When it comes to caring for your pits, it seems the pendulum is swinging beyond the traditional deo. The best exfoliating deodorants are kicking things up a notch via potent actives that yield amplified benefits than the average formulas. “To combat odor, AHA-based deodorant formulas work by lowering the skin’s PH, creating an environment where odor-causing bacteria can’t thrive,” Claudia Sulewski, founder of Cyklar, tells Vogue. Plus, per Erin Sale of Saltair, “deodorants that contain exfoliating acids can also help to smooth and brighten skin, plus reduce the appearance of ingrown hairs (often caused by a buildup of dead skin cells over the hair follicle).” We like to think of it as a continuation of skincare below the neck in line with the year’s emerging body care trends; in this case, going beyond odor-prevent for smoother, brighter underarms.
And no, that’s not all fluff—there’s a real science behind it. Natural deodorants often have a bad rep of just not doing the trick, with formulas that may exclude harsh ingredients, but as board-certified nurse practitioner Vanessa Coppola explains, they don’t address the real issue. “Sweat itself is not what causes odor—it is the interaction between sweat and bacteria on the skin,” she says. “Many natural formulas rely on absorbing moisture or masking odor, but they don’t significantly shift that bacterial environment.” Exfoliating deodorants, however, change that dynamic: As Coppola explains, instead of trying to outperform sweat, AHAs help to actually interrupt the process in the first place.
Vogue’s Favorite Exfoliating Deodorants
Nécessaire The Deodorant Gel
Read more
Cyklar Mandelic Acid Brightening Deodorant Gel
Read more
Saltair 5% AHA Serum Deodorant
Read more
Drunk Elephant Sweet Pitti Deodorant Cream
Read more
Kaia Naturals Brightening Deodorant + Body Balm
Read more
In This Story
I, too, remained a healthy skeptic of the concept—especially during warmer months when natural deos failed me during sweaty L train commutes to work. Don’t even get me started on the grainy cream bases that didn’t feel worth the discomfort, even if the benefits stood up to the test. It was Cyklar’s gel that made me a full-on convert. For starters, it’s packed with mandelic acid which helping to clear my acne-prone skin, and as it turns out, is excellent to prevent ingrown hairs and brighten hyperpigmentation on my olive-toned skin.
And, on a less efficacious, more aesthetic note, many of these natural exfoliating formulas often deliver the same sleek aesthetics in their packaging and experience as prestige skin-care products. “When thinking about skincare rituals, we are always considering the experience (through formula, texture, fragrance, and packaging) just as much as the performance, ” says Sulewski. “When a product works, and it makes me feel something, that’s when I know it’s earned a spot in my routine and ritual.” With all that in mind, below are Vogue’s six favorite exfoliating deodorant formulas to know.
For Smoothing: Nécessaire The Déodorant Gel
- Why We Love It: Nécessaire’s cooling, gel deodorant, has been around since 2022, and paved the way for the category’s slow-burning demand. It’s no wonder board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Mina Amin, MD considers it a go-to. “This deodorant is unique because it contains 5% AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) to help with any skin texture concerns, and it also has niacinamide to soothe the skin,” Dr. Amin previously told Vogue.
- Editor’s Experience: “I prefer Nécessaire’s gel to its creamy offering, mostly because this one feels more comfortable on the skin. Lightweight, yet packed to the brim with not only exfoliating acids and gentle agents like witch hazel, glycerin, and panthenol, it’s well-rounded to keep my pits balanced.” —Kiana Murden, beauty shopping editor
- Key Ingredients: Mandelic acid, witch hazel water, lactic acid, panthenol, niacinamide, glycerin, matricaria flower extract
- Format: Roll-on gel
- Scents: 2
- More To Know: Free from aluminum, baking soda, parabens, PEGs, and silicones.
- Size: 1.7 fl oz
