12 Best Deodorants and Antiperspirants for Women of All Time

IDK who needs to hear this, but deodorant and antiperspirant aren’t the same thing. I mean, sure, you swipe them both under your armpits to stop B.O. and sweat, but they actually work their magic in different ways. Deodorants stop stink (either by neutralizing odor or masking it with fragrance), whereas antiperspirants stop wetness (by plugging glands with aluminum salt compounds so they can’t release sweat). The formula you choose—whether it’s a deodorant, antiperspirant, or a combination of the two—totally depends on how heavy of a sweater you are, the activity you’re doing, and the types of ingredients you like to put on your skin. To help you find your perfect formula, I rounded up the 12 best deodorants and antiperspirants for women, below.

1 Best Brightening Deodorant for Women Dove Even Tone Rejuvenating Blossom 48-Hour Antiperspirant

target.com $5.99 SHOP NOW

Irritation from shaving or too-harsh deodorants can cause dark marks under your arms. DW, though, this 48-hour antiperspirant is infused with niacinamide (yes, the same ingredient used in brightening facial skincare products) to even out your skin tone and minimize shadows. So genius.

2 Best Smelling Deodorant for Women Secret Essential Oils Antiperspirant & Deodorant Lavender + Eucalyptus

target.com $7.99 SHOP NOW

Not gonna lie, I’m kinda obsessed with this entire collection of deodorants for women from Secret. It’s the brand’s iconic invisible solid formula (you get 48-hour protection with no white marks) infused with high-quality essential oils that are chosen by expert perfumers. There are six different fragrance combos to choose from, but my favorite is the lavender and eucalyptus blend—it legit smells like a spa.

3 Best Spray Deodorant for Women Degree Passion 72-Hour Antiperspirant & Deodorant Dry Spray

target.com $5.99 SHOP NOW

Not only is this spray antiperspirant/deodorant for women super convenient (just spritz it on where you want to stop sweat and mask odor), but it also soaks in fast without any residue and works for up to 72 hours (!!!), which means you’ll be smelling fresh and feeling dry for literal days.

4 Best Natural Deodorant for Women Meow Meow Tweet Lavender Bergamot Deodorant Stick

ulta.com $14.00 SHOP NOW

You can’t go wrong with this natural deodorant from Meow Meow Tweet. The award-winning formula uses a combo of baking soda, organic essential oils, and mineral powders to minimize body odor during the day. P.S. The sustainable packaging is 100 percent biodegradable too.

5 Best Serum Deodorant for Women Dove Dry Serum Rose Silk Antiperspirant Deodorant

cvs.com $13.99 SHOP NOW

If you’re all about the feel when it comes to deodorant, then you’ll love this dry serum option from Dove. The antiperspirant/deodorant serum is ultra lightweight, leaves your underarms smooth and soft, effectively blocks sweat, and has a pretty rose scent too.

6 Best Workout-Approved Deodorant for Women Secret Outlast Invisible Solid Antiperspirant Deodorant

amazon.com $14.91 SHOP NOW

This antiperspirant/deodorant combo was made for your sweatiest workouts. I wear it when I run and I swear my armpits smell perfectly fine after a full hour of cardio, which is pretty amazing, TBH. It uses odor blockers to prevent stink and aluminum compounds to reduce wetness. 

7 Best Baking-Soda-Free Deodorant for Women Native Sensitive Deodorant Sandalwood & Shea Butter

target.com $11.99 SHOP NOW

Even though natural deodorants are made with seemingly good-for-you ingredients, they’re not always kind to sensitive skin. So if you’re prone to irritated pits, try this gentle natural deodorant from Native. It’s made without baking soda (a potential skin irritant used in a ton of natural formulas) to keep your armpits smelling fresh without causing any redness and itching.

8 Best Fabric-Friendly Deodorant for Women Degree MotionSense Ultra Clear Black + White Invisible Solid

target.com $4.29 SHOP NOW

You know those annoying yellow stains that creep up on the armpit area of your favorite white T-shirt? It happens when the salt in your sweat mixes with the aluminum in your antiperspirant. Luckily, this antiperspirant is designed to stop that chemical reaction and, in turn, be gentler on clothes. And the innovative clear formula won’t leave any white marks on your black T-shirts either. 

9 Best Deodorant Wipes for Women Dermadoctor Med e Tate Antiperspirant Wipes

dermstore.com $48.00 SHOP NOW

Perfect for your weekend bag, beach bag, or gym bag, these individually wrapped antiperspirant wipes (you get 30 in a box) are clutch for stopping sweat when you’re out and about. Each towelette is soaked in aluminum salts and soothing botanicals to minimize wetness on contact.

10 Best Clinical-Strength Deodorant for Women Dr. Sweat Antiperspirant Deodorant Pads

amazon.com $19.28 SHOP NOW

You guys, these clinical-strength antiperspirant pads are no joke. They’re saturated with 15 percent aluminum chloride—the highest concentration available without an Rx—to reduce sweat for up to seven full days. These bbs are really meant for excessively sweaty humans—so if you’ve tried everything with no results, these superpowered pads may be just what your armpits need.

11 Best Charcoal-Infused Deodorant for Women Schmidt’s Charcoal + Magnesium Aluminum-Free Natural Deodorant Stick

target.com $6.99 SHOP NOW

ICYMI, charcoal is having a moment in the beauty world, and it also happens to be the reason this aluminum-free deodorant for women works so damn well. The all-natural ingredient helps absorb sweat and moisture (without clogging your ducts) while neutralizing odor too. A win-win.

12 Best Gel Deodorant for Women Mitchum Women Gel Antiperspirant Deodorant Powder Fresh

amazon.com $5.82 SHOP NOW

Whether you’re sweating like crazy from stress or a HIIT workout, this antiperspirant and deodorant from Mitchum has got you covered. The top-rated formula keeps pits smelling powdery fresh for 48 hours and the clear gel formula soaks in fast without leaving any white marks on your clothes.

Lauren Balsamo Deputy Beauty Director Lauren Balsamo is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan covering all things skin, hair, makeup, and nails for both the magazine and website. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.