6 Underarm Beauty Standards Pinays Are Ready to Ditch

Ever thought twice about wearing a sleeveless top, reaching up to hold the rail on a crowded train commute, or posting a photo with your arms raised because of your less-than-perfect armpits? Don’t let outdated beauty standards hold you back.

For years, ads, magazines, and social media have promoted a very specific idea of what “perfect” underarms should look like: bright, smooth, hair-free, and seemingly free of pores, sweat, and uneven texture. But real underarms aren’t actually like that. Skin tone, texture, hair growth, sweating, and even odor naturally vary from person to person. Here’s a deeper dive into common underarm issues and how you can manage them – without letting societal pressure dictate your choices.

Some underarm concerns are real, but many of the expectations surrounding them are rooted in beauty ideals rather than reality.

One of the most common Filipino beauty standards is the idea that underarms should be bright, white, and flawless. In fact, many Pinoys consider dark underarms as something to feel diyahe about.

But dark underarms are often completely normal. What causes dark underarms can include genetics, friction from clothing, shaving, irritation, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. While in some cases, underarm darkening may be connected to underlying hormonal or health factors that may need your dermatologist’s attention, it is not usually a sign of poor hygiene.

Still, if the uneven tone on your underarms bothers you, you can try Dove Radiant + Care Deodorant Serum Roll On – Orange variant with 3% Niacinamide and 10x Vit. C&E. It’s formulated with niacinamide and vitamins C and E to help improve the look of dark marks while keeping your underarms fresh. 

Chicken skin underarms, visible follicles, and small bumps can occur for many reasons, including friction, ingrown hairs due to hair removal, and genes, which can lead to a condition called keratosis pilaris. And while it’s normal to want smooth skin on your pits, a bit of texture is part of how real skin naturally looks.

If it makes you feel good, a little extra TLC on your underarms might help. Dove Radiant + Care Deodorant Serum Roll On – Purple variant with 3% Niacinamide and 10x Omega 6 has ingredients that support smoother-looking underarms over time, with a formula that’s gentle on skin often exposed to friction or shaving.

This myth has been around for decades, but underarm hair itself isn’t dirty. While hair can trap sweat, body odor develops when bacteria interact with sweat – not from the hair alone. While most Pinoys may raise their eyebrows at the sight of hair on your pits, remember that it’s not on them to decide. If shaving, waxing, or zapping away your armpit hair makes you feel comfortable, that’s fine. But if you’d rather keep your underarm hair, that’s okay, too. 

Hair removal can make odor management easier and help products apply more evenly, but it can also lead to irritation, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and infection such as folliculitis. Either way, hygiene depends more on how you care for your underarms than on whether they’re hair-free. 

If ads have convinced you that underarms should look airbrushed, think again. Just like some women have more visible facial pores than others, the same is true for underarms. Hair follicles and sweat glands need openings in the skin, so completely poreless underarms are not realistic.

Certain products and skin treatments may help reduce texture on your armpits, but remember that it’s not a flaw that needs fixing. You can try Dove Radiant + Care Deodorant Serum Roll On – Pink variant with 3% Niacinamide and 10x Vegan Collagen. It contains skincare ingredients that can help nourish and care for your underarm skin for a smoother appearance.

In a hot and humid country, sweating is one of the body’s natural cooling systems. It’s not a sign of poor hygiene. If anything, it’s the body doing exactly what it’s supposed to do.

What can feel uncomfortable is the wet feeling or pit stains on clothing, especially during long commutes, busy days, or time spent outdoors. If this is making you self-conscious, an antiperspirant can help reduce sweat and keep wet marks on clothing less noticeable.

Another unrealistic beauty standard is that underarms should always smell or feel completely fresh. Underarm odor naturally changes throughout the day due to stress, the body’s natural circadian rhythm, and diet, among others, as sweat interacts with skin bacteria. Even with good hygiene, how your armpits smell can change after commuting, exercise, or being outdoors – and that doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

The goal is to manage body odor, and the right deodorant can help keep it at bay. Put a handy, travel-sized one in your bag so you can reapply whenever needed.

So, remember this the next time you hesitate before waving at someone across a room or reaching up to fix your hair in a crowded space because of your normal-looking pits. Rather than obsessing over how it should look, focus on keeping it clean, comfortable, and well cared for.

Ask your dermatologist for an armpit care routine that’s tailored to your needs. Or stick to the basics: cleanse, pat dry, and apply a product that addresses your armpit concerns.

It’s 2026 – and it’s time to let go of beauty standards that sell unrealistic ideas of how your body should look. Instead, focus on what makes you feel fresh, clean, and confident in your own skin. Your underarms – and all their natural variations – don’t need to meet anyone else’s standard; they just need to feel right to you.