The Best Deodorants for Teens and Tweens in 2023

If you’re the parent of a teen or tween, odds are you fight a lot of battles in your home. But there’s one battle that can be solved pretty easily, and you guys are in it together: it’s the battle of body odor, which tends to get pretty bad in the post-puberty years. Why? Mainly because their hormones are raging, and that, in turn, increases perspiration. “Sweat glands are activated by estrogen,” adds board-certified dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman.

Dr. Jaliman notes that it’s best for tweens and teens with changing body chemistry to wear cotton and natural fibers because they breathe, and they should make it a habit to change their clothes often, especially if they’re active in sports. Beyond that, a powerful deodorant or antiperspirant formulated just for teens and tweens is a must. We happen to know seven incredible ones that truly get the job done.

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Think deodorant is just for your armpits? But the doctor-founded company, Lume, is redefining what deodorant means, and its cream deodorant tubes are leading the charge. Lume Cream Deodorant Tube helps keep other body parts like inner thighs, feet and even their privates fresh, too. Deodorant can contain some questionable ingredients, but Lume is all-natural and totally safe to use anywhere. It’s free of aluminum baking soda and other harmful toxins, and it’s gentle on sensitive skin. Choose from fragrances ranging from the citrusy Clean Tangerine to the earthy Fresh Alpine, and use our code SHE5OFF at checkout to get $5 off your first order over $30.

Amazon’s number one best-selling deodorant happens to be one of Dr. Jaliman’s favorites, Native Coconut & Vanilla Natural Deodorant, an aluminum-free, nontoxic stick deodorant that uses mild natural fragrances. “Their deodorant has tapioca starch. This helps to keep skin dry. It also has sodium bicarbonate to absorb odors,” says Dr. Jaliman.

Target

Here’s a vegan deodorant that’s gentle enough to use on sensitive skin and doesn’t use harsh chemicals or toxins like aluminum but is powerful enough to subdue the smell of a tween boy’s changing body chemistry. Fresh Kidz Boys Blue Deodorant even comes in a compact, backpack-friendly container.

Best Deodorant for Teen Girls

Target

Your teen girl most certainly doesn’t want the embarrassment of smelling like a locker room when she’s socializing or playing sports, and Dove Beauty Teens Strawberry Sparkle gives her a sweet scent that Target reviewers are raving about. “My teen loves this! Scent reminds me of Bath & Body Works and best of all, no aluminum!”

Amazon

Another natural brand, Tom’s of Maine, makes this popular Wicked Cool! Deodorant that’s formulated specifically for active teen boys who are in the throes of hormonal havoc. Like all Tom’s products, it’s gentle, free of icky stuff like aluminum and parabens, and keeps your kid smelling “almost like ocean breeze” for 24 hours.

Millennials and Gen Xers, you’ll remember this one: Teen Spirit Anti-Perspirant Deodorant Stick, muse for the popular ‘90s Nirvana song, is still climbing the charts as a powerful (and iconic) deodorant for teens. Pink Crush controls excessive sweating, won’t leave a white residue, and “has long coverage as well,” — 24 hours, in fact!

Got an active teen boy who’s always drenching the pits of his T-shirts? Then you need Miles Antiperspirant and Deodorant, specifically formulating for him. It uses natural ingredients to keep wetness at bay and control odor. “My 17 year old stinks and it has been hard to find a deodorant AND antiperspirant that works well against odor and sweat,” wrote a reviewer. “He doesn’t talk about how much he sweats during the day anymore. He doesn’t seem to get any irritation or discomfort from using it.”