When the skin of your body rubs against clothes or against each other, it creates an uncomfortable inflammation of the skin that all runners and athletes know very well.
One solution to this problem is using specialized body glides. However, a lot of people don’t prefer that option for multiple reasons.
If you’re looking for other options, you’re in for a treat!
Read on, to find 4 body glide alternatives that work as good as a body glide (or even better!). So without further ado, let’s dive in!
The 4 Best Body Glide Alternatives That Work
1. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
2. Degree Men Antiperspirant Deodorant
3. K-Y Water Based Lube
4. A+D Original Baby Ointment
Top Choice
Vaseline Jelly is the original skin protectant--it has been used to protect and help heal dry skin since 1870, and to this day, it effectively cares for your skin. Vaseline Jelly is triple-purified and hypoallergenic, and is the ideal product for a multitude of uses, including moisturizing sensitive skin and protecting minor cuts and burns.
Why Would You Go for a Body Glide Alternative
- They run out quickly
- They might not be effective to some
- Some people prefer safer ingredients
- They’re quite pricey for their longevity
Top 4 Body Glide Alternatives That Gets the Job Done
To make the search process easier for you, I’ve compiled a list with some of the wonderful alternatives that will help your body overcome friction and chafing while running.
This way, whenever you run, your skin won’t end up coming in contact with each other, producing these nasty sores.
1. Vaseline Petroleum Jelly
Kicking off the list with one of the most popular alternatives that actually work for a lot of runners and sportspeople in general.
As you already know, most ingredients in anti-glides depend mainly on creating a barrier between the skin surface and the external environment.
This way, whenever you run, your skin won’t end up coming in contact with each other, producing these nasty sores.
Vaseline, and petroleum jelly in general, have a similar effect on the skin. They also create a barrier between the dry skin cells that seals them and lock their moisture inside them.
What I like about Vaseline petroleum jelly is that it’s super cheap when compared to other products on the market that do the same job.
Not only that, but it also does an excellent job of protecting the areas that are already chaffed or irritated.
They’re easy to apply and they don’t have any funky odors. However, there are some scented vaseline options if you prefer a better fragrance.
- TRIPLE PURIFIED: Our Original Healing Jelly is made with 100% pure petroleum jelly & purity is guaranteed with our triple-purified formula that is clinically proven to help heal dry, damaged skin
- FEEL THE PROTECTION: Our healing jelly is clinically proven to protect, help heal, and lock in moisture for dry, cracked skin
- SOOTHING JELLY: Vaseline's petroleum skin protectant provides dry skin relief and helps protect minor cuts
Still, I don’t recommend the scented ones because they can cause some irritation themselves, especially on already sore skin.
The main drawback of vaseline, in general, is that they’re extremely messy if you aren’t careful enough.
They also have a noticeably greasy sensation that can be uncomfortable for many people, let alone the staining they can make to clothes.
If you factor in their undebated efficacy as well as their greasy and stain-causing nature, they’re excellent as an emergency solution. They’re also a great value for the price and don’t run out easily.
Pros
Cons
2. Degree Men Antiperspirant Deodorant Stick Sport
Next up we have an offbeat option when it comes to body glides alternatives. However, multiple runners swear by its effectiveness in fighting irritation and friction.
In fact, I did try it before and it seemed to work just fine.
Antiperspirant sticks are made of fatty or waxy materials that are in gel forms, such as stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl stearate, and castor oil.
They also contain elements that prevent sweating, which can worsen irritations by bacteria, especially in the thigh region.
By rubbing a small amount of the deodorant stick, you’ll notice significantly less burn while running. Additionally, the deodorant will make sure that you smell nice and reduce the bad sweaty smell.
What I like about deodorants is that it’s noticeably easy to apply and doesn’t leave strong stains as vaseline. However, it’s also less effective and requires reapplication after some time.
Pros
Cons
3. K-Y Water Based Lube
If body glides are meant to help your skin layers to slide smoothly and reduce friction, why not use a water-based lubricant for the job?
In fact, many runners tried this approach and found surprisingly good results. The main ingredients in K-Y lube are simply glycerine, hydroxymethyl cellulose, and gluconolactone.
If you have a habit of checking the ingredients on a body glide, you’ll notice that these ingredients are also present in both products.
- K-Y JELLY PERSONAL LUBRICANT: Water-based lube
- EASES VAGINAL DRYNESS: Quickly prepares you for sexual intimacy
- WATER BASED LIQUID GEL: Non-sticky or greasy gel formula that stays where you want it
What I like about the K-Y lube is that it provides a similar level of glide when compared to original body glides.
They do cost much less when compared to some of the popular body glides on the market. However, many users claimed that it becomes ineffective if you use it on already irritated skin.
Pros
Cons
4. A+D Original Baby Ointment
If you’re skeptical about the chemicals used in a body glide, you can still fight a good alternative that also gives you protection against chafing and irritation.
Baby ointments that are made for diaper rash contain petrolatum and lanolin, which also gives a similar form of glide like body glides.
Some baby creams also add olive oil and zinc oxide, which help in soothing irritation in these areas.
- A+D Original Diaper Rash Ointment helps prevent and treat diaper rash. Also effective for treating and preventing other forms of skin irritation and rashes
- Contains a blend of ingredients to soothe, moisturize, and protect the skin. Forms a protective barrier to prevent further irritation or infection
Baby products are tested extensively to ensure that they’re safe for babies’ skin, which is far more sensitive and prone to irritation than adults. This means that you won’t have to worry about the ingredients added to them.
Pros
Cons
4 Body Glide Alternatives That Work -Wrap Up
There you have it. A complete guide with 4 body glide alternatives that work for various people and different purposes.
While everyone can experience body changing at some point, some people are far more prone to it than others.
These chaffs can develop into red irritated sores if they’re left untreated. By opting for the ideal option for your needs, you’ll dodge this burning bullet!
Hi, Jeremy Here,
I am the the guy behind Train for a 5K. On this site, I share everything that learned along my running journey. The content I create is the running training I wish I had before we started this journey. About Me.
Last update on 2023-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API