Your Sweatiest Days Call for a Strong Antiperspirant

As sure as the sun rises in the east, our pits can seriously stink, but body odor and sweat are nothing the best antiperspirants can’t handle. Perspiring is a natural bodily function, yes, but these products can make a big difference in your smell (and with it, your confidence) as you move through the steamiest days, sweatiest shifts, and everything in between.

While yes, deodorants have significantly improved in recent years to minimize potential smells building up in your pits, antiperspirants go above and beyond. These formulas utilize aluminum compounds as the active ingredient to help control sweat. (How? These aluminum salts dissolve in moisture on the skin’s surface and are absorbed by the sweat glands.) This temporarily blocks your sweat ducts, reducing the sweat that reaches your skin. Some antiperspirants are even formulated with nourishing ingredients, such as vitamin B5, to minimize irritation while providing these sweat-blocking properties.

Our Top Antiperspirants

So, which ones are actually worth swiping on? We turned to expert-tested picks that held up through heat, sweat, and serious sniff tests to bring you the best antiperspirants that actually keep you dry.

Best Overall: Secret Clinical Strength Completely Clean Invisible Solid

Why it’s worth it: New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD, gives Secret’s Clinical Strength Completely Clean Invisible Solid antiperspirant, a 2024 Readers’ Choice Award winner, major points for its skin-nourishing ingredients like castor oil and vitamin B5, which aren’t guaranteed in many deodorant formulas. The 20% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex for sweat and odor protection is also key to stopping sweat at the source.

Best Spray: Dove Advanced Care Dry Spray Antiperspirant

Why it’s worth it: Dove’s Advanced Care Dry Spray Antiperspirant is a drugstore staple (and a 2024 Allure Best of Beauty Award winner) for its fresh, clean scent and intensive formula that lives up to its sweat-minimizing claims. On top of its odor and sweat protection, this spray-on antiperspirant is enriched with moisturizing pro-ceramide technology (powered by ceramide-rich sunflower seed oil) to leave underarms feeling smooth without a sweaty, greasy feel. Dove’s antiperspirant spray also has a transparent finish that won’t stain clothes, so it’s the perfect choice to spray before slipping into a little black dress.

Best for Hyperhydrosis: Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant

Why it’s worth it: Certain Dri’s Prescription Strength Clinical Antiperspirant, which happens to cost less than $10 (score), is a go-to for Jason Miller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Freehold, New Jersey, since it offers highly effective sweat protection due to its aluminum chloride-based formula. This unscented, clinical-strength antiperspirant works wonders at minimizing sweat and odor-causing bacteria, but it can be irritating for individuals with sensitive skin. “Ideally, apply this antiperspirant to completely dry armpits at nighttime,” Dr. Miller tells Allure. You can apply it again in the morning for added protection.

Best for Odor: Mitchum Triple Odor Defense Antiperspirant Gel

Why it’s worth it: Sure, the Mitchum Triple Odor Defense Antiperspirant Gel has a pretty awesome price tag (two for less than $10?!), but that’s not the only reason why Dr. Miller is a fan of this extra-strength antiperspirant. He says it’s one of the few clear gel formulas that won’t feel gunky or leave behind white marks on your clothes. Oh, and its 48-hour protection against sweat and body odor is pretty impressive, too.

Most Transparent: Degree Unlimited Antiperspirant Deodorant

Why it’s worth it: Here’s another Best of Beauty winner beloved by Allure editors and consumers for its silky, dry formulation. Our testers say you only need one spritz of Degree’s Unlimited Antiperspirant Deodorant Spray for all-day sweat and odor protection. Don’t worry about white residue on your skin or clothes, either, as its formula is totally transparent. FYI: To get the most out of your spray deodorant, James Y. Wang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based at Metropolis Dermatology in Los Angeles, previously recommended shaking the container before applying and spraying it about two to three inches from the (ideally, recently cleansed) area of skin for approximately three seconds.

Best Splurge: Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant Anti-Perspirant Stick

Why it’s worth it: If you know Donna Karan Cashmere Mist Deodorant Anti-Perspirant Stick, you know. There’s a secret society of people madly in love with this antiperspirant. Bolstered by aluminum zirconium, it’ll keep sweat at bay without drying out your armpits, thanks to nourishing castor oil and dimethicone. Sometimes selling every two minutes, this deodorant features the same jasmine, lily of the valley, sandalwood, and vanilla notes as its perfume counterpart—which, while undeniably popular since its launch in 1994, doesn’t fly off shelves quite as rapidly as this sweat-stopping solid. Bonus: The formula is gentle enough to comfortably apply right after shaving.

Best for Odors: Duradry AM Deodorant & Antiperspirant

Why it’s worth it: The magical antiperspirant that does it all (stops sweat in its tracks, kicks odor to the curb, feels totally non-sticky, and lasts literally all day) can feel like finding a unicorn. That’s until we learned about Duradry AM Deodorant & Antiperspirant from one of our go-to derms. “It contains aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex gly, a commonly used and well-tolerated aluminum compound,” says Martha Viera, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Coral Gables, Florida. This means you get serious sweat protection without worrying about pit stains.