Ban Chub Rub! 7 Products to Prevent—and Heal!—Thigh Chafing
As the hot, humid weather heats up, your downtown can heat up, too.
The weather is getting warmer so you know what that means: Skirts! Dresses! Rompers!
But as you tuck away your pants and the hot heat creeps in, there is something you need to fear: that unfortunate and sometimes painful thigh chafing. Also known as: Chub Rub.
The trifecta of keeping chub rub at bay? Stay dry, lubricate when necessary and relieve friction. Fortunately, there are a few things you can add to your cart to prevent and heal raw skin—and everything is under $25! And even if you don’t suffer from thigh rub, your underarms and underboob aren’t immune to sweat and friction, either, so don’t scroll past if you have chafe-free thighs.
1. Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel
When I asked around for my lady friends’ go-to anti-chafe product, nine out of ten times they screamed in my face, “OMG have you tried Monistat’s powder gel? It’s the best.” (Pretty aggressively, might I add.) Well, if my gal pals swear by it then it’s good enough for you. Monistat Chafing Relief Powder Gel goes on as a gel but feels like a powder, combining the power of both a powder and a lotion. And, it does exactly what you need in an anti-chafe product: It forms a barrier to protect uncomfortable irritation from razor burn and heat to sweating and rubbing of the thighs and underarms.
2. Body Glide
Body Glide is a stick that goes on kind of like deodorant, but is totally odor-free. Oh, and it’s for your inner thighs. It’s vegan, full of vitamins A, B, E, and F and hydrates as well as protects the skin from uncomfortable rubbing. And did I mention that it’s also SPF 30 so it does double the protection from rubbing and sun exposure (great for those days when you're headed to the beach). Even more, while we love it for inner thighs, you can also use it in places like you feet to prevent blisters on your yet-to-be-broken in sandals. Buy the small 8-ounce container for discrete use and consider it your newest beach bag must-have.
3. Bandelettes
If you’re not ready to add an extra step to your lotion routine, go with individual Bandelettes for your thighs. Roll them on like a garter to add that much-needed barrier between your legs. They come in 15 different colors to match skin tones and to blend in under skirts, dresses, and more. Wear them every day or just when working out (tennis, anyone?) to stop the chafing before it starts.
4. Lush Cosmetics Silky Underwear Dusting Powder
While it's not explicitly marketed to stop chub rub, we like to use it for chub rub nonetheless. Never fear! It's totally safe for your lady bits as it’s vegan and Lush Cosmetics doesn't do any testing on animals. Rub the powder along your thighs, underwear line, and anywhere else you need a little relief, to stop sweat and irritation from rubbing. It’s full of jasmine for a refreshing scent, cocoa butter to nourish irritated skin,
5. Garden of Life Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
We love coconut oil for everything from treating our dry hair, removing makeup and cooking—duh. But did you know that coconut oil can hydrate and protect against chafing at the same time? Slather some on before you walk out the door for instant protection and instant relief. If you find that it's too slick for your inner thighs, add ¼-cup of arrowroot powder to ¼-cup of coconut oil. (It thickens the coconut oil without removing any of the hydrating properties.) Oh, and it smells freaking fantastic.
6. Vaseline
We know—petroleum jelly is pretty basic, but it’s a classic bathroom staple for a reason. Like coconut oil, vaseline works wonders for hydrating and stopping annoying (and painful!) friction between your thighs. If you don’t have a jar around the house already (who are you?) then finally bite the bullet buy some less than a cup of your fave iced coffee.
7. Undersummers Classic Shortlette
If you need to extend protection down to your knees, consider a spandex short like Undersummers. It’s made with breathable fabric (96% polyester with 4% spandex for a little stretch) to keep you dry and cool, and won’t ride up, meaning you’ll stay protected as long as you’re wearing them. And while they might not look that sexy, the lacy version gets the job done, too.
In a pinch? Other go-tos are: Deodorant, baby powder and even dry shampoo. However, these products are not specifically tested for inner thigh chub rub, so use these sparingly and invest in something above for long-term protection.
