The Staph & Cory Chronicles: Tales from the Underarm Underground

Schmidt's Signature has baking soda, and Schmidt's Sensitive leads with magnesium. If both irritated you, the problem is alkalinity, not the ingredient name.

Extra Strength uses two alkaline actives in the top five. The Sensitive gel leads with propylene glycol. If both stung, here's what's left.

Carpe is an antiperspirant; Lume and Zaffré are deodorants. One reduces sweat, one handles odor. Which problem you have decides the answer.

Two things send people looking: the baking soda rash, or fading by afternoon. A plain look at both, and where Native still wins on price.

Leaving Lume over scent, acid sting, or wanting a dedicated underarm stick? The reasons people switch, and the zinc-based alternative that fits.