UrbanUpdate

There’s no delicate way to put this: proper groin grooming—keeping things fresh below the belt—is absolutely essential. Taking proper care of your undercarriage will keep your significant other both happy and non-repulsed, of course, but it’s most important to do so for your own health and comfort. 

That’s because your secret garden is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungus. When you get the least bit sweaty—especially in summer—it leads to things like jock itch, swamp crotch, thigh chafing, funky smells, yeast infections. (Yes, they are also a thing for people with penises.) 

Preventing those nether-regional maladies requires a careful balancing act: You want to keep the area dry—to prevent sweat and chafing and mitigate fungal infections—but you also don’t want to totally dry things out down there, which can cause its own host of problems. 

Nailing that below-the-belt equilibrium really comes down to having the right products in your arsenal. Here are 10 such products—none of which are baby powder. 

The 10 Best Products to Keep Your Groin Fresh1. Moisture-Wicking Underwear

Sometimes you’re going to sweat no matter what, even if all you do is park your ass in a chair for the entire day. So the best thing you can do is wear underwear made from synthetic fabrics—nylons, polyesters, spandex—that pull sweat away from the skin and push it to the outside of the garment, where it can better evaporate rather than cause a swampy situation. 

Balls boxer briefs$20

Balls

2. Anti-Chafing Cream

A tapioca-based lotion will deliver a chalky, powdery film over the skin, in order to protect the moisture barrier and in turn prevent chafing, sweating, and dryness. (Tapioca starch is also an agreed-upon alternative to talc powders and creams, which have some health concerns hovering over them.) You can apply it to your jewels, the thighs, under the bum, and anywhere else. Many starch creams also soothe the skin with nourishing ingredients that you might find in body lotions. 

Anthony moisture defense lotion$22

Amazon

3. Ball Spray

There are two main kinds of ball spray: powder-based sprays, which serve the same anti-chafing, anti-sweating purpose as a tapioca cream, and blends like this one from Meridian, which is deodorizing, toning, and antimicrobial to prevents critters and odors alike. 

Meridian ball spray deodorant$15

Amazon

4. Powder

If the sprays or creams don't feel like enough, you can level up with an anti-moisture powder. Yeah, a powder can be a little more messy to apply, but we like that they can also settle into your underwear fabric to keep that from going soggy, too.

Pete & Pedro talc-free powder for body and balls$20

Amazon

5. A Dedicated Groin Trimmer

Most beard trimmers aren’t equipped for the delicate task down under, either because they’re too powerful or their teeth aren’t narrow enough to prevent nicks on your family jewels. To keep your pubic area neat, you'll need a trimming device designed specifically for that purpose, engineered to minimize stray cuts on the most notoriously difficult area to shave. 

Happy Nuts groin trimmer$79

Amazon

6. Antimicrobial Oil

It might seem weird to add oil down there, but the right ones will absorb quickly and get to work on neutralizing bacteria, fungus, and more. Look for ingredients like tea tree oil, which is antimicrobial and funk-fighting.

Fur pubic oil$52

Ulta

7. Groin Wipes

You use wipes on your body, pits, and face, why not give yourself some relief down south, too? Just make sure to avoid harsh, over-drying ingredients like alcohol. 

Dollar Shave Club groin/butt wipes (50 count)$6

Dollar Shave Club

8. Prebiotic Body Wash

Get ahead of bacterial breakouts with a prebiotic body wash. These washes will promote the growth of the good bacteria your skin needs to stay balanced and comfortable, while warding off the bad, odor-causing bacteria.

Zero Taboos prebiotic foaming wash$19

Amazon

9. Healing Cream

If you’re already suffering from irritation, dryness, or chafing, then you need a lotion that dually heals the skin. It must protect the skin’s moisture barrier, in order to keep the area dry while keeping moisture locked in. This healing and soothing cream from Mayron's Goods features a blend of nourishing vitamins and essential oils to prevent against further chafing and moisture loss. It's an overnight miracle, and will also do double-duty to soothe bug bites and eczema.

Mayron's Goods chafing + dryness relief cream$30

Mayron's Goods

10. Exfoliant

Exfoliants use physical grit, along with chemical ingredients like lactic acid, to buff the topmost layer of dead skin, which reveals healthy and smooth skin beneath, prevents clogged pores, and lowers the threat of bacterial proliferation and foul odors.

Manscaped groin exfoliant$13

Amazon

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQBathroom and ShowerBody Hair