Best gel
In our guide to the best deodorants, Dr. Michele Green recommends this option from Necessaire for its quick drying time and residue-free finish. It’s aluminum and baking soda-free, and uses essential oils that give it a eucalyptus scent, according to the brand. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio uses this deodorant in the wintertime, and advises using it sparingly if you have particularly sensitive arms, as it may take a while for your skin to get used to it.
Best whole body
Castilla calls this an effective deodorizer, and likes that it’s “free from many of the ingredients that some mothers are trying to avoid,” she says. While a cream formula might take some getting used to, the texture makes it easy to apply anywhere on the body.
“Although I’ve never been pregnant, I definitely suffer from body odor and this keeps me smelling fresh throughout the entire day with zero need for reapplication or even touchups,” says NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, who received a sample from the brand. (You can learn more about her experience testing the Lume Body deodorant in her review here.) “I love that it’s not a heavy, thick cream formula that pills up over time like other deodorants — the texture is really light, so it only takes seconds to dry and feels totally weightless.” Plus, the formula — which has aloe juice, cocoa seed butter and allantoin — can help brighten and even out skin tone, according to the brand, which is helpful as “some women can experience an increase in pigmentation as well,” says Castilla.
Best vegan
This option, recommended by Castilla, has environmentally-friendly, plastic-free packaging. Plus, it “works well and rubs on easily,” she says. Instead of baking soda, it uses arrowroot powder to absorb moisture, as well as zinc and magnesium to help minimize odor, according to the brand. It comes in four scents: Eucalyptus + Fresh Mint, Beach Rose + Aloe, Vanilla Bean + Charcoal and Santal + Verbena.
Best serum
Instead of targeting sweat to stymie bacteria growth, this deodorant serum uses alpha hydroxy acids — among them mandelic and lactic acids, which help even out tone — and shikimic acid, which has an antibacterial effect. I used this extensively when dabbling in natural deodorants, and loved that it dries quickly and never stains my clothes. (The rollerball applicator was also genius.) The formula also has aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and soothe skin under the arms, according to the brand. In addition to a fragrance-free option, it comes in Serene Clean and Beachy Clean scents.
Best stick
We think this is one of the best deodorants out there; both a dermatologist and Godio are fans of the aluminum-free formula, which doesn’t have either ethanol alcohol or baking soda, making it good for sensitive skin. “I notice it leaves me smelling fresh throughout the entire day,” says Godio, who likes the cucumber and green tea scent. (It also comes in other scents including lavender and vanilla.)
Best unscented
NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin says this deodorant is one of her fragrance-free favorites. “I don’t notice a difference between how this natural deodorant and other ‘non-natural’ options work — even when I wear it during the most sweat-heavy cardio workouts,” she says. It’s infused with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, and while it does have baking soda, Native makes a baking soda-free option for sensitive skin too.
Best baking soda-free formula
Bodemer tells us that she’s a fan of this deodorant since it won’t cause irritation, as it’s free of baking soda. Instead, it uses arrowroot powder and cornstarch to help you stay dry. The creamy formula is also infused with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, castor seed oil and blueberry leaf extract.
Related
How to shop for pregnancy-safe deodorant
First, figure out whether a deodorant or antiperspirant is right for you. “Deodorants protect against odor by absorbing wetness and oftentimes adding scent, while antiperspirants block sweat itself from being released — and will usually include fragrance as well to block any odor,” says Mraz. If you sweat a lot, consider sticking with an antiperspirant for max efficacy. But if you’re concerned about aluminum or just want to err on the side of caution, then a deodorant is a good bet.
When you’re looking for a pregnancy-safe deodorant, it helps to consider two things: the ingredient that controls the sweat or odor (or both), and the fragrance.
Look for odor-fighting ingredients
“Body odor arises when skin bacteria interact with sweat,” says Castilla. “Altering the skin environment to be less conducive to bacterial growth can help improve odor.” She points to mandelic acid, a gentle acid that lowers the skin’s pH to deter odor-causing bacteria, as a good, pregnancy-safe option. Glycolic acid works similarly, although it can be a little more irritating.
Baking soda is another popular option for neutralizing odors. However, it’s alkaline, or basic, “meaning that by acting as a basic substance, it can increase the natural acidic pH of the skin,” says Sadeghpour. Since skin is naturally acidic — which helps it maintain moisture and a healthy skin barrier — increasing its pH with baking soda can “be irritating to the skin, causing dryness, redness and itching,” she says, adding that this is especially relevant for people with sensitive skin. For that reason, proceed with caution.
Be mindful of fragrance
Deodorants often work by masking body odor with, well, other odors. And “women tend to become more sensitive to smells during pregnancy,” says Castilla. Plus, skin can be more reactive during pregnancy due to hormonal changes, so you might want to skip the fragrance if you find this is the case.
Know what to avoid
You may also want to avoid other potentially harmful ingredients, like parabens and phthalates, while shopping. “Although there is no definitive evidence that parabans lead to negative impacts on human health, there are many deodorant options free of parabens — as well as many of the ingredients expecting mothers would prefer to avoid,” says Castilla. That’s because these have been linked to changes in the endocrine system in animals, although human evidence is lacking.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Carmen Castilla is a board-certified dermatologist in New York, New York who specializes in both cosmetic and medical dermatology.
- Dr. Deanne Mraz, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist and president of Modern Dermatology in Westport, Connecticut as well as a clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital.
- Dr. Mona Sadeghpour is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a board-certified dermatologist in Pennsylvania.
- Dr. Camila Janniger is a board-certified dermatologist in Wallington, New Jersey and a clinical professor of dermatology at Rutgers Medical School.
Why trust NBC Select?
Deanna Pai is a freelance beauty writer and editor who has been covering beauty and health for more than a decade, including topics like pregnancy-safe sunscreen and pregnancy-safe shampoos. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select covering skin care topics like the best night creams and products for hyperpigmentation. For this article, Pai spoke to four dermatologists to narrow down the best pregnancy-safe deodorants, and highlighted their recommendations about what to consider when shopping.
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