Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications
When you lead a busy lifestyle, the last thing you want to think about is sweaty underarms! A good deodorant should keep you feeling comfortable, dry and smelling fresh, so you can go about your day without any body odour issues. But if you suffer from excessive sweating, have sensitive skin, or you're into sports and fitness, finding exactly the right antiperspirant product is not an easy task.
If you're having trouble deciding between a spray, roll-on, cream or stick, our detailed buying guide is here to help. We have recommended the top 10 best deodorants to buy from Amazon, Tesco and Asda, from popular brands like Dove, Mitchum, Nivea, and Salt of the Earth. Whether you're after something natural and vegan, aluminium-free, moisturising, or unscented, we've got something to keep you and your pits fresh!
Felipe Partarrieu is a dermatologist, who is GMC registered with a full licence to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skin care, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Felipe Partarrieu is a dermatologist, who is GMC registered with a full licence to practise in the UK. Specialising in cosmeceuticals, facial skin care, and hair disorders, we worked with Felipe to bring you top quality information to help you make informed buying decisions and understand more about what goes onto your skin.
Spray bottles are a popular type of deodorant because they're very convenient – just a few spritzes and you're ready to go! You don't need to wait around for them to dry, like you might need to with other formulas.
However, their bulky size can be a bit of an inconvenience when packing a bag, so they're not the best choice if you travel often. They also aren't great for the environment, as they contain volatile organic compounds which can contribute to air pollution. If this is a concern, you could always try a non-aerosol pump-action spray, often found on natural products.
This kind of deodorant sprays the product into the air, it can irritate people with asthma or allergies. If you're sensitive to particles in the air, spray the product in a well-ventilated room or cover your mouth and nose during application.
The main benefit of choosing a roll-on is that they usually contain water as a primary ingredient, so they're a hydrating choice for dry underarms. They tend to be compact in size too, so are great for throwing into your gym bag, overnight bag or carry-on.
The downsides to this type of deodorant are that they take a while to dry properly and the formula can be sticky, making it difficult to re-apply throughout the day.
Most roll-on deodorants offer clear formulas specifically designed not to leave white marks on your clothes. Their compact size makes them ideal for keeping a spare at work or in your locker.
Most of the time, they also deliver a larger amount of active ingredients to your underarms than spray deodorants; they are not only the ones responsible for getting read of body odour but also some nutrients and soothing ingredients like stearyl-ester alcohols, water and barley extract.
Cream deodorants typically come in a solid stick format, so they're incredibly easy to put on (and impossible to over-apply). They also have excellent moisturising properties, so are ideal for those with dry or sensitive skin, or those who shave or wax.
Speaking of shaving, check out our picks for the best lady shavers and razors for women!
The only downside for some users is that they do occasionally leave white marks on black or coloured clothing, as cream formulas don't dry onto the skin as much as other varieties. But this will vary from brand to brand, and can be avoided by taking care when dressing.
Stick and cream deodorants tend to have much less alcohol in their formulation than roll-ons or sprays, hence less drying. People with dry and/or sensitive skin on the underarm area benefit from using cream deodorants as they usually contain moisturising ingredients and much more water than their counterparts. Another bonus of cream deodorants is they tend to last longer.
In order to truly banish body odour, you might want to opt for a deodorant with an added scent. Floral fragrances are very popular and keep you smelling lovely all day, while citrus aromas are more neutral, and will make you feel like you've just stepped out of the shower.
On the other hand, if you have sensitive skin that's easily irritated, or you don't want a deodorant that clashes with your favourite perfume, you might prefer an unscented product instead.
Spray deodorants are flexible as you can apply them to other body parts other than the underarms, especially if they are scented, as most perfumes. Dermatologists agree that fragrances are a leading cause of allergic reactions on the skin, but not all people are at risk.
People with atopic dermatitis have an increased risk of becoming sensitised (allergic) to fragrances due to their disrupted skin barrier function, so they should stick to fragrance-free products. To identify fragrant ingredients, look for other words in the ingredient list like eugenol, geraniol, citronellol, linalool and limonene.
Deodorants often contain alcohol, which fights odour-causing bacteria and helps the formula dry quickly. However, it can also dehydrate skin and may sting if applied to freshly shaven underarms. If you're prone to irritation, we suggest avoiding alcohol and trying a product with natural antibacterial ingredients, such as those found in citrus or other essential oils.
Aluminium is another common ingredient that you might want to avoid. Although there's no direct link, some scientists suggest that it may cause gene instability in breast tissue, which could create tumour growth. Luckily, there are aluminium-free options out there if you'd rather not take the risk!
Explore these aluminium-free deodorants for a safer option.
Aluminium chloride is rarely a cause of skin allergy, but it can irritate if used in excess. Alcohols are a major component of many aerosol sprays and consumer products designed to contact the skin.
They leave a cool and refreshing feeling on the skin, but they can also dry it out and contribute to irritation. If you have a history of sensitive skin, you may prefer alcohol-free deodorants (they come in all forms, even spray).
This top-selling deodorant by Sure has a special tri-solid formula that provides a deep protective layer across your sweat glands, so it's guaranteed to keep you fresh all day and night! The cream stick formula makes it easy to apply, and the blend of skin moisturising ingredients makes it gentle enough for everyday use.
Plus, it has a clean-smelling fragrance and is just the right size to pop into your handbag. For all of these reasons, this superb product is our top pick!
This aerosol deodorant by Dove lasts for 48 hours and is proven to leave no white marks on your clothes. It also contains absolutely no alcohol and 1/4 moisturising cream so it won't irritate your underarms.
We love the fresh, delicate scent of this product – it smells just like clean laundry! Best of all, it's a huge bottle and is ideal for keeping on your bathroom shelf.
This dermatologically tested roll-on by Mitchum keeps sweat and odour under control for 48 hours, so you'll feel confident whatever you get up to at the weekend. It's alcohol-free, too, so it won't sting your underarms – even after shaving!
With a long-lasting, pleasant fragrance and a quick-drying formula, we think this is a fantastic choice, especially if you tend to sweat a lot!
Just a pea-sized amount of this citrus-scented cream by The Natural Deodorant Co. will leave you feeling cheerfully clean all day! Essential oils like lemon and geranium not only smell amazing but actively fight the bacteria that cause odour.
With a soft, whipped consistency and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, this product will melt effortlessly into your skin and provide much-needed moisture for your delicate underarms. Plus it's totally free from aluminium!
This product is the ideal size for popping into your gym bag, and the uplifting fruity scent will be sure to brighten your day! A must-have for summer, whether it be for surviving the commute or a marathon.
Nivea's Double Effect deodorant spray promises 48 hours of protection against sweat and dampness. It also contains natural avocado extract, to keep your underarms feeling silky smooth.
Whilst the floral fragrance may be a bit too sickly sweet for some, we think this is a product that gets the job done! The spray is also free from alcohol and dermatologically approved.
Since it's free from harsh chemicals, it doesn't block your pores and is suitable for sensitive skin with a wonderful citrusy fragrance. Overall, it is a great investment for calm and refreshed underarms.
With skin-caring ProDerma™ technology, this roll-on by Vaseline has a unique blend of ingredients that keeps your underarms soft as well as dry. Without the irritation from any alcohols.
This product is ideal if you have sensitive skin but still want a light fragrance that will keep you smelling fresh all day. It may not be strong enough for some armpits but it's a good option for those who only sweat a little.
Made with aloe vera and over 15 botanical extracts, this all-natural deodorant will help to soothe your underarms whilst providing a refreshing scent. Even though it's a spray, it's not a pressurised container like an aerosol so it isn't as harmful to the environment.
It's just a shame that this product takes a while to dry and isn't as tough on sweat as some of our other recommendations. You may also find that for the quantity, it has a higher price-point than most of our other selections in this ranking.
Although this product contains milk proteins that will nourish your underarms, this unfortunately means it's not suitable for vegans or allergy sufferers. If you don't mind animal-derived ingredients though, this cheap formula is perfect!
Written and researched by Nicola McClements
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
Household goods
PC and cameras
Home appliances and electronics
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Travel
Smartphones and mobile phones
Music
Smartphone applications