH imbalance, as it can help to restore and soothe your skin. Those with extremely sensitive skin will also appreciate the gentle cream formula free of aluminum, parabens, baking soda, and more.

Shea butter puts moisture back into your skin while other ingredients like arrowroot and mandelic acid kill odor-causing bacteria and soothe your skin. You might need to apply it a couple of times per day, but it should do the trick to hydrate your terribly sensitive skin while keeping odors at bay.

14. Lume Natural Deodorant for Underarms and Private Parts

If you’re the kind of person who wants to eradicate all potential body odor, Lume deodorizing cream is an excellent option. It works for both armpits and private parts, and since these are two of the most sensitive parts of your body, the formula must be gentle enough to prevent irritation.

We love that you can use this cream anywhere on your body and that it offers 72-hour odor control. In fact, it’s been clinically proven to keep you fresh for up to 72 hours, eliminating 100% of odors during that time. Of course, everyone sweats differently, so you might find things to be a little different on your end.

Lume claims to offer the first deodorant made for your entire body. You can even put it on your feet! And its ingredients are naturally derived and free of baking soda, aluminum, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, artificial fragrances, and talc. It’s a dermatologist-recommended product, too.

You can purchase Lume deodorant in a variety of fragrances, including warm vanilla (pictured), clean tangerine, coconut, jasmine rose, lavender sage, silver spruce, sweet lily, and unscented. So you’ll have your pick when it comes to great all-over body odor control!

15. Vanicream Clinical Strength Antiperspirant and Deodorant

Clinical strength vanicream is made for sensitive skin. It’s an antiperspirant and deodorant that offers 24-hour protection. You won’t find any fragrances, dyes, lanolin, formaldehyde, or other preservatives in its formula. There are no botanical extracts, either, so if you have an allergy, it’s a great option. It’s also free of gluten, alcohol, baking soda, talc, and ethanol and has been tested by dermatologists to guarantee it works for tender skin.

The deodorant is a unique gel formula that goes on clear and won’t stain clothing. It leaves your skin feeling dry and soft, without irritation. Get it for around $10.

16. Each & Every Natural Aluminum-Free Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

Each & Every deodorant uses only nine ingredients for long-lasting odor protection for skin of all types. Six of those ingredients are all-natural, including coconut oil, tapioca starch, dead sea salt, antioxidant salt, and essential oils. The salts and tapioca starch are responsible for soaking up sweat and killing odor-causing bacteria.

There are no harmful ingredients like alcohol, synthetic fragrances, aluminum, baking soda, and phthalates. It’s also vegan and cruelty-free. And there are a variety of fragrances that are pleasing to both men and women, including unscented, so you’ll likely find one that meets your sensitive skin needs and your interests!

Why Is Underarm Skin Often Sensitive?

Underarm skin is more sensitive for most people than the skin on the rest of their arms. That’s the reason that you’re more ticklish under your armpits and why it’s so easy for them to experience irritation from deodorant.

The reasoning behind this mostly has to do with the physical makeup and purpose of your underarm skin. It’s thinner because it’s usually not exposed to environmental stressors like the rest of your skin. It doesn’t see sunlight, and it can breed bacteria because it’s a moist, warm environment.

Additionally, the skin experiences friction as you move your arms. It rubs against your clothing or other parts of your skin, causing redness and irritation. There are also lymph nodes and more nerves in this region.

Shaving can clog pores and cause ingrown hairs that become red, sore, and even infected. Those who shave their armpits can also experience increased irritation. Exfoliating your underarm skin is very important to strengthen it and help prevent ingrown hairs.

You can try many things to reduce sensitivity in your armpits. It starts with personal care. Keeping it clean is the first step, and it’s wise to use an exfoliating cleanser rather than a loofah to keep dry skin from clogging pores and causing ingrown hairs. Oftentimes, changing up your cleanser to one designed for sensitive skin can make a huge difference in your underarm comfort.

You also don’t want to use a deodorant that’s too drying. Some deodorants are made to completely dry out the skin because of excessive sweating, and if you have sensitive skin, they can be too harsh. Certain ingredients can also irritate your skin (more on that in the next section.)

What to Look for in a Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

If you suspect your deodorant might be contributing to your armpit irritation, you’ve come to the right place! Read on to learn more about choosing a good deodorant for sensitive skin and our product recommendations.

Aluminum-Free

Aluminum is the most common ingredient in traditional antiperspirants. It clogs sweat glands and helps to keep you dry. If you have sensitive skin, it’s enemy number one!

Choose a deodorant and/or antiperspirant that uses other ingredients to dry up sweat, like volcanic ash (benzonite), cornstarch or arrowroot powder. Most find that these all-natural ingredients are gentler on their skin while still preventing excessive perspiration.

Be Wary of Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common element in deodorants to help stop sweating. It’s also a natural odor-neutralizer, and it’s an all-natural ingredient, so you might find it in deodorants that don’t contain aluminum.

Some with sensitive skin can tolerate baking soda, but others find it causes dryness, irritation, redness, or even rashes. Baking soda can alter your skin’s pH level, so if you start to notice more irritation after switching to a deodorant that contains baking soda, seek alternative options.

No or Low Fragrance

Most deodorants have a fragrance to help mask odors. Unfortunately, many with sensitive skin can’t tolerate fragrances in their deodorants. Oftentimes, the issue is related to a skin allergy to synthetic fragrances.

If you choose a product that’s low-fragrance or that uses fragrance only from naturally-derived essential oils, you’re less likely to experience sensitivity issues with that product. However, many with sensitive skin do best with absolutely no fragrance, so keep this in mind as you choose your next product.

Chemical-Free

Various chemicals show up in traditional deodorants. While most are not harmful, they can cause additional irritation to your pits. You’ll want to avoid ingredients like parabens, phthalates, artificial dyes, synthetic fragrances, alcohol, and other chemicals associated with drying the skin.

Moisturizing Ingredients

When possible, choose a deodorant that includes a few natural moisturizers. Aloe vera and jojoba oil are two of our favorites for locking moisture into your skin without contributing to bacteria growth that can cause a stench. Coconut oil and shea butter are other great options.

If you don’t mind a non-natural ingredient, you can seek deodorants with glycol, which is a humectant that traps moisture against your skin, boosting its protective barrier.

Ultimately, you want ingredients that will hydrate the skin without adding so much moisture that it boosts bacteria growth. This can be a tricky dance, so do your research before buying.

Why Is Natural Deodorant Great for Sensitive Skin?

You might have noticed that most of the products on our list of best deodorants for sensitive skin are considered natural. This means that they rely on mostly or all-natural ingredients to keep you dry and fresh.

Usually, a deodorant is considered all-natural if it doesn’t contain aluminum and 95% or more of its ingredients are naturally derived. A company can also market their product as natural or organic if 70% or more of its ingredients are such. Keep this in mind when reading labels--if you want an all-natural product, check for that 95% or more checkmark!

You’ll notice that the above list of things to look for in deodorants for sensitive skin reject ingredients that aren’t natural. Aluminum, parabens, synthetic fragrances, dyes, and more are on the no-no list for those with sensitive skin.

And most natural ingredients don’t use those potentially harmful ingredients. So we often recommend using a high-quality natural deodorant if you want to avoid drying chemicals.

What to Know About Natural Deodorant Before Using It

Because so many of our products are all-natural (including our top recommendation), we wanted to give you a quick heads up about how natural deodorants work.

If you haven’t been using natural deodorizers in the past, your deodorant probably contained aluminum. This ingredient clogs your pores and sweat glands, and there’s a “detox” period as your body naturally expels the aluminum through your sweat.

As such, you’ll likely sweat more than usual for the first two or three weeks that you’re using a natural deodorant. It just takes that long for your body to restore itself to its natural state. So don’t be surprised if your new natural deodorant isn’t working as well at first. Don’t throw it out without giving it a couple of weeks to do its work.

Once the aluminum is out of your system, you’ll likely find that your natural deodorant keeps your pits fresh and dry. But you can rest assured that they won’t be too dry, causing irritation and discomfort like your previous deodorant did.

Choose Your Sensitive Skin Deodorant Wisely

That was a lot of information, but we hope that it’s helpful as you make your next choice in great deodorant. It’s not easy to find a product that works for sensitive skin, but with the right research and recommendations, you’ll find the perfect option for you. Let us know which products you recommend too!

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