I’ve started using a new deodorant, Degree Ultra Clear. According to the label, it’s 100% little black dress approved. Does this also include big white dresses? Luckily, I don’t stink when I sweat. I rarely sweat, actually. Since I’d like to be dry as a bone on my wedding day (don’t want to ruin that beautiful fabric!), I think I’d like to see what deodorant actually works for people.
Technically there are two different types for armpits: deodorant and antiperspirant. A deodorant protects only the odor factor, while the antiperspirant covers both. Assuming I’d like all bases covered, I’m on the lookout for a combination- an antiperspirant deodorant.
There is degree:
And Dove
Another choice is Arrid Extra Dry
A new formula by Secret, Secret Clinical.
With so many formulas out there, who knows what to choose?
What kind of deodorant are you planning on using? Do you use it now?
I will be using my daily dove. Its the best!
P.S. I love the line “I dont stink when I sweat” I dont know why but that was so funny to me!
for excessive perspiration, certain dri is supposed to be the gold standard. i’ve also heard good things about the secret clinical strength… but i don’t use deodorant/antiperspirant 
so what do i know. 
Call me weird but I was just thinking about wedding day deodorant too. Ugh. I’m a regular fan of Dove & Suave, but I know that I’ll need something more hardcore for the big day. I’m interested to know if anyone likes Secret Clinical.
Also, I’ve heard that most formulas will work better if you also apply them before bed. I’m going to try this out. Anyone have any experience with this?
Secret Clinical is my holy grail. I sweat really badly when stressed or nervous, plus I live in south texas, and this is the only stuff that works for me. This works way better than Certain Dri ever did and it doesn’t burn the way it did either.
I am a huge fan of degree. For some reason Secret gives me b.o. *crazy I know*. Normally I don’t stink when I sweat either:). Anyway- three cheers for degree- love that stuff.
i use the secret clinical, and i really don’t like it, honestly. i don’t find that it has helped me stay dry, and this part will seem really weird, but i find that it has a chemical smell that develops when i get my underarms wet, say in a shower or the pool! anyone else have this problem, or am i just abnormal?!
i’ve used certain dri before, but it’s definitely heavy duty, and it has ingredients that can irritate people with sensitive skin (i found that it made my underarms itch upon application). i may go back to this product, since secret hasn’t been helping.
my fiance insists that the human body is supposed to sweat (”it’s natural!”), but i don’t want to be a ball of sweat this saturday(!!), with 95 degree highs and 70% humidity…
I know everyone is going to think this is nuts, but I use Kiehls antiperspirant/deodorant. Its a little pricey ($13) but it is a lotion and it blends right in. I never have a hint of residue. I also like that it doesn’t smell like anything. I hate when I get hot and I can smell my deodorant. I have put it to the test (like running outside today in 90 degrees and 100% humidity) and it works!
Strangely enough, Lady Speed Stick has been my standby for years. It’s the only kind of deodorant/antiperspirant to which I haven’t gotten “immune.” It has so many fun scents, too! I used it on my wedding day in Aruba with no complaints
i just recently started to use Kiehls - Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream. It really keeps me really dry. it’s a il more expensive. but for your special day might be worth it.
http://www.kiehls.com/_us/_en/catalog/product.aspx?CatCode=AXE_Body&TopCat=F1_All-Sport&prdcode=525
Awhile ago I read the labels of every deodorant in the store, and learned that Mitchum (for men) was one of the few that had maximum amount of the active ingredient. My friends in college who also had perspiration issues used it as well. Mitchum has now come out with a “smart solid” for women that is as strong as the men’s deodorant, and does not leave white marks.
I think that Secret Clinical is just as strong, but is more expensive.
I used the Secret Clinical this past weekend at an outdoor wedding (about 91 degrees).
I was bone dry and smelling good, even after a 4 plus hour reception with dancing.
Oh, and not a white mark on my dress or on any of the tuxes of the men I hugged that day!
I use Secret Clinical. I don’t think I stink an abnormal amount - gosh I hope not! - but I didn’t like it when I used it in the evenings, according to the directions. I felt like I still needed a “backup” in the morning, and I’m too lazy to put it on twice, and I feared getting deoderant all over my sheets and blankets while I slept.
I’ve since started wearing it in the morning in lieu of normal deoderant, and I like it a lot. I don’t feel stinky at.all, even after sitting out in 95 degree temps for hours and hours, walking around downtown.
Thumbs up from me!
(I don’t like the normal Secret, and was using the Degree little-black-dress approved formula prior to Clinical Strength.)
I was using the Degee (Little Black Dress) deodorant and antiperspirant and had the terrible experience after a big meeting to have a female co-worker point out that my blouse had 2 ‘pit’ stains!
I’m afraid this one is not wedding strength, at least for me.
I use Lady Mitchum and it’s the best I’ve found. I sweat like a 300 lb Italian man (as opposed to the 140 lb 1/4 Italian woman I am) and it’s the only thing that works for me. I get the clear gel stuff, and usually don’t have a problem w/ residue. Though, I may do some more testing before my own big day…
Kiehls, hunh? I’ll have to try that. Pure and simple, I sweat like a pig. Always have even though I grew up in the South for my first 16 years - you’d think I was used to or immune to humidity. Not!
Yes, applying some deo/antipers. before bed (after showering) and again in the AM is purported to help. That’s the directions on the Secret Clinical Strength. I received a free sample, and tried it for a few days but the scent is SO strong. Yuck.
Dove Regular and Secret Platinum are my go-to’s. Recently I purchased Mitchem solid (for chicks) but it’s kinda sticky after application, not soft and powdery like Dove or Secret.
I’m weird. I use Old Spice. FH does too, but don’t worry we each have our own! I figure if it works for my big man, who works long days outdoors in Texas summers, then it works for little me working part time indoors
Maybe should look into switching. Can’t stand the girly ones that smell like a combo of flowers and baby powder - gives me a headache!
Echoing Meg’s recommendation of Mitchum Smart Solid. The unscented is truly unscented, which is great because there are already enough scents happening in my grooming routine.
How many people do you think did a bit of an underarm check while reading this article at work?
Wow…now I’m sweating over the thought of my sweat on my wedding day!
I have used just about everything there is. I wouldn’t say that I am a heavy sweater, but when I sweat, I really sweat. It’s probably more that I am so conscious of it than anything. Let’s see: right now I have been using dove…don’t hate it, but there’s got to be better out there! it smells nice though. I have used Secret Clinical and didn’t think it was better than any of the others. Certain Dri worked until it decided to hate my skin and make me break out…nice. I think possibly I will just go and get botox shots in the armpit for the wedding day…seems like the BEST solution at this point.
I use the secret clinical strength. I still sweat, but that stuff leaves me smelling GREAT even after hours of use… which to me is a big deal. I figure I’ll sweat no matter what, but it has definitely helped me.
Like Joy, I use Mitchum, but I use the men’s unscented. Mitchum is advertised in Europe as specially formulated “for excessevily wet pits”! That was the slogan! They also used to have a campaign that it was so good, you could skip a day. That is true too. I’ve never had any reside issue and the men’s has no scent.
The Degree Ultra-Clear is definately not little black dress approved in my book, in fact it has caused white mark embarrasment a couple of times with me getting all cocky that it said I didn’t have to worry about marks and I’m all “glistening” still. I ::heart:: Secret Clinical Strength. Dry as a bone (in Georgia, that’s a hard feat!), smell great all day, and no streaking issues if you wait til it “absorbs”. It’s more expensive, and comes in a tiny stick, but it still rocks my socks!
I actually went to a dermatologist for a prescription because I tend to sweat a lot, and they prescribed Hypercare which is much like certain dri but higher strength. You use it at night and it lasts up to 72 hours (I still wear regular deodorant during the day). It’s not very expensive and it works well for me. A little bit of a pain to remember but very useful when I wear certain outfits.
I use Dove too. It works okay, not amazing as an anti-perspirant (I do still sweat through it sometimes) but it’s pretty good as a deodorant. I chose it because of the smell; I don’t want to smell like BO for obvious reasons, but I don’t want to smell like deodorant either! And some of the fruity or baby powdery ones smell really strongly and clash with perfume. Dove has really mild scents, I like the Cool Essentials one (with the green writing).
But you guys have totally sold me on Kiehl’s - I’ll buy some to try out and if it works as well as you say, that’ll be my wedding day product!
oh, and you shouldn’t shave right before you use it, that tends to irritate my skin.
i used the same one i use everyday: dove ultimate clear. it’s stronger than the regular dove but makes my armpits nice and smooth. (oh man i feel weird talking about my pits haha)
hi miss kiwi! how are you? i know i’ve been missing from the hive but i am BACK hope your wedding planning is going well!
wow, i wanna try kiehl’s too… hadn’t really thought of this. but my dove has been very reliable ever since i tried it. but that kiehl’s has me curious now… $13? worth it?
I’m going to have to go out and check out Kiehl’s now. This is something I never thought about…
I use Dove, and maybe it’s just me, but I get left with what my boyfriend calls “deodorant balls” in my underarms. Just one thing to be aware off if you’re a “wave-your-hands-in-the-air” kind of gal.
Maybe I should try that Degree….
I use this Arrid Max stuff in a big yellow spray can. It’s definitely NOT little black dress apptoved, but it’s potent stuff. I’ve even tried my husband’s deodorant, and it didn’t work for me. I need to try the clinical strength stuff… I don’t stink, but I do sweat.
I used the Degree for quite a while and it worked pretty well (I’m a fairly heavy sweater, so I’m constantly looking for good deodorants). However, my MOH switched to Secret Clinical and raved about it so much I had to try it. I did and I converted! I can go outside in the 106 degree heat index today and sweat everywhere but my armpits thanks to Secret Clinical.
Jenny, I’ve tried Dove and got the same little balls. It grossed me out so I quit using it right away!!
The one that cracks me up is Secret with glitter. Glitter pits? Plus it would look like sweat in photos.
I also heard good things about Secret clinical.
Hm…. Mrs. Bee owes us an explanation of why she doesn’t use deodorant/antiperspirant….? J/K
I use Secret Clinical too….I used to sweat like a pig shooting weddings and now I’m dry as a bone. It’s been a godsend for sure!
I’ve used many of the listed products and will only list the better ones.
Mitchum: I used this over 10 years ago. I sweat, and I sweat hard. Unfortunately at the time, they didn’t have the women’s ultra strength they do today, so I ended up using the Men’s. Which leaves white marks.
Secret Platinum: When I discovered this, I thought I had died and gone to antiperspirant heaven! (Kidding! Sort of…) This did leave white streaks. But I didn’t sweat with this.
Dove: I found this during after I realized that I was allergic to titanium (a derivative of which is found in most antiperspirants). I’ve not had a sweat problem with this and no white marks.
lady mitchum 100%! it’s a life saver.
I’ve tried everything and I think I’m hopeless. I’m currently using Secret Clinical but I still sweat. I’ve tried Certain Dry but it irritates my skin and now I’ve developed eczema in my pits too. That makes it even more irritating! I’ve also tried all the rest in the past. Lady Speed Stick, Mitchum, Kiehl’s, etc nothing has worked for me.
I’m thinking about the botox too. Has anyone else had botox there?
So happy to see that I’m not the only girl that uses FI’s Old Spice gel deoderant (’ahoy’ - I love those stupid commercials) - I know that I’ve never been a fan of the powdery girly deoderants, when I was in highschool I used Degree (like my Dad -whats wrong with me)
Good researching Miss Kiwi - I’m gonna follow the advice above and try out the Kiehl’s (love their products), and maybe the Secret Platnum… Thanks for worrying about something that hadn’t even crossed my mind yet
I use Secret Clinical. IMO, it’s definitely worth the added costs. I find that the night & day application does do a better job than just applying in the morning. I used to sweat a lot under my arms. Everyday, it was noticeable. Now, with Secret Clinical, I really only sweat when I do a lot of work (like when I was moving boxes ALL day!) or when I workout. But, today I spent some time outside in 97 degree weather and didn’t have a problem. It’s the best thing I’ve tried!
Mitchum unscented roll-on. It’s awesome and I’ve been using it for years.
I sweat. And I get stinky. Hey, I’m a lady too, honest! After doing the rounds of roll on, sprays and extra strength, I now swear by natural deodorant. It’s a solid stick of mineral stuff that you get from health food shops, run it under water in the morning, rub it under your arms (it feels like you’re doing nothing at all, but trust me, something magical is happening) and you’re dry as a bone and scent free all day long. it’s amazing stuff and even though it seems dear (about $15 a stick) it lasts months and months. Try it out and I swear you will never go back to iccky creamy scented nonsense.
And no, I don’t work for them. xx
I was waiting for someone to mention the natural deodorant! I just started using Crystal stick a few months ago, and even got my FI to use it as well! I haven’t had any complaints yet. It’s completely unscented, supposedly lasts a year (I haven’t had it that long, but after two months it looks like I’ve hardly used any), and never leaves marks on clothes or irritates my skin. Supposedly a lot safer b/c it’s all natural. I plan to use it on my wedding day.
this might be a little weird, I dont know who else does it, but I wear mens deodorant. gillette. I have tried a good amount of deodorants, but for some reason, mens deodorants work better on me.
My arm pits aweat even when I am cold, they are just wet & damp with no smell like most of the time, I have been using Secret Clinical, but now I am becoming ammune to it………….still looking for something that really works!! I might try a few I saw listed here, maybe something all natural from a health food store or Kiehls.
@Amy:
SO Strange! but I noticed after using Secret for several days, I actually get a body odor from it!!
Ive moved on and am loving Degree right now..
No problem there and definitely the scent is just great!
Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA
Engagement Date: March 31, 2006
Wedding Date: November 3, 2007
Venue: Radisson Hotel
About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
oh~ I sweat… a lot. I use Secret Platinum (unscented) invisible antiperspirant. I haven’t tried to the clinical strength yet (luckily, I haven’t had to try it). I’ve tried a number of deodorants and antiperspirants. When I just need a deodorant, I love the unscented one by Kiss My Face. Otherwise, I am all over the Secret Platinum.