Just like the skin on your face, your under arms need a beauty regimen, too. And for me, it starts with choosing a good deodorant. Though I’ve never been too picky about deodorant in the past, that recently changed after I noticed some dark spots developing under my arms. Turns out, certain ingredients in deodorants and antiperspirants like alcohol and aluminum really don’t play all that nice with your skin. In many cases, they can cause irritation, and lead to darkening of the skin. But that hasn’t been an issue since I’ve started using the Kosas Chemistry Deodorant ($16), one of my new "holy grain" bathroom shelf products.

Kosas Chemistry Deodorant — $16.00 Shop Now

For one, it’s more than just a solution to mask your funk (which is does very well). It’s an exfoliating treatment, too. In fact, the formula uses several alpha hydoxy-acids, including lactic and mandelic acid. These help to peel away any dead skin on the surface, and allow a smoother and brighter layer to show. H yaluronic acid and pure aloe vera juice are also mixed in to keep your pits feeling nourished all day long, and shikimic acid acts as a natural deodorizer. And for the cherry on top, there's a bioactive peptide added to condition and firm the skin, making this one truly innovative funk-fighting formula. 

Kosas Chemistry deodorant completely surpassed my expectations: As soon as I put it on, I was immediately impressed by how refreshing it felt. The coolness of the gel was a nice change from the greasy and chalky stick deodorants that make my under arms feel like sweaty mess. The deodorant is transparent, and has a super thin consistency that soaks into your skin. 

And to my surprise (and I say this because sooo many products promise to brighten skin), the serum did actually brighten my skin!  Although I didn’t notice a change on day one or even within the first week, I could tell a difference by week three. My under arm skin went from having a slight shadowy cast to being nearly clear, as seen in the picture below.

As a bonus, t he serum was able to keep me funk-free during one of the most humid days in New York City. That day, I applied the deodorant at 8 a.m., and when I returned home eight(!!!) hours later, my sweat stains were barely noticeable. The formula’s lemon-y scent also did a pretty good job of neutralizing any odor that I had from hustling to and from the sauna that is the New York City subway.

All in all, the Chemistry is a lightweight deodorant that packs a punch. It fights odors discreetly and gives your skin a glow up in the process by smoothing and unclogging pores. Plus, it comes in three different scents, including unscented for those who don't like overpowering fragrances.

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