The Top 4 Antiperspirants of 2025, Evaluated by a Fitness Expert
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From marathon training in muggy Midwestern summers to teaching HIIT workouts in packed boutique studios, I know the moment when a light trickle of sweat turns into a full-blown underarm waterfall — and how fast confidence can disappear with it. The truth is, deodorant alone doesn’t usually cut it. It fights the bacteria that form odor, but it doesn’t actually do anything to stop sweat. That’s where the best antiperspirants come in, using active ingredients (often aluminum chloride) to prevent sweat, these formulas help you stay dry before things get steamy, says Stephanie Taylor, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist.
Sweat and odor are natural, but they don’t have to be inevitable, especially if you have the right product. So to help you find your match, I tested five derm-recommended antiperspirants through sun-drenched dog walks, two-hour tennis matches, and back-to-back workout classes. I paid attention to dryness, scent (yes, I did a few public sniff tests), skin sensitivity, and real-life performance. The result? A reliable list of sweat-stopping, odor-blocking antiperspirants that work as hard as you do.
Type: Stick | Active Ingredients: Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly (20%) | Size: 2.6 ounces
Secret’s Clinical Strength Antiperspirant Deodorant is an absolute workhorse. It’s specifically designed to attack the three biggest sources of sweat: stress, heat, and activity. And naturally, I put it through all three in one day (for science, of course). In the morning, I had to present during a high-stakes, company-wide meeting. Then, after work, I hit the tennis courts for two hours of competitive play and rewarded myself with a post-win sauna sesh. I did break a slight sweat in the sauna, but compared to regular deodorant? This stuff seriously shocked me.
So, what makes this antiperspirant so powerful? It boasts the highest percentage of active ingredient (20% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly) of any product we tested. Translation: It works hard. So, whether you’re a major sweater, chronic stresser, or both (hi, same), I highly recommend this dependable product. Personally, I loved the Completely Clean scent that kept me smelling shower-fresh. But heads up: There aren’t any fragrance-free options, so if you’ve got sensitive skin, you might want to skip to our next pick.
My Overall Score: 5 – In Perfect Shape!
Type: Stick | Active Ingredients: Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly (11.4%) | Size: 2.6 ounces
During my two-week test, I found myself reaching for Dove’s Even Tone Antiperspirant over and over. Swiping it on felt like slipping into my coziest joggers — smooth, comforting, and reliable. The stick glides on effortlessly, with a silky on-skin feel that lingers for hours. That said, the formula is pretty delicate. It crumbled more easily than others I tested, and when I accidentally knocked it off the bathroom counter, the edge of the stick broke off immediately.
What makes this antiperspirant a sensitive skin savior is that it includes niacinamide, a skincare ingredient known for boosting skin’s elasticity and helping fade hyperpigmentation. I’ll admit, I’d never really considered that my armpits deserve the same TLC as my face, but this stick makes a strong case, especially for targeting dark and dry underarm spots. Plus, after a long day of housework followed by a sweaty HIIT workout, I was impressed: while my face may have turned 50 shades of red, my underarms stayed dry and smelled fresh.
My Overall Score: 5 – In Perfect Shape!
Type: Stick | Active Ingredients: Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (16%) | Size: 2.6 ounces
Degree’s Advanced Antiperspirant claims to be heat-activated, so I obviously put it to the test in the hottest place I know: my condo building’s gym, which is stuffy on a good day and downright stifling when the sun’s out. After a 30-minute treadmill running workout, I was seriously impressed. Most of my sweat came from my temples and hairline, with just a few stray drips from my underarms. I only needed a quick face wash to feel fresh enough to continue my day — no reapplication needed.
The Shower Clean scent was one of my favorites during testing. No matter how hot I got, I felt fresh as a daisy. This antiperspirant is definitely one that I’d confidently use before heated or high-intensity workouts, as long as there’s room in my gym backpack. The packaging is a bit bulky, with a curved lid and a larger bottom that takes up more space than others I tested.
My Overall Score: 5 – In Perfect Shape!
Type: Wipes | Active Ingredients: Aluminum chlorohydrate (15%) | Size: 7 x 9 inches
As someone who’s constantly rotating through multiple bags, I immediately loved the convenience of Carpe’s On-the-Go Antiperspirant Underarm Wipes. They were the perfect addition to my recent Utah trip, where hiking and canyoneering were on the agenda. The wipes fit easily into my TSA-approved bag, and I liked that I could only pack as many as I’d need for my four-day adventure.
On our first day of hiking, I unfolded a wipe and was surprised by its size — it felt a bit too large for the small coverage area. So while extremely effective, these single-use wipes are not the most environmentally friendly. When you swipe them on, they feel wet but dry in seconds, leaving behind a fresh, unisex scent. And they kept me dry over a four-mile trek with some light rock scrambling. Best of all, there was no residue left behind on my dark sports bra.
My Overall Score: 4 – Now We’re Talking
Type: Stick | Active Ingredients: Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate | Size: 2.6 ounces | Scent: Soft powder, clean tangerine, lavender sage, unscented
I’ve been seeing the Lumē Deodorant all over my social feeds lately, especially this one that claims 72-hour odor and sweat protection. While I love the slim profile that doesn’t take up much space in my gym bag, it just doesn’t live up to the hype.
From the first swipe, I noticed that the stick doesn’t glide on smoothly. Instead, it pulls and tugs on my skin. I opted for the unscented version, but it actually had a faint, medicinal scent that wasn’t exactly pleasant. And by the middle of a typical WFH day, I could tell it wasn’t holding up (if you know what I mean). This stick did help with sweat, but what’s the point if odor still breaks through? Dry but smelly isn’t exactly a win.
My Overall Score: 2 – OK, But Nothing Special
The only way to find the best antiperspirants for women is to actually try them all out, so that’s exactly what I did. For each product, I took detailed notes on the most important factors to consider: application experience, scent, sweat control, odor protection, longevity, and staining.
I applied each antiperspirant as soon as I woke up, taking note of how the formula felt going on and how my skin reacted (or didn’t). Every few hours, I did my version of a scratch-and-sniff test by feeling for any dampness in my underarm area while also sniffing my pits to see if any odor had materialized. Yes, I even did this in public — you’re welcome!
To test just how effective these antiperspirants are, I made sure to pack a lot into my testing days — like multiple dog walks in 80-degree weather, a hike while on vacation in Colorado, or doubling up on fitness classes. Through each activity, I paid particular attention to how sweaty I was before, during, and after. I also spoke to dermatologists for their advice on what makes an antiperspirant effective for different types of users.
Kristen Geil, NASM-CPT, is a former senior fitness editor at Shape with several years of experience testing fitness and personal care products. A five-time marathoner and NASM-certified personal trainer, Kristen is no stranger to sweating. Whether it’s walking her dog, playing hours of tennis, or teaching group fitness classes, she has first-hand experience in finding antiperspirants that actually work. For this article, Kristen tested six antiperspirants over the course of two weeks. She also interviewed two board-certified dermatologists to learn more about what makes the best antiperspirant:
