Deodorant : Ratings of Sources

Our AssessmentEsquire magazine tests dozens of deodorants, checking for scent, dryness and feel. The top five are listed and described, but most comments focus on scent rather than performance. The author's favorite, Ban Invisible Solid in Shower Fresh, offers the best combination of scent and protection.

Our AssessmentShape magazine's staff, readers and beauty experts test beauty products in several categories for their seventh consecutive annual beauty awards. A drugstore and department store winner is chosen for most categories, but two drugstore brands make the list for deodorant. Dove Ultimate Beauty Care is chosen for its moisturizing capabilities. Secret Sheer Mineral also makes the list but judging criteria aren't clear.

Our AssessmentIn this dated but thorough article, Eliza Truitt tests eight antiperspirants and deodorants against three different types of odors -- "old stink," "stress sweat" and "workout sweat." Secret Platinum Protection deodorant performs the best in all three tests, although Lady Mitchum Clear Gel and Crystal Stick Deodorant come close. Truitt suggests that clear or gel formulas perform better than standard formulas.

Our AssessmentEditors of TruthInAging.com analyze ingredients of beauty products in order to determine whether they are safe to use. Those that pass the ingredient evaluation are tested to determine if they live up to their claims or cause any harm. Several products are reviewed and recommended in various categories and the website is regularly updated with new recommendations. There are four deodorant brands recommended on the site, as of press time, including Pristine Recovery Take a Whiff Natural Deodorant, Dermalogica Environmental Control Deodorant, Desert Essence Aluminum Free Dry By Nature Deodorant and MBeze Natural Deodorette and Dabber Dust. Editors warn, however, that natural and aluminum-free deodorant does a better job of keeping odor away than keeping you dry.

Our AssessmentEditors of Natural Health magazine test 37 aluminum-free deodorants in the dead of summer in order to find the best. Twelve products are listed as the best, though some categories are a bit redundant. Natural deodorant from Dr. Hauschka, Dermalogica and Kiss My Face, among others, make the list. Non-winning products, however, are not mentioned.

Our AssessmentEditors of TheGreenGuide.com give tips for choosing safe and natural deodorant brands. They recommend avoiding products with parabens, fragrance and antibacterials among other things. Top natural deodorants are chosen based on their ingredient list, third-party certification and recyclable packaging. The efficacy of products is not considered, however.

Our AssessmentExperts for Men's Health magazine recommend using Certain Dri at night to relieve excessive daytime sweating. Underarms should be washed in the morning to remove excess antiperspirant, though, in order to avoid skin irritation. A standard antiperspirant with deodorant, such as Mitchum Clear Gel Antiperspirant, can then be applied in the morning for extra protection. Products mentioned in the article are not rated.

Our AssessmentIn this article, Marisa Belger discusses what she has learned through personal experience with natural deodorant. She provides application tips, ingredients to avoid and suggestions of products that have worked well for her and her husband. Belger's all-time favorite natural deodorant is Dr. Hauschka Deodorant, which she admits is expensive. She also recommends Weleda Deodorant Spray and Burt's Bees Herbal Deodorant. Crystal Body Deodorant, however, is best used as a paperweight, she says.

Our AssessmentUsers rate and review dozens of men's, women's and natural deodorants at Drugstore.com. Most deodorants only receive a handful of comments, but some get more than 100 reviews. Among those with the most reviews, Secret, Crystal and Certain Dri deodorants rate the highest.

Our AssessmentHundreds of deodorants and antiperspirants are listed for sale at Amazon.com, but most only receive a handful, if any, reviews. Certain Dri Roll-On Antiperspirant, Dove Clinical Protection and Secret Clinical Protection are all reviewed more than 100 times with high overall ratings. Gillette Clinical Strength Advanced Solid Antiperspirant is not reviewed quite as often, but does well in reviews.

Our AssessmentEditors of Shape magazine discuss tips for controlling excessive sweat, including wearing light-colored, loose-fitting cotton clothing and using an antiperspirant that contains aluminum chloride. Editors recommend consulting a physician if sweat is excessive even with low activity level and cool weather. Various physician-prescribed treatments, including Drysol and Botox injections, are discussed but over-the-counter brands are not mentioned.

Our AssessmentThis website, sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, hosts a cosmetic safety database known as Skin Deep. The database lists thousands of beauty products and gives them a hazard score. Products with a score of 0-2 are considered a low hazard, while a score of 3-6 is moderate and a score of 7-10 is a high hazard. Each product has its own page with a listing of the hazards that its ingredients are linked to, such as cancer, reproductive problems and allergies. In addition to listing hazardous ingredients, the website also states whether or not a company engages in animal testing. There are more than 500 deodorants listed, most of which have low to moderate hazard scores. While this site is very informative, it does not consider the effectiveness of any products that it rates, nor does it consider the likelihood of skin irritations. But this is an interesting reference source.