If you sweat a lot, a deodorant is not enough to keep your underarms dry and odour-free. What you need is an antiperspirant.
While a deodorant only helps reduce the sweaty odour, an antiperspirant blocks sweat from reaching the skin surface. So your underarms, and clothes, stay dry.
Most antiperspirants also have a deodorizing and antimicrobial effect that eliminates the smell of sweat.
By preventing sweating, antiperspirants also prevent the dreaded yellow staining sweat causes on bright clothes.
In this UK buying guide, we recommend the best antiperspirants for men who sweat a lot. These antiperspirants are stronger and provide longer-lasting protection compared to most other brands in the marker.
They all work great for men who sweat a lot whether due to an underlying health condition, certain medications or an active lifestyle. These antiperspirants will keep you dry, fresh and odour-free.
Key Considerations When Buying Antiperspirant for Men Who Sweat a Lot
A. Antiperspirant Deodorant
The first thing to check is whether what you are about to buy is actually an antiperspirant. Some deodorants will claim to prevent sweating, but all they do is prevent the sweaty odour.
Check whether the product is labelled as an antiperspirant. Some are labelled as antiperspirant deodorants, meaning they prevent sweat from reaching your skin and keep away the sweaty stink as well.
If it’s not clear what a product is, check the ingredients list. Virtually all antiperspirants contain an aluminium salt. This is the main active ingredient that stops sweating by plugging skin pores.
It can be aluminium chloride, aluminium dichlorohydrate, aluminium chlorohydrate or some other type of aluminium salt.
Aluminium salts not only prevent sweat from pooling on your skin; they also have a natural antimicrobial effect that reduces smell-causing bacteria.
If the product you want to buy doesn’t have an aluminium salt in the list of ingredients, it is most likely a deodorant and it will not stop you from sweating.
Note: Some companies will label their antiperspirants as deodorants (probably for marketing purposes), so always check the ingredients list to be sure that you are buying an antiperspirant.
B. Protection Time
The other thing you want to look for is the protection period or the amount of time the antiperspirant will keep you sweat-free.
A good antiperspirant should have, at a minimum, a 24-hour protection period. You can apply the antiperspirant in the evening before bedtime and stay sweat (and smell) free throughout the next day.
But if you sweat a lot, it’s a good idea to get an antiperspirant with extra power and a longer protection period.
Some of the best antiperspirants can protect you for up to 5 days after just one application.
C. Skin Sensitivity
If you have sensitive skin, look for a gentle antiperspirant that doesn’t cause irritation or breakouts. This is especially important if you shave your armpits often, since shaving increases skin sensitivity.
Tip: Apply moisturising cream after (not before) you apply antiperspirant. It’ll prevent your armpits from drying out and can reduce or prevent irritation.
D. Stain-free Antiperspirant
Avoid antiperspirants that leave marks on bright or dark clothing. A quick look through the customer reviews will tell you whether a particular antiperspirant is stain-free.
Note, however, that how you use the antiperspirant can result in staining. Applying too much antiperspirant or applying it on wet skin can leave marks on clothes.
Most manufacturers recommend applying on completely dry skin. Many also recommend applying antiperspirant before you go to bed, rather than in the morning. This not only prevents staining, it also gives the antiperspirant time to work its magic.
Don’t worry, the antiperspirant won’t wash off when you shower in the morning.
E. Roll-on vs. Spray
We generally find roll-on antiperspirants to be the best. A roll-on is easy to apply and delivers more antiperspirant compared to a spray.
With a roll-on, you are able to quickly apply a nice thick layer of antiperspirant that protects you for longer.
You also have better control over the amount of antiperspirant you apply. With a spray, it’s easy to apply antiperspirant unevenly.
Where a spray antiperspirant shines is when you are on the go. It’s easy to quickly spray your underarms in the bathroom in the middle of the workday.
If you don’t like either roll-ons or sprays, you can also get antiperspirant in form of a cream or stick.
Best Antiperspirants for Men Who Sweat a Lot: Top 5 Reviews
1. L ‘Oréal Paris Men Expert Deodorant Roll-On, 6 x 50 ml
The L ‘Oréal Paris Men Expert antiperspirant deodorant protects you in four ways. It prevents wetness on the skin, eliminates bad odours, controls bacteria and prevents sweat stains.
In addition, it provides a minty cooling effect that’s feels especially great on hot days.
The roll-on XXL ball is easy to use. It covers a large surface area, allowing you to apply the antiperspirant in just a few seconds.
The L ‘Oréal Paris Men Expert antiperspirant offers 48-hour sweat protection. That said, we recommend applying it every evening after shower if you sweat a lot. It will completely stop sweat even on extra-hot days or when you are active.
In addition to preventing sweat and sweaty odours, the Men Expert antiperspirant also leaves behind a nice masculine fragrance.
This pack includes six roll-ons, each with 50ml of antiperspirant. The pack should last you for a while.
What we like about it:
- Pack of six for a great price.
- 48-hour sweat protection.
- Deodorizing effect that eliminates bad smells.
- Minty cool fragrance.
2. Perspirex for Men Extra-Effective Antiperspirant Roll On, 1 x 20ml
Perspirex is the most expensive among our picks. It also offers the best protection for men who sweat a lot.
A single application of Perspirex for Men Maximum Strength offers protection for up to 5 days, longer than most antiperspirants.
Perspirex Maximum Strength is specially formulated for men with severe sweating. To get the best results, apply it at night after showering (make sure skin is dry). You do not need to reapply in the morning.
This is a small 20ml bottle. Considering the price, we don’t recommend applying it every evening. You’ll still get sweat protection when you apply it every 2-3 days.
Note that the Perspirex antiperspirant has no fragrance. If anything, the smell is a bit unpleasant. You may want to pair it with a nice-smelling deodorant or perfume. Just make sure you apply the spray or deodorant after you apply Perspirex.
What we like about it:
- Bone dry protection for 5 days.
- Great for extreme sweating.
- No fragrance – ideal for smell or skin-sensitive men.
3. Right Guard Men’s Deodorant, 6 x 250ml
If you are shopping on a budget, the Right Guard Men’s deodorant is one of the cheapest antiperspirants in the market. This 6-pack costs almost the same as a single 20ml bottle of Perspirex.
Of course, it’s not as powerful. But with daily application, it work just as well as other antiperspirants.
Don’t worry about the ‘deodorant’ name in the label. Right Guard contains Aluminum Chlorohydrate as an active ingredient, so it does actually stop sweating.
It also has a deodorizing effect to eliminate bad odours and leave you smelling nice (it has a sporty fragrance).
By stopping sweat, the Right Guard antiperspirant also prevents the staining and white marks caused by sweat.
The company says Right Guard provides 48-hour sweat protection. But to be safe, we recommend applying it daily in the evening after taking a shower.
What we like about it:
- Cheap but effective.
- 48-hour protection.
- Sporty fragrance.
4. Mitchum Ultimate Men Antiperspirant & Deodorant, 1 x 45g
If you prefer a cream antiperspirant, we recommend Mitchum Ultimate. The 2-in-1 antiperspirant and deodorant provides 48hr protection against sweaty odours, wetness, stickiness and sweat stains.
Mitchum Ultimate is designed especially for men who sweat a lot. It clogs sweat ducts, keeping your underarms dry even in hot weather.
For best results, apply the Mitchum Ultimate antiperspirant before you go to bed to give it time to work.
The antiperspirant is safe for all skin types, but it’s always a good idea to do a patch test and check for any reactions.
The Mitchum Ultimate antiperspirant has a nice fragrance that lasts for hours.
One thing to note is that the Mitchum Ultimate antiperspirant cream is more likely to leave white marks on your clothes, especially if you apply it in the morning right before you dress.
To avoid this, apply it at night so that the residue is washed off when you shower in the morning. If you have to apply it in the morning, avoid wearing dark clothes.
What we like about it:
- Easy to apply cream.
- Effective at stopping heavy perspiration for up to 48 hours.
- Nice fragrance.
- Safe for sensitive skin.
5. Certain Dri Antiperspirant Roll-On, 1 x 35.5ml
If most of the antiperspirants you’ve tried don’t work well, it’s time to try a prescription strength antiperspirant.
One of the highest rated ones is the Certain Dri Anti-Perspirant Roll-On. It provides sweat protection for up to 72 hours.
It’s formulated for people with hyperhidrosis, the name given to unusually excessive sweating. It’s so powerful that the manufacturer warns that you should not use it if you have sensitive skin.
And even for people with normal skin, it’s important to apply a thin layer. Use too much and it could cause some irritation. Definitely do not apply it after shaving. It stings.
Similar to other antiperspirants, it is important that you apply it at night before bed rather than in the morning. This ensures the antiperspirant has time to plug your sweat ducts and stop sweat.
You do not need to apply the Certain Dri antiperspirant daily. In fact, it’s not a good idea to use it daily as it can cause irritation. A single application every 2-3 days is enough to keep you sweat-free.
What we like about it
- Very effective for people who sweat excessively.
- Daily application not necessary.
- 72-hour sweat protection.
