The discomfort and irritation from chafing, a pores and skin situation attributable to friction and extra moisture, could make any exercise a serious ache. Whether or not you’re strolling, operating, biking, and even swimming, it’s the very last thing you need to have to fret about. Along with sporting moisture-wicking garments that match accurately, a lubricating cream or balm can assist defend your pores and skin and hold you feeling snug.
The very best chafing lotions kind a easy barrier between pores and skin, garments, or gear to forestall chafing earlier than it begins. To seek out the highest choices, we first consulted board-certified dermatologists and authorized private trainers for recommendation on which key options to search for. Then, we examined 20 expert-approved chafing lotions from high manufacturers. Our favorites acquired excessive scores for ease of use, effectiveness, really feel, and total worth. For much more steerage on how you can choose a mild (however efficient) chafing cream, we additionally had a licensed private coach from our Evaluation Board overview this text.
What Causes Chafing?
Whereas anybody can expertise chafing, it’s commonest amongst runners, cyclists, walkers, and different energetic individuals, says board-certified dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD. Chafing normally happens in areas of the physique which might be vulnerable to extreme sweat or moisture, the place your pores and skin rubs towards itself or clothes, she provides. It can be triggered by ill-fitting clothes or gear, humidity, or rain.
How Do I Cease Chafing
Should you begin to really feel chafing growing, Yadav recommends taking a break from exercise and altering out of your garments rapidly to forestall additional irritation. Cleanse the world and apply soothing brokers, like petroleum jelly or silicone-based ointment. To stop chafing from taking place once more sooner or later, put on exercise garments with minimal seams and tags that aren’t too tight or too free. Search for moisture-wicking supplies (keep away from cotton) and take into account sporting longer sleeves or pants to forestall skin-on-skin friction. Earlier than your subsequent exercise, strive making use of certainly one of our high picks.
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Key Specs
Kind: Balm | Dimension: 0.8 or 1.5 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Allantoin, coconut oil, candy almond oil, vitamin E, vitamin F | Our General Ranking: 5/5
Who It’s For
Finest for energetic individuals (like runners) who want a handy and mild chafing cream.
Why We Love It
Bodyglide’s For Her Anti-Chafe Moisturizing Balm is our high total decide for its easy utility, portability, and light, long-lasting formulation. With the identical base substances as BodyGlide’s Authentic Anti Chafe Balm, For Her has added coconut and candy almond oils to moisturize and defend your pores and skin with out blocking pores.
Wealthy in nutritional vitamins A, B, E, and F to advertise total pores and skin well being, this vegan stick is unscented and didn’t irritate our delicate pores and skin once we examined it. We observed that it feels easy and light-weight—plus, the formulation goes on clear and doesn’t depart any marks behind on garments.
Throughout testing, we have been impressed by how nicely this balm stayed on. Via lengthy days on the workplace, humid summer time climate, sunscreen re-applications, and even a dip within the ocean, Bodyglide’s Anti-Chafe Balm proved to be utterly sweat- and waterproof. We love that the light-weight, compact tube is straightforward to pack throughout journey and day by day commutes to the workplace or the health club. Simple to make use of, efficient, and long-lasting, this balm is by far the most effective we’ve ever examined.
Potential Flaws
- We observed that this balm feels barely sticky when first utilized. However after it dries down, it feels silky easy all day lengthy.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester normally experiences chafing between her thighs whereas strolling and operating in sizzling climate. Earlier than testing Bodyglide’s For Her Anti Chafe Balm, she had by no means used a chafing cream. She used this product whereas exercising, strolling, spending a day on the seaside, and dealing from the workplace.
Verywell Match / Abigail Moore
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Key Specs
Kind: Cream | Dimension: 4 ounces | Scent: Mild, minty | Key Components: Tea tree oil, evodia, masterwort, vitamin E | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for athletes who run and practice for non-swimming occasions, like Spartan races or Robust Mudders.
Why We Love It
DZNuts’ Professional Chamois Cream wins our different high spot for its refreshing scent and therapeutic formulation. Anti-fungal and anti-bacterial, it helps scale back your probabilities of an infection whereas your pores and skin recovers from chafing and itchiness. It is a fantastic cream to layer with different antibacterial merchandise like physique washes.
After we examined DZNuts for ourselves, we appreciated that it went on easily and didn’t depart any seen clumps or residue behind. We additionally observed that our pores and skin felt nourished instantly after utility—plus, we appreciated the mild scent and cooling sensation from the cream’s tea tree oil.
The Professional Chamois Cream proved to be sweat- and humidity-resistant, successfully stopping chafing throughout lengthy runs and high-intensity exercises. It’s additionally anti-inflammatory, stopping additional irritation when utilized on pores and skin that’s already broken. After only a few makes use of, we discovered ourselves reaching for it frequently and feeling extra assured throughout our sweat periods.
Potential Flaws
- We observed that this chafing cream leaves a chalky, powdery residue on our palms after it’s utilized. Whereas this must be washed off, we like that the feeling isn’t distracting on different areas of the physique throughout train.
- Though this cream didn’t final by way of a dip within the pool, we have been happy by how lengthy it lasted on land.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester is a runner and a swimmer who continuously chafes between his thighs. Up to now, he tried utilizing child powder to ease his signs. He ran, swam, and did metabolic conditioning (MetCon) whereas sporting this product.
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Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 1.75 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Zinc oxide, ginger root extract, aloe | Our General Ranking: 5/5
Who It’s For
Finest for inexperienced persons who want a easy anti-chafe stick for on a regular basis use.
Why We Love It
Gold Bond’s Friction Protection Stick is our favourite chafing cream for anybody on a price range. We love that it’s unscented and feels extra moisturizing than some pricier lotions we examined. And the stick’s huge floor helps the product glide on effortlessly with only a few swipes. The ensuing barrier is snug, protecting, clear, and clump-free, for simple sporting.
Throughout testing, this stick lasted all day lengthy, resisting sweat, humidity, and even a day on the pool. We like that it’s enriched with therapeutic zinc oxide, anti-inflammatory ginger root extract, and soothing aloe for delicate pores and skin. Conveniently pocket-sized with a rotating wheel to push extra product up as wanted, this Gold Bond stick doesn’t value a lot (however delivers huge outcomes).
Potential Flaws
- Like some others we examined, this balm feels a bit of cheesy proper after it’s utilized. However as soon as it dries down, we discovered that it’s barely noticeable.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester generally experiences chafing between her thighs and inside her elbows when it’s sizzling exterior. She’s used chafing lotions and comparable merchandise up to now, however didn’t like how small some sticks are and the way usually others have to be utilized. She used Gold Bond’s Friction Protection Stick whereas operating errands and figuring out.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Elizabeth Theriot
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Elizabeth Theriot
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Might soften in excessive warmth
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Lid isn’t as safe
Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 0.8, 1.5, or 2.5 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Allantoin, vitamin E | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for endurance athletes who want a long-lasting, transportable chafing cream that’s fast and simple to use.
Why We Love It
Physique Glide’s Authentic Anti-Chafe Balm is a good possibility for these on the go. We love how straightforward the stick formulation is to use and stash in a pocket or operating belt. This compact stick was the right companion whereas we ran errands, went on walks, visited the seaside, and upped our pickleball recreation.
The balm’s plant-based, petroleum-free formulation is odorless and doesn’t depart residue behind on pores and skin or garments. Throughout testing, we observed that the stick’s form makes it straightforward to achieve areas just like the backs of our internal thighs. We additionally love this balm’s light-weight texture, which appears like subsequent to nothing on the pores and skin (we even forgot the place we utilized it). Even higher, it is available in a number of sizes and units of two, so you possibly can go longer between restocks.
Potential Flaws
- This anti-chafing balm could soften in excessive temperatures, so we don’t suggest leaving it exterior for lengthy intervals in sizzling climate or a heat automotive.
- Though the lid wasn’t as safe as others we tried, we discovered that the stick by no means created a multitude in our baggage.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester continuously experiences chafing between her thighs in the course of the summer time months. Up to now, she’s used an anti-chafing powder, however she needed a product that was simpler to use and extra transportable. She walked, shopped, performed pickleball, and went to the seaside whereas sporting Physique Glide’s Authentic Anti-Chafe Balm.
Verywell Match / Katie Akin
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Lengthy-lasting
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Non-greasy
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Hydrating formulation
Key Specs
Kind: Cream | Dimension: 8 ounces | Scent: Mild | Key Components: Mineral oil, glyceryl stearate, glycerine, lanolin | Our General Ranking: 5/5
Who It’s For
Finest for cyclists or runners who need a actually long-lasting, efficient chafing cream.
Why We Love It
On the lookout for a cream, as a substitute of a stick or balm? We extremely suggest Chamois Butt’r’s Authentic Anti-Chafe Cream for its easy, easy-to-apply formulation that is available in a big tube. We wore this cream whereas operating within the blazing summer time warmth and by no means needed to re-apply. Surprisingly, it stayed put with out clumping, melting, or slipping off—even once we began to sweat.
We love that this chafing cream is hydrating, easy to the contact, and rubs in seamlessly. Clear with a mild scent, it doesn’t make a greasy mess and comes off simply with cleaning soap and water on the finish of your exercise. And because it comes within the largest container on our listing, we’re assured that is an funding that can final for dozens of coaching periods to come back.
Potential Flaws
- For the reason that tube is far bigger than our different picks, this cream isn’t very transportable or TSA-friendly. Nonetheless, we like that this implies you don’t have to switch it as usually.
- Lotions like this one are more durable to manage in comparison with a stick. However we didn’t have any points making use of this one as a result of it rubs in rapidly and simply.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester generally chafes between her thighs, underneath her arms, and beneath the band of her sports activities bra throughout lengthy runs and races. She’s used anti-chafe sticks earlier than however wasn’t pleased with how rapidly they wore off when she began to sweat. She ran lengthy distances in highly regarded climate whereas testing this chafing cream.
Verywell Match / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm
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Begins working immediately
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Lengthy-lasting
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Cooling sensation
Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 2.25 ounces | Scent: Lavender | Key Components: Zinc oxide, shea butter, chamomile, lavender oil | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for anybody with dry pores and skin.
Why We Love It
Loaded with shea butter, Cremo’s Anti Friction Physique Stick is our high decide for anybody with scaly, cracked pores and skin. Mild and extremely moisturizing, it glides on with one swipe and has a thicker, lotion-like consistency we love. It additionally has a cooling sensation when utilized—with such a nice really feel, we even wore it to mattress one sizzling summer time night time.
This stick saved our thighs feeling hydrated and chafe-free all day, even whereas strolling round within the thick Florida warmth. The mild lavender scent is nice, however not overpowering, even when layered with different scented merchandise. One other bonus? It begins working immediately, and we by no means needed to reapply.
Potential Flaws
- We observed that this stick left some white marks on our garments. Nevertheless, they washed off simply and by no means stained.
- The thick formulation feels a bit of greasy at first. However as soon as it sinks in, it’s very hydrating, making it certainly one of our high picks for dry pores and skin.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester tends to chafe between her thighs whereas strolling in sizzling, humid climate for lengthy intervals of time. She dislikes having to reapply chafing cream usually and needed one thing that’s long-lasting and simple to make use of. She wore this balm whereas strolling, rowing, and at night time whereas she slept.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Tatiana Kennedy
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Tatiana Kennedy
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Cruelty-free
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Moisturizing
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Recyclable
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Exhausting to roll up
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Not waterproof
Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 1.6 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Coconut oil, rice bran extract, sunflower extract, rosemary leaf extract, coconut acid, aloe leaf extract, bisabolol, ginger root extract | Our General Ranking: 4.6/5
Who It’s For
Finest in order for you a conveyable, vegan anti-chafe stick for on a regular basis use.
Why We Love It
With an extended listing of botanical substances, Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick is our high decide for a pure chafing cream. The applying is simple and handy—identical to a stick deodorant. Throughout testing, the product carried out simply in addition to others on our listing made with artificial substances, retaining chafing at bay in sizzling, humid climate.
Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick left our pores and skin feeling moisturized, nourished, and wholesome, due to a mix of coconut oil and aloe leaf extract. We additionally like that it’s fragrance-free and didn’t depart any marks on our clothes. Designed to be utilized anyplace and all over the place, Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick is recyclable and Leaping Bunny licensed, which means it’s cruelty-free.
Potential Flaws
- The dial on the backside of the stick will be tough to show, which made it onerous for us to get extra product out. Nonetheless, we like how straightforward this product is to use.
- We observed that this chafing cream isn’t waterproof, so we solely suggest it for exercises on land.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester’s pores and skin normally begins to chafe between her thighs, on her biceps, and on her sides throughout lengthy runs in sizzling climate. Earlier than making an attempt Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick, she was a fan of Gold Bond’s Friction Protection Stick (our greatest price range decide). She examined this balm on a number of runs when the humidity hit above 80%.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Kimberly Souza
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Kimberly Souza
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Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 2.1 ounces | Scent: Mild, contemporary citrus | Key Components: Aloe, pomegranate seed extract, grapeseed oil, vitamin E | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for individuals with contact allergy symptoms, particularly when you don’t sweat a lot.
Why We Love It
Should you wrestle to search out merchandise that don’t irritate your delicate pores and skin, we extremely suggest Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick. Our tester, who has very delicate pores and skin and a historical past of contact allergy symptoms, used this stick nearly day by day throughout a warmth wave and didn’t have any reactions. We have been stunned to see these outcomes with a scented product—since usually, these with delicate pores and skin have to surrender fragrances to forestall irritation.
Made with aloe, pomegranate seed extract, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E, this stick feels mild and hydrating when utilized and goes on utterly clear. We love that the silky texture melts into thighs, underarms, and extra with only a few swipes. It’s additionally aluminum- and paraben-free, with ginger root extract to even your pores and skin tone and enhance elasticity over time.
Potential Flaws
- We observed that this stick wore off after just a few hours as soon as we began to sweat. Fortunately, reapplying is simple.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester has very delicate pores and skin and normally chafes between her thighs when it’s heat out. Even when she wears bike shorts beneath skirts and attire, she experiences irritation on the hem or seams. She’s by no means tried a chafing stick earlier than. To check Megababe’s Thigh Rescue, she walked and ran errands for just a few hours at a time throughout a summer time warmth wave.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Sarah Felbin
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Sarah Felbin
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Steady spray reaches downside areas
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Doesn’t have to be rubbed in
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Waterproof and sweatproof
Key Specs
Kind: Spray | Dimension: 1.5 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, propane, n-butane | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for swimmers who want a chafing cream that goes on in seconds and is totally waterproof.
Why We Love It
For a really hands-free possibility that requires zero rubbing in, we love Pores and skin Slick’s All Sport Anti-Chafe Spray. This steady spray not solely reduces chafing—it additionally makes slipping into wetsuits and swim skins simpler. We love that the aerosol utility technique permits us to hit hard-to-reach areas at any angle (it even sprays flawlessly when held the other way up).
We just like the dry spray really feel that blended seamlessly into our pores and skin throughout testing. Even in sizzling, humid climate, it offers stable safety for a number of hours of damage. Utterly waterproof and sweatproof, it additionally holds up within the pool or ocean. Whether or not we went on walks, did yard work, or went for a swim, we discovered it lasted longer than different chafing lotions we tried. We additionally love that it’s fragrance-free for delicate pores and skin and doesn’t depart any form of residue behind.
Potential Flaws
- Though we love how nicely this product works, we want it got here in a bigger bottle for the value.
- The formulation comprises silicone and different synthetics—for an all-natural chafing cream, we suggest Hiki’s Anti-Chafe Stick as a substitute.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester generally chafes between her thighs in heat climate, usually whereas she’s on the seaside. She’s used Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick up to now however didn’t like how usually she needed to reapply it. She wore this product whereas swimming in swimming pools, mendacity on the seaside, doing yard work, and strolling on sizzling, humid days.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Cara Milhaven
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Cara Milhaven
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Key Specs
Kind: Balm jelly stick | Dimension: 1.4 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Petrolatum | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for runners or endurance athletes, particularly if most anti-chafe sticks are too drying for you.
Why We Love It
For runners and different endurance athletes, health and operating coach Stephanie Hnatiuk recommends an easy-to-apply anti-chafe stick, like Vaseline’s All-Over Physique Balm Stick. Compact and transportable, it may be neatly stowed away in operating belts, hydration packs, or different operating gear. Like many Vaseline merchandise, this one is fragrance-free and light on delicate pores and skin.
Throughout testing, we observed that it helped forestall uncomfortable friction that usually results in chafing. It saved our pores and skin feeling wholesome and moisturized—plus, we by no means needed to reapply. Nonetheless soothing even when layered on high of already-irritated pores and skin, this stick is our go-to for hitting the pavement or treadmill.
Potential Flaws
- This balm holds up towards sweat and humidity on lengthy runs, however it isn’t totally waterproof for swimming.
- This balm did depart some darkish marks on our garments on account of its slick texture.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester chafes between his thighs on long-distance runs, particularly when he sweats on sizzling days. He used to make use of Physique Glide’s Authentic Anti Chafe Balm however felt it wasn’t slippery sufficient to offer the aid he was in search of.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Mathieu Jean-Lubin
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Mathieu Jean-Lubin
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Nice for delicate pores and skin
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Not sticky
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Hydrating formulation
Key Specs
Kind: Cream | Dimension: 4.2 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Aloe, coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, tea tree oil | Our General Ranking: 4.8/5
Who It’s For
Finest for endurance athletes.
Why We Love It
For cyclists who take care of saddle soreness, we suggest Gooch Guard’s Chamois Cream, which we discovered to be extremely efficient and long-lasting. We love that it comprises no parabens, petroleum, silicone, added perfume, or frequent allergens, so it’s light on all pores and skin sorts.
Packaged in a small jar, this chafing cream has a sheer, lotion-like consistency that blends properly into the pores and skin with out leaving any sticky residue behind. Not like different lotions on our listing, this one didn’t have to be washed off of our palms after we utilized it. It was extremely efficient at combatting chafing and held up throughout lengthy outings, even underneath extraordinarily sizzling and sweaty circumstances. Plus, on the finish of our exercises, we realized the areas the place we utilized the cream felt smoother and extra hydrated.
Potential Flaws
- Gooch Guard’s Chamois Cream isn’t as straightforward to use or reapply when you’re on the go as a result of it is available in a jar, moderately than a tube like another lotions on our listing.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester experiences chafing throughout lengthy runs all 12 months spherical, however much more so in heat climate. He will get irritated round his nipples, underneath his arms, beneath his hydration vest, and between his thighs. Whereas testing this product, he ran for round 7 miles and walked a further 1 or 2 miles to chill down every time. Earlier than making an attempt this chafing cream, he relied on Vaseline for aid.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Billy Pennant
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Billy Pennant
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Key Specs
Kind: Cream | Dimension: 4 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Natural aloe vera, glycerine, white oak bark extract, allantoin, candy almond oil, inexperienced tea extract, chamomile extract | Our General Ranking: 5/5
Who It’s For
Finest for many who prioritize anti-chafe merchandise with light, vegan substances.
Why We Love It
For a vegan chafing cream that actually works, Zealios Betwixt Chamois Cream is our high decide. It’s made out of plant-based, cruelty-free substances, with none perfume, petroleum, or parabens. In testing, we beloved how this cream carried out, retaining us feeling dry and cozy whereas biking on sizzling summer time days.
The product feels sheer and weightless on the pores and skin and is simple to use. We like that it didn’t stain our garments and that the tube helped us management how a lot product we use every time. After testing, we really feel that this vegan chafing cream outperformed many others we tried which might be made with artificial substances. However when you don’t need to pack all the tube with you each time you enterprise exterior, we love that this cream additionally is available in handy, single-use packets.
Potential Flaws
- This cream does depart a residue behind in your palms, and we felt the necessity to wash or wipe them off after making use of. Even so, it isn’t sticky or messy.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester usually chafes beneath her sports activities bra whereas operating or biking in heat climate. She examined this product beneath the band of her sports activities bra whereas street biking on 80- and 90-degree days.
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Cait Knoll
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PHOTO: Verywell Match / Cait Knoll
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Lengthy-lasting
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Compact and transportable
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Hydrating formulation
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Might really feel sticky at first
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Might soften in excessive warmth
Key Specs
Kind: Stick | Dimension: 1.5 ounces | Scent: Unscented | Key Components: Natural coconut oil, shea butter, aloe | Our General Ranking: 4.9/5
Who It’s For
Finest for stopping irritation in skin-to-skin areas.
Why We Love It
Made with natural coconut oil, aloe, and shea butter, Zone Naturals’ Chub Rub Stick is right for safeguarding areas the place pores and skin rubs collectively, particularly between thighs and underneath arms. The unscented formulation hydrates pores and skin to forestall dryness, whereas the stick packaging is compact and transportable.
In testing, we appreciated how simply this stick glides onto pores and skin, leaving no hint behind on clothes. We didn’t really feel a necessity to use till across the six- or seven-hour mark—even throughout sizzling, humid summer time nights. Bike shorts apart, that is our favourite anti-chafe stick for retaining your internal thighs moisturized and chafe-free.
Potential Flaws
- We observed that this product can really feel sticky and barely greasy when it’s utilized too thickly. Utilizing a skinny layer resulted in a way more nice texture.
- We don’t suggest leaving this stick exterior in sizzling climate, as it could possibly soften. As an alternative, retailer it at room temperature between makes use of.
Meet Our Tester
Our tester usually experiences chafing between her thighs whereas sporting attire or denim shorts. Often, she chafes extra in the course of the summer time. She examined this product whereas strolling exterior in highly regarded, humid climate.
Verywell Match / Annie Probst
Chafing Lotions We Additionally Examined
We examined 20 chafing lotions, however solely 13 made it onto our closing listing. Though we appreciated some options of those different balms, they didn’t fairly meet our expectations:
- Aquaphor’s Therapeutic Balm Stick is simple to use, fragrance-free, and feels moisturizing on the pores and skin—however we didn’t like how usually we needed to reapply it.
- Additionally fragrance-free, First Support Magnificence’s Anti-Chafe Stick is handy to make use of and doesn’t really feel sticky or greasy. We love that it didn’t depart marks on our garments, however we thought it was too expensive, particularly contemplating how usually we needed to reapply it.
- We like that a bit of goes a good distance with Ruby’s Lube Anti-Chafe Balm, however its sticky texture and messy utility depart so much to be desired. Nevertheless, as soon as it’s dry, we like that it has a easy really feel and a clear end.
- Bag Balm Vermont’s Authentic Moisturizer has a thick consistency that feels just like petroleum jelly. We like that it lasts by way of powerful exercises and helps hold our garments in place with out leaving a mark. But it surely has a slight medicinal scent and should smudge nail polish when it’s used on toes.
What to Search for When Searching for Chafing Lotions
- Varieties: Anti-chafing merchandise could come within the type of lotions, salves, balms, or glide-on sticks. Each kind has its advantages, says Hnatiuk. Lotions, salves, and balms could have moisturizing substances, however will be messy to use. Stick formulation go on easily and rapidly, however they will soften in sizzling temperatures and aren’t as hygienic as lotions are. Whichever kind you go along with, be sure that it’s not too drying, sticky, or greasy.
- Components: The primary ingredient in chafing cream is normally dimethicone, petroleum jelly, cornstarch, coconut oil, glycerin, or a mixture of those. These substances create a silky texture and a protecting barrier that reduces friction on the pores and skin, in accordance with dermatologists Dorothea T. Barton, MD, and Geeta Yadav, MD. Some chafing lotions additionally include soothing vitamin E, aloe, or zinc oxide to assist calm irritation. Keep away from merchandise with added perfume, peppermint, menthol, or different preservatives that may trigger additional irritation, agree Frey, Yadav, and dermatologist Adam Mamelak, MD.
- Exercise: In line with Yadav, chafing usually happens throughout long-distance exercises that result in important sweating, like operating, biking, and strolling. Most chafing lotions on our listing work nicely for these actions. However for swimming or triathlons, Hnatiuk notes {that a} stable stick could maintain up higher than lighter lotions and lotions. Chances are you’ll have to experiment to search out the appropriate consistency and utility technique in your exercise routine.
Chafing Cream Testing By the Numbers
- 20 chafing lotions examined
- 39 days of testing
- 13 profitable balms
- 7 specialists interviewed
- Rated 1 to five (5 being the very best) for ease of use, effectiveness, really feel, and total worth
- The profitable chafing lotions have a median score of 4.5
How We Examined the Chafing Lotions
To seek out the most effective chafing lotions, we’ve examined 20 expert-recommended choices from high manufacturers. Throughout testing, we consider every product based mostly on the next key standards:
- Ease of Use: chafing cream needs to be straightforward to use. Whereas utilizing every balm, we look at the packaging it is available in and the way its consistency impacts the applying course of. Does the balm make our lives simpler, or is it a problem? Will we stay up for utilizing it?
- Effectiveness: Throughout testing, we pay shut consideration to how every cream or stick performs. As we stroll, run, and swim, we take into account how nicely it prevents irritation and the way usually now we have to reapply it. Then, we notice the place the chafing cream appears to work greatest—is it equally as efficient between our thighs as it’s on our toes? To earn an ideal 5 out of 5 on this class, a chafing cream additionally has to face up to sweat, oil, humidity, and different components.
- Really feel: How does the chafing cream really feel when utilized? Is it comfortable and silky, or sticky and greasy? We additionally monitor whether or not the balm leaves any residue on our pores and skin or clothes after every use. If the cream has any scent or perfume, we notice this, too. After every use, we examine the affected areas. Chafing lotions with a excessive rating on this class left our pores and skin feeling comfortable, easy, and moisturized.
- General Worth: To assign every chafing cream a worth rating, we don’t have a look at the value till the tip of every testing interval, after we’ve evaluated it in all different classes. If we might gladly pay that a lot for the cream based mostly on its efficiency, it earns a better score.
Our Specialists
All through our analysis, testing, and reporting for this story, we collaborated carefully with specialists at each stage. They guided us in figuring out important options and substances to think about in chafing lotions, and provided beneficial insights on efficient testing methodologies. Whereas our product alternatives are made independently, professional enter informs our suggestions.
- Stephanie Hnatiuk, RD, CPT, a registered dietitian, licensed private coach, and proprietor of Stephanie Hnatiuk Efficiency Vitamin in Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, founder and medical director at FACET Dermatology in Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dorothea T. Barton, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, assistant professor of dermatology at Dartmouth Faculty, and ultra-marathon runner in New Hampshire
- Adam Mamelak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Austin, Texas
- Cheri Frey, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant scientific professor of dermatology at Howard College
- Richard Bottiglione, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Arizona
Regularly Requested Questions
What’s the quickest technique to heal chafing?
To heal chafing, deal with the basis trigger—your clothes and exercise, says Yadav. She recommends taking a break from exercising, altering out of your garments as rapidly as attainable, and soothing the affected space with aloe vera or petroleum jelly to forestall additional aggravation.
How usually ought to I apply chafing cream?
It is necessary to use chafing cream earlier than bodily exercise and reapply as wanted, particularly in sizzling, humid environments. Should you discover elevated discomfort or irritation whereas utilizing chafing cream, it’s best to cease making use of it instantly and take a break from exercise.
Can I take advantage of Vaseline as a chafing cream?
The specialists we consulted advise utilizing Vaseline and Aquaphor for soothing chafing as a substitute of as a barrier to forestall it from taking place, because you’d want a big, messy quantity to get the appropriate stage of glide. As an alternative, strive a extra handy possibility in a conveyable stick.
Why Belief Verywell Match
An authorized private coach, runner, and health fanatic, Jessica Murtaugh, NASM-CPT, researches and opinions health merchandise. As a runner who has skilled chafing firsthand, she is aware of how useful sure merchandise will be in stopping discomfort for a distraction-free efficiency. As a author for Verywell Match, Jessica is devoted to reporting genuine content material for readers.
Further reporting by Sarah Felbin
Sarah Felbin is a author and editor for Verywell Match who’s all the time diving into the most recent well being and health analysis. For this story, she examined Megababe’s Thigh Rescue Anti-Chafe Stick. It is nonetheless her go-to product for operating errands or strolling round New York Metropolis on sizzling, humid days.
Further reporting by Christine Luff, ACE-CPT
Licensed operating coach, private coach, and Verywell Health author Christine Luff, ACE-CPT, has spent years researching, testing, and recommending health and athletic merchandise. She is aware of that the appropriate gear can tremendously enhance your efficiency and luxury.