The 7 Best Chafe-Preventing Sticks, Powders, and Creams — Expert Picks

We don’t talk enough about thigh chafing. In fact, we rarely talk at all about thigh chafing. In the hottest months of the year, shorts, skirts, dresses, and swimsuits fail to protect our thighs from their worst enemies: themselves. And as an unfortunate result, sweat and friction lead to swelling and irritation on a whole new level.

“This skin under friction causes shearing forces that can cause microtears in the skin,” San Diego board-certified dermatologist Melanie Palm tells MakeupJet. “Continual shearing forces can lead to redness, skin denuding and removal, and even skin erosions. Open skin then becomes more vulnerable to infection, especially in a moist environment of sweat, bacteria, and yeast.”

We’ve been taught to be ashamed if our thighs happen to rub up against each other, but it’s a reality of life for lots of people — and there’s no shame in using chafe-soothing products to protect you from that dreaded “chub rub.”

A quick swipe or dusting from the right stick, cream, or powder can give your skin a slick barrier so you can go about your days without getting chafed or sweating your butt off in pants — you know, like a Slip ‘n Slide. Or, as Palm puts it, they can be “used to help decrease friction on the thighs and pelvic region during heavy physical activity to prevent chafing.”

We’ve rounded up the best selections on the market, according to beauty editors and dermatologists. Here are the seven best chafe-preventing sticks, creams, and powders — thick thighs, you’re welcome in advance.

All products featured on MakeupJet are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.