Apr 27, 2022 - Beauty
TMI alert: I have pretty stinky pits. They’re bad enough that I’ve always elected to use antiperspirant over deodorant, despite concerns that the aluminum in it isn’t so good for you. Occasionally, I’d read about a promising deodorant formulation and give it a shot, but I felt that those products simply covered up the smell with a stronger one. But this stuff is different: it does have a scent, but it’s quite mild. And it takes care of the stink, don’t ask me how, but it does.
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Kim France
I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
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I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.
The “alternative” is perlite, which is a mineral made up of aluminum: https://incibeauty-com.translate.goog/ingredients/1759-perlite?_x_tr_sl=fr&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc)
But we are exposed to more aluminum in our diet than what you get from wearing a typical antiperspirant. Explained in more detail here, despite the fact that the post is about teens.
https://scimoms.com/kid-deodorant-age/
I just found my perfect one this year-Megababe The Smoothie Deo Fruit Enzyme Daily Deodorant. First one that has ever made a difference.
In my opinion, magnesium is the way to go. Try the People’s Pharmacy Milk of Magnesia (MoM) deodorant, either scented or unscented. Your body needs magnesium anyway, so absorption is not an issue. Plus, it just works.
Also, FWIW, the Vichy product is poorly rated by EWG. It contains dimethicone, a silicone I would never put anywhere near my breasts or lymph system.
I think EWG should be viewed with a grain of salt, but the worst thing in the Vichy deodorant (according to them) is the fragrance, not the dimethicone.
EWG has shoddy science and has very dubious funding. They primarily use scare tactics to sway consumer buying. After all, water is poisonous if you drink too much.
Have you tried swiping Extra Strength Stridex pads AM & PM in lieu of deodorant? It’s, dare I say, miraculous? Got that tip in a FB group and haven’t used deodorant in 2 years. Bonus side effect: my underarms look nice for the first time ever!
Yep. I went thru a period of stink and what finally worked, was wiping my pits with an acid toner, any day I didn’t shave. It burns freshly shaved skin. The Ordinary ‘s is inexpensive and worked for me. I know others use pads with salicylic acid as Sharyn recommends.
Also try washing your pits with PanOxyl (a benzoyl peroxide wash).
I love this product, too. I’ve been using it since we moved to Europe four years ago. Super effective.
About seven years ago, I tried to get off the Secret train and switch to Schmidt’s. I should have had a rest period in there (I realize now), but plunged right in, and my underarms smelled like something had died. So I took a break to try to remedy that situation, it got a lot better — less sweat and less odor — and I’ve never gone back. A touch-up with a damp paper towel after a long walk or a big meeting really helps. Everyone should do what they want, just sharing this because I’m still so surprised.
Similarly, it took a minute for the superbacteria colony I’d cultivated in my pits to die off when I switched to hippie deodorant. In that transition period I’d sometimes just use an alcohol swab to reset when I couldn’t take the smell of myself. But when I got over the hump, it was absolutely worth it. Now even when the hippie stuff fails, I just smell salty and a little acidic; not like something’s died. I love the Schmidt’s black pepper and rose scent, made with hemp oil. And sometimes I alternate with Kosas Sport roll-on, because the lactic acid keeps the armpit skin in better condition.
when I was complaining about these deodorants to my doctor she recommended pairing them with an antibacterial soap, which she said kills the odor-causing bacteria. it helped a lot! I use this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082WM6X9R?ref=vse_pfo_vdp
Wow. I didn’t know how much I needed all of this information but I do! Thanks to all of you!
I have found Secret’s Aluminum Free works really well for me, provided it’s the cucumber scent. For some reason, all the other scents in the line are super overpowering, but the cucumber one is just fine. It’s a magnesium-based one and I am pro-magnesium already. By the way, this post has me weirdly nostalgic because the very first comment I made here was for a deodorant post. With my first comment being about deodorant, I did the internet-equivalent of an awkward, stiff curtsy of a remark. However, I was soon relieved of my awkwardness because THE VIAJERA HERSELF kindly responded to my comment.
Ah, you are much too kind. Annnnnd, wow I am jealous of your memory!! Mine is, well … But funny you should mention this, bc, I still can’t decide what I want my pits to smell like. I’d really like there to be no smell. I can’t decide what my second choice will be. For now, I just try to stay on top of it, and not stand too close. But this post and comments are giving me some good ideas. It is so nice to see you, D.!!!! … … … And now that I think of it more, I wonder if there is a way to make them smell like Noxema. I always liked that. Hmm.
I love Noxema! I think the main note in Noxema is camphor…
Ooooooooh, camphor!! I guess I could just use it as a moisturizer, if I could find an old jar. I will check out this cucumber scent though. Have a good one!
For the last six months, I’ve been using Lume, the product with the funny commercials. It, too, is like a miracle. My skin became discolored and sensitive with both Schmidt’s and Native, due to the baking soda, and I did not find them effective in preventing stinkiness either. Lume is great. I’ll also check out Vichy to compare. https://lumedeodorant.com
I don’t sweat much and rarely notice that I smell. But sometimes……I thought it might happen after I’d eaten meat (which I seldom do), but I don’t think that was the culprit. I have two deodorant problems: 1. My favorite is Mitchum’s Men’s Anti-Sweat unscented Gel, which I think I was recommended by Kim. But it doesn’t travel well! After being on a plane the gel solidifies and won’t come out of the container. Arrrgggh! 2. I just returned from a trip and didn’t pack Mitchum’s, since it had been rendered useless on a previous vacation. I used some version of Secret, I think, which went on smoothly and kept me dry and unstinky. But when I unpacked all the tops I’d worn while away, they smelled of deodorant! I don’t want my clothes to smell at all, even of a scent that’s made to be appealing. Advice welcome.
I use the Crystal unscented deodorant stick and have been using and had the same stick for over 2 years. It is much better than the Thai stick and does not start smelling like dirty feet after a few uses. It did take awhile for my body to adjust to it (Themis-very interesting point about superbacteria colonies in there lol), but I was so tired of sticky gunk under my arms that I could never seem to wash off that was not helping me smell any better & stuck all in my razor. If you can suck it up a few weeks to a month of possible skin irritation (which went away for me w the use of cortisone cream a few times), this stuff will stop you from smelling. Now, I do sweat from time to time, but it is rare…just my body make up and I did do botox in my pits many moons ago which I highly doubt is still effective but makes me wonder. Thanks for the other tips here that I am going to jot down in case this stops working for me as I continue to age!
I can’t take the plastic packaging we are all drowning in, and so I use a deodorant that comes in a cardboard container. It works.
https://www.wildcarrotherbals.com/collections/natural-deodorant/products/all-day-deodorant-push-tube
I am not a dr and I have NO scientific data to prove this, BUT I had issues with underarm odor when I was younger. Once I was completely passed menopause that issue ended and I wouldn’t be surprised if that is true for many women. I still wear deodorant––Native––in the sandalwood option (which I believe I learned about on this blog!). So don’t give up hope––there may be an unscented light at the end of that menopausal tunnel.
Same, CW, except I attributed it to leaving a super stressful job. But maybe the early stages of the big M were the cause — who knows. They happened around the same time. I get a little stinky now if it’s very hot and just swipe with Pacifica Coconut Deo. Wipes.
Another fan of Native deodorant; I use the coconut and vanilla scent. The regular deodorants I tried seemed to react badly with my pits (and also with polyester clothes), making them smell acrid and chemically.