Living in sticky New York City means I'm intimately familiar with sweat in all of its forms. Sweaty girl summer is a real thing, and it demands smart solutions. My sweat stopping routine is packed with deodorants that truly perform, personal fans to keep me crisp and cool, chafing sticks that save my thighs and underboob area, formulations that kill bacteria-induced odors, and powders that prevent my makeup from slipping off by midday. Yeah, humidity hates to see me coming.
But beyond just staying dry, I'm super particular about how I smell and how fresh I feel throughout the day. There's nothing worse than lingering body odor that sneaks up in the evening when I have somewhere to be. Turns out, I'm not the only one paying more attention to body care. “There’s a growing trend for more sophisticated, cool, and unique body and personal care, driven by young independent brands looking to shake up the fairly practical and clinical categories,” Lisa Payne, Head of Beauty at trend forecasting company Stylus, previously told Marie Claire. So for me, keeping sweat and the smells that come with it in check is a non-negotiable part of my body care routine.
While it's literally impossible to stop sweating altogether—and you wouldn't want to, since it's essential for regulating body temperature—here are the 10 habits and products that help keep me confident, comfortable, and smelling fresh during the sweatiest season of the year.
Deodorants That Actually Work
There's a key difference that many people don't know: deodorant makes you smell better, whereas an antiperspirant makes you sweat less. "A deodorant has the purpose of masking malodorous sweat in the armpits. An antiperspirant stops the expression of sweat from sweat glands," Nava Greenfield, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, previously told Marie Claire. "Both are considered safe from a dermatological perspective, but some people have reactions to chemicals and preservatives found in antiperspirants and switch to a clean deodorant, which can be more gentle on the skin."
As a sweaty girl myself, I prefer aluminum-based formulas, as no studies have definitively linked the ingredient to long-term health concerns. That said, if you prefer natural deodorant alternatives, there are plenty on the market.
I've been using this spray-on antiperspirant for years, and I swear by it. While it's not the fanciest-looking product on my vanity, it gets the job done and keeps me sweat-free. And when I'm feeling like I want a little extra zhuzh, I grab the rose or cucumber scent from Dove.
Lume was one of the original brands to address smell beyond the armpits. The brand has a cult following that swears by its efficacy in blocking body odor. I am one of those fans, and I use this formula everywhere I want to keep smelling extra fresh in the summer (i.e., legs, inner thighs, underboobs, etc.).
My Anti-Chafe Army
There's nothing worse than a hot, sweaty walk through New York City on a humid day. All of a sudden, my inner thighs start to burn, my underboobs begin to drip, and I'm uncomfortable, rushing to find the nearest A/C and bathroom. Well, that was a common occurrence until I began to incorporate anti-chafe sticks (that can easily be popped in my bag!), and I haven't run into the problem since.
This brand just gets it. Founder Katie Sturino wanted to create a product to help, as she puts it, when her thighs rub together, her boobs sweat, and when her B.O. gets bad. Alas, Megababe was born, and with it came holy grail products that kick irritation and sweat to the curb.
Another anti-chafe stick I adore is from First Aid Beauty. This formula is filled with moisturizing shea butter and soothing colloidal oatmeal, which I find is wonderful for areas that are irritated and inflammed.
Powders That Keep Me Matte(ish)
Whether I'm looking to blot my t-zone when noon hits and the oiliness rolls in, or double up the sweat-protection power of my antiperspirant, I always turn to a powder. Bonus points for conveniently sized formulas to take with me for on-the-go situations.
Think of Invisimatte as pocket-sized blotting sheets. The slim, small compact can fit in my tiniest of purses and nix any shine on my face in one little tap. True magic.
Ah, this next one is a recent find of mine, and it's a product that I can't believe I ever lived without. Though it's meant to absorb sweat on its own, I like to apply the powder on top of my underarm antiperspirant or body deodorizer as an extra layer of protection.
Odor, Meet Chemical Exfoliants
I find underarm odor bothersome, so I turned to my dermatologist for recommendations on how to deal. Her suggestion? Chemical exfoliants to reduce odor-causing bacteria and exfoliate the dead skin away.
If you've frequented the sweat solutions side of TikTok, you've likely seen people hyping up this $13 bottle of glycolic acid as a remedy for underarm odor. While it won't directly reduce sweating, it does work to exfoliate dead skin and buildup from deodorant while also reducing odor.
Combine alpha hydroxy-acid (exfoliating) with niacinamide (redness reducing) and deodorant to combat odor, and you've got this all-natural, luxe formula for Nécessaire that keeps bad smells at bay.
Undercover Sweat Saviors
There have been many times when I have found myself in an inconvenient situation, and a sweatstorm rolls in. (Nerves on a date? Check. Running to catch the subway on a late morning? Absolutely.) These are the products I use to prepare for the possibility of a sweat attack.
These dermatologist-recommended treatment wipes are made for those who deal with significant sweating. Apply the wipe before bed, allow the formula to sit overnight, wash with soap and water in the morning, and watch as their sweat-reducing effects appear for the next week. Do a patch test first because they're super strong and can irritate sensitive skin.
This handy little fan and mister has become my favorite way to stay cool and prevent a sweat attack in the first place. It's small enough to keep in my work bags, so I have it on me at all times during my commute.
Why Trust Marie Claire
For more than 30 years, Marie Claire has been an internationally recognized destination for news, fashion, and beauty trends, investigative packages, and more. When it comes to the products Marie Claire recommends, we take your faith in us seriously. Every product that we feature comes personally recommended by a Marie Claire writer or editor, or by an expert we’ve spoken to firsthand.
.png?w=600)
