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For two decades, I stuck with the same deodorant. It was reliable, did its job, and smelled pleasant—what more could I ask for?

Then life threw me a curveball. I went through chemotherapy, and the experience changed me in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I lost all my hair—from my head to my eyelashes. When it eventually grew back, it was different—some of the follicles had changed.

That’s when I started having issues with my armpits. Despite my longstanding loyalty to my deodorant, I began experiencing severe irritation. I’d get painful bumps and inflammation, especially after shaving. Given my history of discovering a cancerous lump in that area, this irritation triggered a lot of anxiety, even though I knew it wasn’t anything as serious as cancer.

I initially blamed my razors and went through numerous types in search of relief. Sometimes, I’d find a razor that worked for a while, but inevitably, the breakouts would return. This trial-and-error process was frustratingly slow, as I had to allow time for my skin to heal between tests.

Eventually, I found some respite with Schick Intuition razors. They provided the longest period of success I’d experienced. However, after a couple of months, the irritation resurfaced. It’s been a long journey trying to find a solution, and I’m still searching for something that truly works.

It was time for me to face the reality that I needed to switch up my deodorant. Not long ago, I had asked friends for recommendations, and one of them mentioned she swore by Lume. The price tag initially gave me pause, but my frustration had reached a peak, and I realized it was worth investing in myself. I decided to give Lume a try, and I’m thrilled to say it was the perfect solution. The cost is absolutely justified by the results—Lume has truly been a game-changer for me.

Lume comes in several scents. I personally love the clean tangerine the most. I also like soft powder, peony rose (and I am NOT a floral scented person), and minted cucumber. I linked the product pages on Amazon, but you can also order individual or bundles through their website, lumedeodorant.com.

As a behavioral scientist, I have an essential tip for anyone experimenting with personal hygiene products: change only one thing at a time. I know the temptation to completely revamp your routine can be strong, but if you’re dealing with issues like I did, making incremental changes is crucial. This approach helps you pinpoint exactly what might be causing the problem. If you overhaul everything at once, you could end up more confused than before.

Of course, if you’re experiencing severe reactions, please follow your doctor’s advice rather than mine. But for those conducting minor, non-invasive personal experiments, this strategy is my recommendation. Remember, I’m not a dermatologist or a medical doctor—just someone who finally has her armpits under control.

Featured image courtesy of Deposit Photos artist matsurinui. Product images courtesy of Amazon product pages linked above.