Deodorant/antiperspirant for the sweaty, picky person in a sticky summer
August 22, 2022 1:09 PM Subscribe
It is really hot at my work, and I sweat a lot for reasons related to heat, nerves, and moving around a lot. I need a better antiperspirant/deodorant situation.
I currently use mitchum unscented gel. I don't shave my underarms and don't really want to.
What I like about it:
-Prevents some but not all sweatiness under the arms
-Has no scent
-Keeps me stink-free 100% of the time
What I don't like about it:
-It bleaches my clothes, which is why I am seeking a better option
-Doesn't fully prevent sweating armpits, I still sweat through my clothes with some regularity.
Priorities:
-Me not smelling bad is tops. If the product has a scent, it should be minimal and not overly chemical. Old-spice or "fresh" scents really do not work for me.
-Would like to stop ruining my clothes
-Sweating less is important, totally stopping underarm sweat may be impossible.
Does a product exist that will work better for me?
I currently use mitchum unscented gel. I don't shave my underarms and don't really want to.
What I like about it:
-Prevents some but not all sweatiness under the arms
-Has no scent
-Keeps me stink-free 100% of the time
What I don't like about it:
-It bleaches my clothes, which is why I am seeking a better option
-Doesn't fully prevent sweating armpits, I still sweat through my clothes with some regularity.
Priorities:
-Me not smelling bad is tops. If the product has a scent, it should be minimal and not overly chemical. Old-spice or "fresh" scents really do not work for me.
-Would like to stop ruining my clothes
-Sweating less is important, totally stopping underarm sweat may be impossible.
Does a product exist that will work better for me?
Response by poster: I forgot to add that I have really sensitive skin!
posted by mai at 1:25 PM on August 22, 2022
posted by mai at 1:25 PM on August 22, 2022
Best answer: Have you consided dress shields
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:26 PM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by koahiatamadl at 1:26 PM on August 22, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'm pretty sweaty and the only thing I've found that prevents pretty much all sweat is Certain Dri, but if you have sensitive skin that won't work because it will destroy your skin. I've recently started using Ban Unscented Roll-On and it is truly unscented and seems to be working really well (but we are in the new product stage when everything works well). But it's cheap and might be worth a try!
posted by jabes at 1:30 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by jabes at 1:30 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Nothing stops sweat for me, but odor is stopped by application of Certain Dri twice per week in the evening PLUS a deodorant (not antiperspirant) every morning. That is less irritating to my skin than applying antiperspirant daily.
(Sweating and odor get WORSE for me when I shave. I theorize that it might work better for people who don't naturally sweat a ton, but for people like me, the hair is useful in keeping product from being sweat off as quickly.)
posted by metasarah at 1:50 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
(Sweating and odor get WORSE for me when I shave. I theorize that it might work better for people who don't naturally sweat a ton, but for people like me, the hair is useful in keeping product from being sweat off as quickly.)
posted by metasarah at 1:50 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Ban is extremely effective and (to my nose) scent-free. I have used it for years, after my boss asked me to pick her some up on a trip to the States (when it was unavailable in Canada).
posted by hepta at 2:02 PM on August 22, 2022
posted by hepta at 2:02 PM on August 22, 2022
Best answer: I like a combination of Thompson Tees (undershirt with armpit padding) and Schmidt's carbon deodorant, which is an odorless stick deodorant. I still sweat, but now I'm not smelly, and both the sweat and the deodorant are kept away from my outer shirt.
posted by happy_cat at 2:10 PM on August 22, 2022
posted by happy_cat at 2:10 PM on August 22, 2022
Best answer: Dry Idea Clear Unscented is what I use. No problem with staining, no scent for real, and keeps my sweaty self stink-free. I've tried other things over the years but landed back on this - it's also easy to find.
posted by restless_nomad at 3:09 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad at 3:09 PM on August 22, 2022 [2 favorites]
I don’t know if it’s true, but the gold standard for extra strength deodorant used to be Mitchum solid deodorant.
This isn’t what you’ve asked for, but have you talked to a dermatologist? They have treatments now that permanently kill your underarm sweat glands, so that may be a more tenable solution, depending on how seriously the sweating affects your life.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:11 PM on August 22, 2022
This isn’t what you’ve asked for, but have you talked to a dermatologist? They have treatments now that permanently kill your underarm sweat glands, so that may be a more tenable solution, depending on how seriously the sweating affects your life.
posted by Champagne Supernova at 9:11 PM on August 22, 2022
Seconding Certain-Dri, specifically the roll-on. It is OTC and will keep you dry for 24-48 hours per application. Do follow the directions - if you don't and apply it right after a hot shower when your pores are wide open, it's gonna hurt.
posted by zippy at 3:53 AM on August 23, 2022
posted by zippy at 3:53 AM on August 23, 2022
Best answer: I have had good luck with Tom's of Maine unscented deodorant. Doesn't stain clothes, keeps smell in check, and though it's not an antiperspirant it does seem to keep sweat at bay. YMMV.
posted by nayantara at 7:00 AM on August 23, 2022
posted by nayantara at 7:00 AM on August 23, 2022
If your skin is sensitive, approach Certain Dri with caution. Start with one night per week, don't apply immediately after showering, rinse your armpits in the morning.
I can't believe I'm providing a photograph of my armpit rash as part of an answer on AskMetafilter, but here we are. Trust me when I say that it was even less pleasant than it looked. This is after one application of Certain Dri.
https://imgur.com/a/7ycJSuu
posted by easy, lucky, free at 9:49 AM on August 23, 2022
I can't believe I'm providing a photograph of my armpit rash as part of an answer on AskMetafilter, but here we are. Trust me when I say that it was even less pleasant than it looked. This is after one application of Certain Dri.
https://imgur.com/a/7ycJSuu
posted by easy, lucky, free at 9:49 AM on August 23, 2022
Seconding secret clear gel antiperspirant. I have very sensitive skin, and it's fine for me. I use the "prescription strength" one that is called stress control or something like that. It does have a mild scent, but I believe the make an unscented one. I like the clear gel and feel it works better than solid deoderant.
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:35 AM on August 23, 2022
posted by litera scripta manet at 11:35 AM on August 23, 2022
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posted by nouvelle-personne at 1:21 PM on August 22, 2022