12 Best Chafing Creams in 2023 to Prevent and Treat Irritated, Rashy Skin (Tested and Reviewed)

The best part of this anti-chafe stick? Its non-sticky, non-greasy formula that I can apply anywhere on my body quickly and conveniently. Packed with moisturizing shea butter and soothing colloidal oatmeal, this bb saved my legs from major irritation during my most recent half marathon. Seriously—it lasted six-plus hours, and it's now one of my holy grail beauty products. Need I say more?

• Formula: Balm
• Key ingredients: Shea butter, colloidal oatmeal

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been faithfully using a different brand’s thigh stick for YEARS but use other FAB products," one reviewer notes. "I finally tried the anti-chafe stick and fell in love with the formula and how my skin felt after application…definitely will be repurchasing!"

So, hi, FYI, this ointment is nothing short of a miracle balm. You can use it on cuts, scrapes, burns, irritated skin, elbows, cracked heels, or even your cuticles. But my favorite? As a chafing cream—and not to mention, a chafing reliever—because it heals while it protects. It contains allantoin—a protective and conditioning active ingredient—and soothing chamomile and aloe vera. It's a concoction of superhero ingredients that are formulated into a magic formula. Basically, just add it to your cart rn, trust me.

• Formula: Balm
• Key ingredients: Allantoin, chamomile, aloe vera, vitamin E, cupuaçu butter

THE REVIEWS: "No exaggeration, this product is a lifesaver," one tester writes, adding, "my legs are almost entirely healed, because of this stuff. For the first time in 10 years, I may actually get to wear shorts this summer without having to worry."

Um, this chafing cream has more than 9,000 reviews on Amazon, and for good reason: It's lightweight, non-sticky, and leaves zero greasy residue behind. The formula was developed by cyclists, so if it works for the most friction-y of frictioned athletes, it'll definitely work for your thighs and arms while frolicking in your summer shorts or summer dresses.

• Formula: Cream
• Key ingredients: Shea butter, green tea leaf extract, aloe vera, vitamins A & E, coconut oil

THE REVIEWS: "My thighs rub together like nobody's business," writes one reviewer. "Like, as soon as they start touching I'm in pain/ bumps form/ my skin starts burning off. This saved my f****ng life. I was genuinely shocked by how amazing it was."

Okay, listen, you gotta ignore the name here—it isn't about what's on the outside; it's about what's on the ~inside~. And that's a cult-favorite cream made with a mix of soothing aloe, moisturizing shea butter, hydration-locking oils (sunflower and castor seed), and anti-inflammatory tea tree oil. The result? A chafing cream that keeps your skin plump and happy, sans rash, redness, or irritation.

• Formula: Cream
• Key ingredients: Aloe vera, glycerin, shea butter, sunflower oil, castor seed oil, tea tree oil

THE REVIEWS: "So I'm not a cyclist; in fact, I don't even know how to ride a bike. However, I do suffer from chafing and friction on my inner thighs as I have thighs that need it," reads one tester's review. "It's really soothing, the smell isn't strong at all, it just smells clean. I've even used it on my underboob area and sides in case a bra is a little scratchy, and it is amazing how different it feels when I've done so."

If you're the athletic type who loves long-distance activities, like running or hiking (hi, can't relate), Dr. Engelman says to create a barrier between your skin and workout clothing with a hypoallergenic balm to reduce friction. Before your next outdoor venture, swipe this plant-derived chafing stick over your neck, arms, thighs, feet—just about anywhere you might have a little extra rubbing.

• Formula: Balm
• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, allantoin

THE REVIEWS: "I recently went to Thailand where it was 90 degrees with 70% humidity every single day I was there," reads one tester's review. "This stuff got me through! I was able to wear dresses and shorts with no chafing!"

If inner-thigh chafing is your biggest annoyance, you need this. A few swipes of this stick-chafing balm, which contains aloe for cooling and grapeseed oil for hydration, is all it takes to protect your inner thighs (one area that seems to get it the worst) from painful rubbing.

• Formula: Balm
• Key ingredients: Grapeseed oil, aloe, chamomile extract, zinc oxide

THE REVIEWS: "I never write reviews but this stuff is unbelievable," writes one tester. "I walk around constantly and it lasts all day, smells great, and is completely clear. I'm kinda in awe and can't recommend enough."

Whether you're looking to prevent blisters, chafing, or even just the annoying rubbing from your bra straps, this easy-to-apply spray works as a shield against all kinds of painful friction. It's also waterproof and sweatproof (good to pair with your waterproof makeup), so you don't have to worry about reapplying it on particularly swampy days—a major plus.

• Formula: Spray
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone

THE REVIEWS: "I super love that I don't have to get my hand dirty, especially when I have to apply it in the nether regions," writes one reviewer. "It's quick, easy to use, and works great!"

K, if you're not into potentially sticky, greasy, or slick formulas, try these anti-chafe bands as a lighter, more breathable alternative to slip shorts. They've got 15,000 rave reviews on Amazon, thanks to their soft, yet supportive feel. Each band fits comfortably around your thighs to protect them against friction, and thanks to small strips of silicone, they don't slip or slide no matter how sweaty you might be. This pair gets bonus points for also looking like lingerie (which, hey, I'll take).

THE REVIEWS: "I have HORRIBLE chub rub that often leaves me swollen and raw from sweating or fabric rubbing, so these seem so far to be a life saver!" writes one reviewer, adding that they actually wore these bands for a full two years before the silicone strip started falling off. Impressive, right?

I personally love a good TikTok beauty product and viral skincare hack, and one of my favorites is using corn starch as a DIY anti-chafing product. Still, I'll admit it's messy AF, and can turn pasty on sweaty skin. Enter: This chafing powder that's made with a blend of cocoa butter, kaolin, and—you guessed it—corn starch. The velvety powder creates a silky smooth barrier on the skin to prevent painful friction, and it smells like jasmine and vetiver.

• Formula: Powder
• Key ingredients: Cocoa butter, kaolin, corn starch

THE REVIEWS: I'm a bigger girl, and, as such, have a lot of creases/areas that get very sweaty and uncomfortable, especially in the summer or during exercise," reads one tester's review. After hearing rave views on this powder, she writes, "Wow, it definitely lives up to the hype. I tried it for the first time before a boxing class and everything is not only dry, but there's no uncomfortable chafing or redness."

While some anti-chafe products are specific to just chafing, you'll want to keep a tube of this stuff close by for any kind of compromised skin. Cosmo eds are already big fans of CeraVe moisturizers, but this occlusive ointment, in particular, contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid to lock in all the hydration and moisture your chafed skin needs to stay healthy.

• Formula: Ointment
• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, ceramides, hyaluronic acid

THE REVIEWS: "It leaves my skin well moisturized, soft, and bright," writes one reviewer. "Rough skin patches are gone. Red irritation spots are gone. Just an amazing product that you get a ton of mileage out of."

This skin protectant looks like a gel at first, but once you rub it in, it transforms into a soft, velvety, almost powder-like finish—just like a makeup primer, which is why it's also a favorite dupe of the skin prep product. This silicone-based gel also helps to reduce the redness of irritated skin, making it perfect for both treating and preventing chafed skin.

• Formula: Powder-gel
• Key ingredients: Dimethicone, vitamin E

THE REVIEWS: "This stuff is great. Goes on like super-soft powdery smooth [and] protects from chafing, as well as from moisture," writes one reviewer. "Just a tiny raindrop size is all that's needed to protect, [and it has] no odor, no difficulty getting clean like with some other protective creams, no mess."

If you're looking to treat already mildly chafed skin (for more serious cases, consult your doctor), Dr. Engelman suggests washing the area with gentle soap and then, while the skin is still damp, applying Bio-Oil. Packed with ingredients like vitamin E, lavender oil, chamomile, and calendula, this quick-absorbing oil can help to improve and soothe the skin.

• Formula: Oil
• Key ingredients: Vitamin E, rosemary oil, lavender oil, chamomile, calendula

THE REVIEWS: "Lovely body oil," writes one reviewer. "It dries quickly and is soothing for sensitive skin. It's great during the summer months."