Struggling with body odor and sweat? Having a problem with chafing from friction? Body powders can be of help to you! They are usually formulated with sweat-absorbing ingredients like corn starch or baking soda to help absorb your sweat. The formulas contain ingredients that can neutralize your body odor to leave you feeling fresh all day long! However, given the plethora of body powders available online, it might be hard to find a product that works for you.
To help you with your search, we've compiled a list of the top 10 best body powders that are well-loved by reviewers. Chassis' Premium Powder Ice Max ranked first on our list as it effectively fights body odor and provides you with a cool, refreshing sensation. And if you need some tips to help you choose a body powder, take a look at our buying guide reviewed by a dermatologist!
Quick List - Top Body Powders for Men
Dr. Levy is a board certified dermatologist practicing in NYC and Westport, Connecticut. She has expertise in treating inflammatory skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis. She has an interest in skincare and takes a personalized approach to all of her patients.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Now that you know our top 10 favorites, let's figure which one is the most suitable for you! We will talk about ingredients that can combat odor, absorb moisture, and soothe your skin.
An effective body powder should be formulated with sweat-absorbing ingredients to wick away moisture from areas of your body that are prone to perspiration, such as your groin, feet, and underarms.
Talcum powder has been used for a long time to absorb sweat and keep your skin dry. It has a smooth and ultra-fine texture that glides well onto skin. However, there's increasing concern about talc in its natural form since it may contain asbestos, a carcinogen that's harmful when inhaled.
Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration considers talc generally safe when used in cosmetic products. There's also no conclusive evidence that talc in cosmetic products harms your health. And while talc is mostly safe to be applied to the skin, don't use it on an open wound like a cut or scrape. This might lead to skin inflammation!
If the claims about the danger of talcum powder make you feel a bit concerned, there are many talc-free options. Instead of talc, they use corn starch, baking soda, arrowroot, tapioca starch, bentonite clay, or kaolin clay to absorb moisture.
Although those ingredients are not as smooth as talc, they still do a great job helping you stay dry in scorching weather or after an intense gym session!
Talcum powder is safe and effective use on dry skin. Do not inhale or consume talcum powder as this can cause problems with the lungs or the digestive tract. Corn starch can also be used as an effective alternative to talcum powder to help absorb moisture.
To help you prevent and even eliminate body odor, many body powders use baking soda (usually referred to as sodium bicarbonate in the ingredient list).
While it's generally safe for most people, baking soda in a high concentration might cause redness and rashes for some. This is because our skin is slightly acidic, but baking soda is naturally basic with a pH level of around 8.3. So, a body powder with a high amount of baking soda can alter our pH and lead to skin irritation.
So, avoid formulas that list baking soda at the top of the ingredient list. This is a sign that you're getting a lot of baking soda!
In addition to baking soda, some manufacturers use zinc oxide, which works by killing odor-causing bacteria to reduce foul body odor. Essential oils with strong antibacterial properties, such as eucalyptus, cedarwood, and sandalwood, can also mask your body odor and restrict the growth of responsible bacteria to drive away smells!
However, essential oils might also lead to irritation for those with sensitive skin. So do a patch test beforehand to make sure the body powder works fine for you.
Avoid essential oils if you have eczema or contact dermatitis. These are one of the most common causes of eczema or dermatitis and can lead to red and itchy rashes in the area where the powder is applied. Sometimes yeast infections in skin folds can cause a pungent odor, so using a powder with antifungal properties may be necessary to reduce this.
Many body powders can also soothe skin irritation and relieve itching. Some products use calamine powder, which contains a combination of zinc oxide and iron oxide. This ingredient is antiseptic and can effectively calm your irritated skin. However, it has a light pink hue and might stain your clothes.
Some other soothing ingredients commonly used in body powders include aloe vera, green tea, matricaria flower extract, and chamomile extract. Zinc oxide is another great ingredient as it helps promote wound healing and creates a protective barrier to shield the skin from irritants.
Essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties, like eucalyptus oil, can prevent skin irritation, too! Many powders are also formulated with peppermint oil and menthol to reduce itching and give your skin a nice cooling sensation.
As moist skin dries and water evaporates from the skin, an itching sensation may occur. Powders with menthol are great to use if you have this itching or burning sensation from wet skin. Menthol is soothing and cooling and can make you feel less itchy.
A lot of body powders contain synthetic fragrances or essential oils to help you mask your body odor. Go for a minty scent for a refreshing and cool feeling. Body powders with a bright citrus aroma promote feelings of energy and confidence. Meanwhile, a woodsy aroma can evoke a sense of calmness.
But if you have a fragrance sensitivity, we recommend choosing an unscented body powder that contains no synthetic fragrances or essential oils. Dermatologists warn that fragrance ingredients can cause allergic contact dermatitis, and essential oils might also irritate some people with sensitive skin.
If you don't have sensitive skin, eczema, or fragrance sensitivity, go ahead and choose a powder with a scent that you can tolerate. Many men like having a scented powder as they feel like it keeps them feeling fresh throughout the day. If the scent does not aggravate your skin, then there is no problem using
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chassis Premium Powder Ice Max | ![]() | Great Cooling Effect Keeps You Comfortable | |
2 | Bozak Powder for Men | ![]() | A Blend of Eucalyptus, Aloe Vera, and Menthol Soothe Skin | |
3 | Gold Bond Men's Essentials Body Powder Spray | ![]() | Spray Bottle Design for Hassle-Free Application | |
4 | Anti Monkey Butt Anti Friction Powder | ![]() | Calamine Powder Soothes Skin | |
5 | Dude Body Powder|Fragrance-free | ![]() | Fragrance-Free for Those Who With Sensitive Skin | |
6 | Dry Goods Athletic Spray Powder | ![]() | Talc-Based Formula That Absorbs Moisture Effectively | |
7 | Clubman Pinaud Powder|3 pack | ![]() | Fine Texture With a Pleasant Scent | |
8 | Squeaky Cheeks Body & Foot Powder | ![]() | Powder for Your Feet and Body | |
9 | Brickell Men's Products Stay Fresh Body Powder | ![]() | Powder That Stands up to Humidity | |
10 | Fromonda Woody Talc-Free Powder | ![]() | Enjoy a Pleasant Cedarwood Scent |
Chassis' body powder combines baking soda with natural ingredients, such as pumpkin fruit extract, aloe vera, hops extract, and colloidal oatmeal, to beat foul body odor throughout the day while conditioning your skin. The formula also provides you with a pleasant cooling effect on your skin!
According to a few buyers, this powder feels a bit gritty and coarse when applied. Nonetheless, the majority mention that it gives them a nice, fresh scent for a couple of hours. Those who work out or live in hot weather find this body powder effective in keeping them comfortable and dry.
Bozak's body powder relies on the power of baking soda and zinc oxide to neutralize body odor and absorb sweat. Peppermint oil and menthol are added to cool the skin, while aloe vera and eucalyptus oil have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial characteristics that soothe itchy skin.
For some reviewers, the cooling sensation provided by this powder is too intense. Still, many love that it holds up to heavy sweating and doesn't cause any irritation to skin. They also compliment its pleasant minty scent. Reviewers further note that the texture is fine, not gritty like other body powders.
Gold Bond's body powder boasts a blend of baking soda, kaolin, corn starch, and zinc oxide to help with moisture absorption and body odor. There's also aloe vera to help soothe and hydrate skin. Plus, it comes in a spray bottle that allows for easy and mess-free application.
Some buyers complain that the push button is awkwardly positioned and hard to press. On another note, most like the refreshing, clean, and light scent. Many happy buyers also say that the formula eliminates odor and chafing, leaving them feeling fresh for quite a while.
Anti Monkey Butt's body powder is formulated with talc and calamine powder to eliminate odor and reduce chafing so that you go from smelly to dry and fresh immediately. You can use it anywhere, too.
Some reviewers note that calamine powder has a light pink color and can turn fabric pink. Meanwhile, most buyers, including those playing sports and working in the heat, confirm that this body powder does a great job keeping them dry and eliminating chafing. Many also comment that it relieves irritation and doesn't cause any burning sensations.
If you have fragrance sensitivity, consider this fragrance-free body powder by Dude. It uses a base of corn starch and baking soda to fight body odor and keep you dry. The formula also has aloe vera, calendula flower extract, and chamomile flower extract to soothe skin.
A couple of users note that this body powder doesn't hold up well to heavy sweating. Nonetheless, most agree that this body powder does a great job of controlling odor. Those with sensitive skin also love that the fragrance-free formula doesn't irritate their skin.
This talc-based body powder helps minimize chafing and absorb sweat. It sprays on smoothly, distributes the powder evenly, and won't cause a mess. You can also hold the can at any angle while spraying.
Some buyers note that this body powder burns their skin when first applied. Even so, most find it easy to use. They compliment the pleasant scent and note that it keeps their skin dry during humid weather and workouts.
Clubman Pinaud has been producing grooming products for over 200 years, and this body powder has quite a following. It absorbs moisture, prevents chafing, and relieves skin irritation thanks to corn starch, zinc oxide, and kaolin.
Some buyers complain that this powder stains clothes pink when in contact with moisture. Still, most buyers like its fine texture and say it works well in alleviating itching and absorbing wetness. They also praise the light, clean scent and note that this powder is frequently used at barbershops.
Squeaky Cheeks' powder can be used for both your body and feet. It's infused with corn starch and bentonite clay to prevent chafing, absorb moisture, relieve itchiness, and calm sensitive skin. Its minty scent is derived naturally from essential oils.
Some buyers warn that the smell of this body powder is pretty strong. However, many reviewers say it keeps their sweaty and stinky feet and body smelling good and feeling dry. They further note that it helps alleviate discomfort from skin irritation and provides a pleasant cooling sensation.
This body powder contains corn starch, aloe vera, pink clay, and provitamin B5. Besides absorbing sweat to keep you dry, it also soothes and conditions your skin. Thanks to the gentle formula, it works great for sensitive skin, too!
A few buyers note that although the body powder is scented, its scent is very mild. But most agree that it absorbs moisture well, helping them stay fresh and comfortable for a long time. Some also comment that it works well in hot and humid weather!
Fromoda's body powder uses a combination of corn starch, arrowroot powder, baking soda, kaolin clay, and tapioca starch to wick moisture and leave you feeling dry. The addition of cypress oil, cedarwood oil, tea tree oil, and juniper oil gives the powder a natural woody scent.
Most happy buyers share that the body powder eliminates odor and keeps them dry, but some wish that the effect lasted a bit longer. On another note, many compliment its clean, fresh cedarwood smell, saying it doesn't feel overwhelming at all.
Fungal infections in skin folds are a common problem in my practice. When the skin is wet and moist, fungus and yeast thrive which can lead to uncomfortable rashes. In those situations, I recommend Zeasorb's AF Jock Itch powder. This powder is great at wicking up moisture, but it also contains a power antifungal, Miconazole Nitrate – 2%, to help clear up fungal or yeast-related rashes.
This Zeasorb Prevention powder by the same brand lacks the antifungal but is powerful at keeping skin dry, which further prevents fungal infections. This one would be a good option for more regular use, but keep the AF version in mind if you have a pre-existing condition.
In addition to reviewing and commenting on our buying guide, Dr. Levy also took the time to answer some commonly asked questions about body powders.
Dr. Levy explains, "Apply a body powder on clean and dry skin. You can apply it several times a day if you suffer from excessive moisture and sweating. Ideally, you should apply it on dry skin to prevent clumping of the product. When applying to the skin folds after a shower, you may want to gently blow dry the area to make sure the skin is dry before application."
"Body power is used to help absorb extra moisture on the skin," Dr. Levy says. "It can leave the skin feeling dry throughout the day when applied in the morning. Some body powders contain anti-fungal ingredients and can be used to treat or even prevent fungal or yeast infections on the skin.
Body powders are not necessary but can certainly help keep your skin dry, especially in areas like skin folds that tend to get irritated with excessive moisture."
If you're searching for grooming products that can help you look and feel your best, check out the guides below for some suggestions!
No. 1: Chassis |Premium Powder Ice Max
No. 2: Bozak |Powder for Men
No. 3: Gold Bond|Men's Essentials Body Powder Spray
No. 4: Anti Monkey Butt|Anti Friction Powder
No. 5: Dude |Body Powder|Fragrance-free
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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