Best Women’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin

Deodorant is a necessary part of our daily hygiene and grooming, but it can often have ingredients that are harsh and irritating. In fact, antiperspirants and deodorants are among the most common causes of cosmetic allergies. For women with sensitive skin, deodorants can be even more problematic, causing inflammation and rashes under the arms. It can be difficult to understand and avoid harsh ingredients when you’re trying to find a woman’s deodorant for you. That’s why today, we’re looking into the best women’s deodorant for sensitive skin that really works. Let’s take a closer look!

Table of Contents

• Best Women’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: Brands to Try
  • Almay Sensitive Skin Clear Gel
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Humble Brands All Natural Vegan Aluminum Free Deodorant Stick for Sensitive Skin
    • Pros
    • Cons
• Best Deodorant for Women who are Sensitive to Baking Soda
  • Schmidt’s Aluminum Free Sensitive Skin Baking Soda-Free Natural Deodorant for Men and Women
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Cleo+Coco Natural Deodorant for Women
  • • Pros
    • Cons
  • THAI Natural Crystal Deodorant Stick
• What Causes Deodorant Rash?
  • Underarm Skin is More Delicate
  • Warmth and Moisture
  • Friction
  • Shaving
  • Irritants and Allergens
  • Potential Irritants in Deodorant
  • Aluminum
  • Alcohol
  • Parabens
  • Fragrances
• Best Women’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: A Wrap Up

Best Women’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: Brands to Try

Check out these sensitive skin friendly deodorants for women that won’t give you a rash:

Almay Sensitive Skin Clear Gel

Available on Amazon

Almay Sensitive Skin Clear Gel does contain aluminum, but it contains aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, a form of aluminum that is less likely to trigger sensitivities. This clear gel formula dries quickly, with no residue on your skin or clothes, and provides all-day protection from wetness and odor. It is fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and dermatologist tested. It’s a gentle and effective formula that blocks wetness and odor without fragrances or allergens.

Pros

• Hypoallergenic
• Fragrance free
• Gentle ingredients
• Quick drying
• Lasting protection
• No residue

Cons

• Does contain a mild form of aluminum, as well as some polymers and dipropylene glycol that some people are sensitive to

Humble Brands All Natural Vegan Aluminum Free Deodorant Stick for Sensitive Skin

Available on Amazon

The Humble All Natural Deodorant contains just four simple, effective, natural ingredients, along with essential oils for fragrance. While synthetic fragrances may be a cause of irritation and allergies, essential oils are generally not triggering for sensitive skin. You can also choose the Humble fragrance free deodorant to be on the even safer side.

These deodorants are crafted of all natural, organic ingredients, made in small batches in the USA. They are certified cruelty-free, and contain no aluminum, alcohol, dyes, parabens, or artificial fragrances. These deodorants contain just coconut oil, organic corn starch, magnesium hydroxide, and wild-harvested candelilla wax, along with essential oils for fragrance.

The fragrances are natural and unisex, featuring scents like mountain lavender, bergamot and ginger, and palo santo and frankincense. They are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee

Pros

• Natural, organic ingredients
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• No artificial fragrances, preservatives, parabens, alcohol, or aluminum
• Made in small batches in the USA
• Natural, unisex fragrances or unscented

Cons

• May not be effective enough for people who sweat heavily

Best Deodorant for Women who are Sensitive to Baking Soda

Baking soda is a very common ingredient in natural, hypoallergenic deodorants, because it is so effective at fighting odor, but there are people who are sensitive to baking soda. It can be difficult to find a sensitive skin deodorant that is also free of baking soda, so we’re sharing our favorites.

Schmidt’s Aluminum Free Sensitive Skin Baking Soda-Free Natural Deodorant for Men and Women

Available on Amazon

Schmidt’s Aluminum Free Sensitive Skin Baking Soda-Free Natural Deodorant for Men and Women is made of natural, plant-based ingredients, but it’s also incredibly effective at fighting body odor all day long. Just a small amount is all you need for lasting protection.

Schmidt’s Sensitive Skin formula is vegan and certified cruelty free, with no aluminum, gluten, propylene glycol, artificial fragrances, baking soda, or animal-derived products. It has skin-soothing shea butter and vitamin E oil, and does contain geranium essential oil, for a light and natural fragrance.

Pros

• Natural, vegan, and cruelty-free
• Skin-healthy ingredients
• No artificial fragrances, aluminum, or baking soda
• Effective at fighting odor

Cons

• May leave residue on skin and clothing
• Some people don’t care for the scent

Cleo+Coco Natural Deodorant for Women

Available on Amazon

The Cleo+Coco Natural Deodorant for Women uses charcoal and bentonite clay to absorb and eliminate odor, instead of baking soda. It was nominated for Best in Show at the IndieBeautyExpo, won the Taste for Life Essentials award in 2019, and is recognized as one of Allure magazine’s top 10 Green Beauty Brands.

The Cleo+Coco Natural Deodorant for Women contains no parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. It’s cruelty-free and made in the USA and has no aluminum or baking soda. Bentonite clay helps to naturally eliminate odor and bacteria while detoxing the body, and it also has activated charcoal, arrowroot, and skin-soothing coconut oil and shea butter.

The sensitive skin formula is naturally scented with blue tansy essential oil and calming chamomile to help reduce inflammation and provide a gentle, nonirritating scent. This formula goes on with no residue, won’t stain clothes, and provides 24 hour protection.

Pros

• Natural ingredients and fragrances
• No aluminum, parabens, baking soda, or artificial fragrances
• Made in the USA
• Cruelty-free
• Quick absorption with no residue
• Pleasant, calming fragrance
• Soothes, heals, and detoxes skin

Cons

• More pricey than regular deodorants

THAI Natural Crystal Deodorant Stick

Available on Amazon

Natural crystal deodorants use the power of mineral salts to reduce wetness and odor under the arms. They are unscented, non-staining, non-fragranced, and all natural.

The THAI Natural Crystal Deodorant Stick uses natural potassium alum mineral salts to inhibit odor-causing bacteria without harming the skin or the body’s natural perspiration. This stick eliminates odor without reducing wetness, and without any harmful or irritating ingredients. It’s hypoallergenic and works with the body instead of against it. It can also be used on the feet to reduce foot odor.

Pros

• Completely natural mineral salts
• Works by altering the pH of your skin to reduce odor-causing bacteria
• Simple to use
• No residue
• No staining
• Long-lasting protection
• Can also be used on the feet

Cons

• Does not reduce moisture
• Does not work with everyone’s skin chemistry
• May not work well for people who sweat heavily

What Causes Deodorant Rash?

While many people with sensitive skin focus more on the skin of their face and hands, there are many reasons that the area under the arms is particularly susceptible to irritation and rashes. Here are the primary reasons that this area is so easily inflamed.

Underarm Skin is More Delicate

The thin skin in the armpits is more delicate than in other parts of the body, with less natural protection.

Warmth and Moisture

The natural warmth and moisture of the under arm area creates an environment that invites odor-causing or skin-irritating bacteria and makes it a common site for fungal and yeast infections.

Friction

The armpits are frequently rubbing against each other, or against clothing, which can irritate skin.

Shaving

While shaving isn’t typically harmful, using a dull razor or insufficient lubrication can irritate the skin. This can make the armpits more susceptible to stinging or harmful ingredients in deodorant, or cause razor burn or ingrown hairs that closely resembles allergies and inflammation.

Irritants and Allergens

Antiperspirants and deodorants can have a number of ingredients that work to reduce odor and moisture, but also irritate the skin.

Potential Irritants in Deodorant

While every sensitive skin is different, according to WebMD, here are the most common ingredients in deodorant that can cause irritation and inflammation.

Aluminum

Aluminum is used in antiperspirants to temporarily block the sweat glands, so it reduces moisture. But it can irritate the skin, and sometimes the blocked sweat glands can become irritated or inflamed. Aluminum is also the ingredient that tends to stain and discolor your clothes.

Alcohol

Alcohol is a common ingredient in lotions and creams to make them flow more smoothly. In deodorants they’re used to make your skin feel cool. They also let the product dry quickly. Alcohol can have a drying effect on skin and may cause irritation.

Parabens

Parabens are a preservative, and they used to be used in nearly all cosmetic and skin care products. Because so many people are sensitive to them, they are less common than they were, but people with delicate skin should still read the ingredients to make sure their deodorant doesn’t have parabens.

Fragrances

Because they are used to reduce body odor, many deodorants contain fragrances that mask or conceal odors. Many people have allergies or sensitivity to fragrances and perfumes, and some particularly sensitive people can be allergic to fragrances worn by other people. It’s best to use fragrance-free deodorants, especially if you work closely with the public.

If you experience ongoing irritation in the under arm area, it may be worth seeing a dermatologist or allergist, because you may be sensitive to other ingredients not reflected here. There may be dyes, emollients, preservatives, or other ingredients in antiperspirants and deodorants that are irritating your skin.

Best Women’s Deodorant for Sensitive Skin: A Wrap Up

If you have sensitive skin, it’s important to read ingredients carefully before using a product. When in doubt, do a patch test on your arm before applying a new deodorant to the sensitive skin in your underarms. If irritation persists, it’s best to see a doctor.

Sensitive skin can be difficult to care for, so check out our top makeup brands for delicate skin and take care of yourself and your skin.

Related Posts on Our Blog:

• Safest Antiperspirants
• Best Carrier Oil for Sensitive Skin
• Best Face Washes for Sensitive and Oily Skin
• Top Antibacterial Soaps for Body Odor

If you have sensitive skin, do you have a favorite antiperspirant/deodorant to recommend?