When it comes to beauty, I’m obsessed with finding new products that can make my life easier or fill a need that I didn’t know was out there. I have a skin-care routine that works wonders and I’m learning more about my curly hair’s needs every day, but one area I’ve never been able to properly take care of is my underarms.
Growing up, I always used the typical deodorants you could find in your average drugstore. I didn’t think much about the brand or what ingredients were in it, and I couldn’t commit fully to the natural deodorant route because the products didn’t really work for me. I wanted something that obviously kept odor at bay, but could also help with (or not worsen) the hyperpigmentation.
Hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition where an area of the skin appears darker than the rest, usually caused by irritation or trauma to the skin (like picking a pimple or using harsh products). I’ve experienced these dark marks since I started shaving, and a few months ago I saw that the beauty community on TikTok was recommending The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toning Solution ($9) for your armpits instead of as a facial toner.
I was intrigued because a lot of people were saying that it helps with ingrown hairs, darks spots, and kills odor – making it a perfect deodorant. Even dermatologists were stitching users’ videos with their perspective and their own recommendations.
After seeing it on my For You page for weeks, I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy the toner – and now I’m never going back.
I’ve been using the toning solution in place of my deodorant for a little over a month, and it has worked wonders. Each day I apply the liquid with reusable cotton pads – although you can also apply it with a spray bottle – and I’ve seen a huge improvement. I don’t get ingrown hairs as often, my hyperpigmentation is slowly (but surely) getting better, and even when I sweat at the gym, I don’t smell as “potent,” for lack of a better word.
If you’re looking for a new deodorant, don’t sleep on The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Toning Solution. While no, it’s not technically intended for your armpits, it does everything you’d hope from one without the aluminum. Plus, with a product this affordable, what have you got to lose?
