Carpe Reviews: Should you choose this antiperspirant?

No one wants to be dripping with sweat in public, but most of us have been there at some point. Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating unrelated to body temperature regulation) affects over 15.3 million people in the United States — that’s about 4.8% of the population.1 And teenagers struggle with it the most — nearly one in five reports excessive and uncontrollable perspiration.2

An occasional influx of sweat or even daily excessive sweating can be the result of anxiety, stress, hormonal fluctuations, exercise, or other causes. Carpe offers antiperspirant and sweat-absorbing products that help combat normal sweating and hyperhidrosis. We researched and tested the company’s extensive lineup to help you decide if they’re right for you.

Carpe’s antiperspirants and sweat-absorbing products can benefit multiple areas of the body using FDA-compliant ingredients shown in studies to help prevent or mitigate excessive sweating. Their antiperspirants are among the most expensive for extra-strength over-the-counter (OTC) formulations, but their comparatively wider range of products features tools to tackle more specific body parts than others offer. The active ingredients in Carpe’s antiperspirants are aluminum salts. There is anecdotal concern regarding a potential link between aluminum salts and breast cancer, but the current scientific consensus is that these salts are safe for antiperspirant use.

Innerbody Research comprehensively tests and evaluates all the products we review, including Carpe and other sweat-prevention products. Our team has experienced everything from the ordering process to actually using Carpe themselves, so we can give you personalized information alongside scientific research.

We’ve read through more than 40 studies and scholarly articles about Carpe’s ingredients, hyperhidrosis, and sweat prevention to determine their safety and effectiveness within the antiperspirant and sweat-absorption product landscape. Additionally, like all health-related content on this website, this review of Carpe was thoroughly vetted by one or more members of our Medical Review Board for accuracy.

Over the past two decades, Innerbody Research has helped tens of millions of readers make more informed decisions involving staying healthy and living healthier lifestyles.

We evaluated Carpe’s antiperspirants and sweat-absorbing products on their own and in comparison with current competitors. Effectiveness at stopping sweat and the safety of ingredients were our top priorities, with application options and cost coming up next. Customer support was weighed the least but remains an important factor nonetheless.

Effectiveness

Antiperspirants are nothing new, and their ingredients haven’t changed a ton over the past few decades. The active ingredient in antiperspirants is typically a form of aluminum salt because it’s cheaper and more readily available than other metallic salts. Prescription antiperspirants tend to use aluminum chloride hexahydrate, which the FDA doesn’t allow in OTC antiperspirants, or high percentages of aluminum chloride (ACL).9 Most OTC antiperspirants use other forms like aluminum chlorohydrate (ACH), aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine, aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine, or aluminum sesquichlorohydrate. Many will also use lower concentrations of ACL than would necessitate a prescription.

Research into the effectiveness of different aluminum salt formulations and amounts in antiperspirants is ongoing, but current studies demonstrate similar levels of effectiveness across the common OTC forms. Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate and ACH have been found to be equally effective at blocking sweat, especially when used consistently over time, with one study showing that a 20% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate formulation reduced eccrine sweating (sweat glands opening directly onto the skin) by 61%.21 4 Aluminum sesquichlorohydrate comprises 15% of Carpe’s standard underarm lotion, as well as the antiperspirants for your hands and feet. Despite being 5% lower than the concentration used in that successful study, it’s in line with Carpe’s competitors when they offer both an everyday antiperspirant in addition to a clinical option.

ACL and aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine have been found to be the most effective OTC salt actives.3 Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine is the active ingredient in Carpe’s Clinical Grade underarm antiperspirant, as well as the Clinical Protection antiperspirant from SweatBlock. We used this version of Carpe’s underarm antiperspirant for six days and found that it effectively reduced sweat during exercise and periods of stress sweating.

Carpe offers more fragrances and formulations than direct competitors like SweatBlock, Duradry, and Certain Dri, each of which has only one scent option. Carpe’s eight fragrances aren’t overwhelming when compared to typical scented antiperspirants, but we found the scent stayed noticeable all throughout the day. The Mountain Breeze scent smells similar to the average men’s deodorant and has a stronger scent than the Lavender Citrus and Fresh Powder we tried.

Safety

Non-prescription antiperspirants, like Carpe, are considered drugs by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), so they are required to follow specific guidelines.8 The active ingredient in Carpe’s standard underarm antiperspirant is aluminum sesquichlorohydrate at 15% the weight of the product, which is well under the 25% allowed by the FDA in OTC antiperspirants. The active ingredient in Carpe’s Clinical Grade underarm antiperspirant is aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine at 20%, which is the maximum amount allowed by the FDA.9 SweatBlock’s Clinical option also contains 20% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine, as does the main underarm product offered by Duradry.

Despite common concerns, the scientific consensus is that the forms of aluminum used in Carpe’s antiperspirants do not cause breast cancer,5 kidney disease,6 or Alzheimer’s Disease,7 but more long-term studies are needed. In general, OTC antiperspirants are considered safe for adults and children to use.20

Carpe products are all paraben-free, but some contain potentially concerning ingredients like talc and fragrances. Some people believe talc is a potential carcinogen, but this is a misconception. The risks associated with high-profile class action lawsuits centered on Johnson & Johnson baby powder and other talc products have to do with asbestos contamination. Talc often forms alongside asbestos in the earth, and mining operations in the middle of the 20th century were not well-regulated enough to prevent contamination of talc products with asbestos. Today, there is more stringent oversight and testing to ensure that talc products do not contain any traceable asbestos.

Fragrances can cause allergic reactions on the skin for up to 4% of the population,11 so Carpe does offer a fragrance-free option for their standard underarm antiperspirant.

Application options

When it comes to application, Carpe’s primary product — the underarm lotion — may seem a bit confusing at first. In product images, it appears to be a regular antiperspirant stick. But when you take the cap off, you’ll find that there is no stick inside. Instead, there’s a hard plastic surface containing 34 very small holes. Beneath those holes is the lotion, and when you turn the knob at the bottom, the device pushes lotion through the holes for a convenient, mess-free application. It’s an innovative way to provide lotion without needing you to rub it in manually.

Carpe is also one of the only brands to direct users to apply the antiperspirant twice daily, once at night and once in the morning. The nightly application is optimal for stopping sweat; since nighttime is when sweat glands are the least active, more product can enter and plug them over an extended period.12 If you shower in the morning, you’ll be wiping away the antiperspirant from the night before, so the morning application ensures you’re still blocking those sweat glands while also acting as a deodorant if you choose a fragrance.

Carpe has two distinct sweat-fighting lines. Their sweat-absorbing line has serums, lotions, and powders for areas like the scalp, groin, hands, or feet. We tested the Scalp Serum and found the dropper application made it easy to apply along the part. Their antiperspirant line includes sticks or wipes for underarm application and lotions for hand or foot application. We found that Duradry and SweatBlock each had comparable catalogs.

Cost

Carpe is on the expensive end of the spectrum for OTC clinical-strength antiperspirants, which range in price from about $5 to $35 for a single underarm product for 1oz-2.7oz sizes.

Here’s a quick look at how Carpe’s underarm products compare to similar products from SweatBlock and Duradry:

With similar ingredients, application options, and packaging, we can’t see why Carpe is more expensive. The biggest difference between Carpe and competitors is that it’s one of the only underarm antiperspirant lotions — competitor formulations are dry solids, wet roll-ons, or sprays. While studies using Carpe’s lotion formula have been successful, there are no studies pitting its lotion against sticks or sprays directly.

Despite the higher initial price, you can save a bit on Carpe’s products by buying in bulk. Carpe’s bundles include products for different body parts or multiples of the same product, giving you 15-30% off the cost of buying items individually. For single product purchases, if you sign up for a 4-week renewal subscription, you’ll save 20%.

Customer support

The ordering process is straightforward, and your products ship quickly and discreetly. To contact Carpe, you have to use forms on their website that require your email address. They promise to answer your question within three business days, but on average, we received a response the next business day. They don’t have chat or phone support at this time, which is uncommon, as most competitors offer a customer service phone number or online chat feature in addition to the email form.

On the other hand, many customer questions are addressed on the website without a need to contact them. Carpe’s website is very user-friendly, with thorough product descriptions and expert videos about products and processes. They’ve created a Sweatopedia, which features articles about hyperhidrosis; however, most appear to be 2-3 years old. They do provide insight into treatment options, causes, and other biological factors that can impact your body’s sweat production, which is a standout feature because it helps educate customers about their condition while also providing products to treat it. SweatBlock has a similar education section on its website but doesn’t cite sources as Carpe does. Duradry, Certain Dri, and Drysol have blogs with helpful information, but Drysol’s and Certain Dri’s don’t include a date like Carpe’s articles do, so it’s hard to tell how updated they are.

It’s important to first understand that antiperspirants and deodorants are not the same things, even though they come in similar packaging and are used on the same parts of the body.

A deodorant is a cosmetic that helps reduce odors associated with sweat by making your moist skin unattractive for bacteria that could thrive there.19 Deodorant also masks body odor. Once you already have sweat on your skin, the deodorant can help with the smell, but it won’t reduce sweating. Similarly, sweat-absorbing products soak up the sweat on your skin, so bacteria won’t have a moist environment to thrive in and produce a smell, but they won’t reduce sweating.

An antiperspirant is a drug that helps reduce sweat production within the body by plugging sweat glands. With repeated use, the plugged sweat glands signal your body to produce less sweat. An antiperspirant will only plug the sweat glands where you’ve applied the product, so other parts of your body can still sweat and regulate your body temperature.

Carpe is a U.S.-based manufacturer of topical (applied to a specific surface area) OTC antiperspirants. They also have a line of sweat-absorbing products for various body parts. Carpe’s products will work for almost anyone, but they are especially beneficial in addressing hyperhidrosis.

There are a few specific types of hyperhidrosis Carpe can help with:

• Palmar (excessive palm sweating)
• Plantar (excessive foot sweating)
• Axillary (excessive underarm sweating)
• Craniofacial (excessive scalp and face sweating)

While various treatments are available to address hyperhidrosis, including botulinum toxin injections and surgical and laser procedures, doctors typically recommend trying a topical antiperspirant first because it’s cheaper and less invasive.14

Carpe’s antiperspirants

Carpe has two types of antiperspirants. Their standard version uses a formulation of 15% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate and works for the average person and people with mild hyperhidrosis. It’s a lotion that’s housed in a traditional twist-up antiperspirant case, so it’s easy to swipe on your underarms. We found that one twist gave us enough product for one application on a small female. The applicator is more in line with the size of typical women’s antiperspirants, so men may need to use more.

Carpe’s Clinical Grade antiperspirant uses a formulation of 20% aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine and are ideal for people with mild to moderate hyperhidrosis. The morning version comes as a soft solid stick, while the nighttime version is only available as a wipe.

Because all of Carpe’s antiperspirants are sort of wet, you’ll need to apply them to dry skin and give them a few minutes to dry before getting dressed. But they didn’t leave behind a visible residue in our testing experience.

Carpe’s sweat-absorbing products

Carpe’s sweat-absorbing lotions and powders help soak up sweat that has already exited your sweat glands. When you apply them before you start sweating, they’re ready and waiting to absorb moisture. You can then apply them to dry skin as needed throughout the day.

These products use starches like corn starch and tapioca starch to absorb sweat. Carpe has sweat-absorbing products specifically made individually for the face, scalp, breasts, groin (one for men and one for women), hands, feet, and thighs. The face lotion has not yet been tested by Carpe for comedogenicity, so keep that in mind if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin; it may clog pores.

Carpe is a sub-organization of Clutch, Inc. and was founded in 2014. The fact that they’ve been around and growing for nearly ten years does lead to some reputability. Co-founders Kasper Kubica, a physics major, and David Spratte, a chemistry major, initially worked with a chemist, Chris Jenks, to develop their products.15

Board-certified dermatologist and dermatology professor Dr. Ashish Bhatia is featured in Carpe’s Sweatopedia, and reputable sources are listed on articles, lending to the credibility of the information provided and the company.

Carpe makes products that use FDA-compliant ingredients in acceptable amounts. Their antiperspirant lotion (2020 formulation) received a 4 out of 10 (10 being the worst) Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Hazard Score and a Fair Data Availability score, which together make it reasonably safe among antiperspirants.16

Carpe offers five products and one system to address underarm perspiration. The main Underarm Antiperspirant Lotion (stick) and Clinical Grade Exfoliating Underarm Wash can also be purchased in a 2-pack, 3-pack, or 6-pack.

Carpe’s Underarm Lotion is 15% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, which is less than the 25% allowed by the FDA.9 Carpe’s Clinical Grade antiperspirants use a 20% aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex formulation, the maximum allowed by the FDA and the same amount found in SweatBlock’s Clinical Strength underarm stick. But SweatBlock’s is about half the cost of Carpe’s.

Carpe’s underarm wipes are meant for on-the-go use to wipe away sweat and simultaneously apply more antiperspirant: The active ingredient is 15% ACH, which is different from SweatBlock’s 14% ACL and Duradry’s wipes, which don’t contain any antiperspirant ingredients. It’s also under the 25% allowed by the FDA. Our testers found that the effectiveness of the underarm lotion made the wipes unnecessary. However, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t come in handy on a hot summer day or before a stressful presentation.

The Exfoliating Underarm Wash is a newer product from Carpe that helps make the underarm lotion more effective because the pumice scrub is a form of mechanical exfoliation that removes excess oil, sweat, and dead skin cells, which can clog pores. The idea is that clearer pores will allow more product to enter and clog them.22

Palmar hyperhidrosis is one of the common manifestations of primary hyperhidrosis, which involves excessive sweating of the hands. Palmar hyperhidrosis impacts people negatively at work by causing an average decrease in productivity of around 7%.17 Plantar hyperhidrosis impacts people in summer and winter with excessive foot sweating.

Like Carpe’s underarm antiperspirants, their hand and foot lotions are 15% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, which is within the FDA’s guidelines. It’s best to apply these at night because your sweat glands are the least active at this time, and the product can better enter the sweat glands when you’re not sweating. SweatBlock’s hand lotion also uses aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, but theirs is 17.5%.

Carpe’s hand and foot lotions both contain eucalyptus oil, which is often used as a fragrance and is known to have antibacterial properties.18 We found the hand lotion to have a sort of medicinal smell similar to the classic Vicks Vapor Rub, only not nearly as strong, and the scent doesn’t linger after application.

Our testing convinced us that Carpe’s hand lotion works well, but it does feel sticky for a minute or two after application, and it left our hands feeling a little dry throughout the day. The foot lotion comes with an applicator, but it fails to serve its purpose faithfully; you’ll need to use your fingers to really get in between your toes.

Carpe’s sweat-absorbing face and scalp products do not contain aluminum salts but instead use starches to help soak up perspiration. Their other ingredients help soothe and hydrate the skin to prevent overdrying.

Each of these products uses a different formulation, and none have scent options, but they’re used in places you typically wouldn’t want a fragrance, like on the face.

The Face Lotion contains:

• Witch hazel
• Alcohol
• Rice extract
• Niacinamide
• Squalene
• Aloe
• Sunflower
• Rosemary
• Oat extracts

Direct competitors don’t sell sweat-absorbing face lotions, and we found Carpe’s face lotion effective, giving skin a sense of cleanliness. Carpe has not yet tested its face lotion for comedogenicity, but the customer service rep we talked to indicated it is something Carpe plans to do soon. Until that testing is complete, we can’t recommend this product to people with facial acne.

Carpe’s face wipes feature tea tree oil and witch hazel but also contain lemongrass, lavender, and eucalyptus. SweatBlock’s face wipes also feature witch hazel, but they use fewer ingredients than Carpe. Carpe’s Face Primer is a zinc-based sunscreen with sunflower, rice, and rosemary extracts, and direct competitors don’t offer a similar product. With any new facial product, be sure to try them out on a small patch of skin the first time to make sure you don’t have any unexpected or unlikely irritation.

Carpe’s Scalp Serum and Scalp Powder are unique, as there aren’t many similar products currently on the market. The serum includes argan oil and ginger and does have a moderately earthy smell. The powder features corn and tapioca starches, and it comes in a pump (not a shaker), so it’s easy to apply.

If you experience excessive sweating in more private areas, Carpe has products to address those needs, too. Both of Carpe’s groin powders are talc-free, but they do contain fragrances. Keep in mind they’re for external use only. The Men’s Groin Powder and the sweat-absorbing thigh lotion can also help prevent chafing.

The ingredients in these products differ slightly from Carpe’s other products due to the sensitive nature of these areas. These products contain a variety of sweat-absorbing powders made of corn, tapioca, and kaolin, but they don’t contain aluminum salts. The powder shaker can make the application a bit of a mess. SweatBlock has similar products for the groin area, but theirs are lotions, which might be easier to use.

Carpe offers an extensive list of bundles that target various sweat issues. Most of the bundles are multiples of a single product, but the following bundles include different products for various body parts. These bundles are a great way to test products for all your problem areas at once. When ordering a bundle, keep in mind you’ll only be able to choose one scent, if there are any scent options.

While Carpe’s products are available from many retailers, we found that you can get the most significant savings by shopping directly from Carpe’s website. To get started:

1. Take the quiz. If you’re unsure which Carpe products might be right for you, the easiest first step is to take The Sweat Quiz. Answer a few yes or no and multiple-choice questions about why you sweat and how concerned you are with your sweat situation to get matched with products that can help. It only took us a couple of minutes to complete the quiz, and the results were immediate.
2. Explore products. On the homepage, you’ll see a dropdown menu labeled “Shop” at the upper left corner of the page. Clicking this link will present you with several ways to browse products: by category, name, or bundles.
3. Make your selection(s). When you find a product you’d like to purchase, you have the option of a one-time purchase price or the Subscribe & Save. Depending on the product you choose, you can alter the delivery increments for Subscribe & Save.
4. Checkout. Shipping is free on all orders. Carpe sends you a tracking number for your products once the package has left the facility.
5. Assess your satisfaction. Carpe offers a 100% money-back guarantee on all products. Contact customer service within 60 days of purchase to obtain a refund or exchange, minus your shipping costs.

As with most online retailers, Carpe collects personal and non-personalized data about website users through cookies and other tracking technology. Carpe outsources all payment processing to Foxy.io, a PCI DSS Compliant Level 1 Service Provider. Carpe does not retain payment information unless you choose to retain your information for future purposes. In this case, Foxy.io maintains the information.

Carpe’s privacy policy outlines when they may share your personal information. Instances include:

• Under circumstances of law or to protect rights
• With third-party service providers
• With third parties for marketing purposes, as permitted by law

There are so many antiperspirants on the market that it can be hard to choose the best one. Look for products that say “antiperspirant” on the label if you want to help control sweat, not just cover up body odor. Larger personal hygiene brands like Suave, Secret, Dove, Mitchum, and Degree all sell a variety of OTC underarm antiperspirants, while companies like Carpe, Duradry, and SweatBlock specialize in antiperspirants for a variety of body parts and other products for people with hyperhidrosis.

If you’ve got hyperhidrosis, look for phrases like “extra strength” or “clinical strength” to get the highest concentration of ingredients allowed OTC by the FDA. These statements aren’t regulated in any way, however. You might find a product marketed as “clinical strength” that has less ACH in it that another marketed as an everyday product.

Fortunately, there is some regulation of other marketing claims. Antiperspirants must demonstrate at least a 30% sweat reduction over 24 hours to add the following wording to their packaging:9

• 24-hour extra effective protection
• All-day extra effective protection
• Extra effective protection lasts 24 hours
• Extra effective protection lasts all day

But rather than simply let you out into the world with that information, we’ve collected information on several of Carpe’s closest competitors below.

SweatBlock

SweatBlock makes clinical-strength antiperspirants for the underarms and other parts of the body, like Carpe. They also have a line of deodorant lotions for various body parts like the breasts, groin, and thighs.

For the underarms, SweatBlock has three options: Everyday, Clinical Protection, and Max Clinical. The Everyday solid stick is 15% aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine. The Clinical Protection solid stick uses the same aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex glycine, but at 20%, which is the same as Carpe’s 2oz Clinical Grade stick. SweatBlock’s is about half the price of Carpe’s.

The active ingredient in SweatBlock’s Max Clinical underarm antiperspirant is 15% aluminum chloride for the roll-on and 14% aluminum chloride for the wipes. Carpe’s underarm antiperspirant wipes use 15% aluminum chlorohydrate as the main ingredient and are a little less expensive at $22 for 15 wipes vs. SweatBlock’s $20 for 10 wipes. It’s also worth noting that aluminum chloride is an older aluminum salt that typically causes more skin irritation than modern formulas.

SweatBlock’s antiperspirant lotions for the hands and feet come in a formulation of either 16% or 17% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, which is below the FDA guideline but slightly higher than Carpe’s similar products. And SweatBlock’s lotions are typically less expensive.

Duradry

Duradry is a U.S.-based company offering a variety of antiperspirants, deodorants, and sweat-absorbing products, but they encourage the use of 3-step systems for the underarms, hands, feet, or body. These three steps always include a cleanser and deodorant or antiperspirant, and the 3-step underarm bundle costs about $41. Carpe also offers a 3-step underarm regimen that includes an exfoliator and an antiperspirant, but theirs costs about $60 for a similar amount of product.

For the underarms, Duradry’s AM antiperspirant stick uses 20% aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine as the main active ingredient, which is similar to Carpe’s Clinical Grade underarm antiperspirant. Duradry’s AM stick is a solid with only four fragrance options, and a 2.3oz costs about $14. Carpe’s underarm antiperspirant is a lotion with eight fragrance choices, including a fragrance-free option (which Duradry doesn’t have), but a 2oz stick costs about $25.

Duradry offers about the same number of products as Carpe, but most of Duradry’s non-antiperspirant products are deodorizers, whereas Carpe’s non-antiperspirant products are sweat absorbers. Ultimately, you could save money using Duradry to access that 20% aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex glycine, but for products that target sweat more than odor — and for products specific to private parts — you’ll want to stick with Carpe or Sweatblock.

Certain Dri

Certain Dri is a popular OTC brand for antiperspirants. They are one of the only antiperspirant companies to offer three strength levels, each with a different active ingredient, and all three are alcohol-free.

• Everyday Strength Clinical (solid or roll-on, 20% aluminum zirconium)
• Prescription Strength Clinical (roll-on, 12% ACL)
• Extra Strength Clinical (solid, 25% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate)

Carpe only offers two strength levels, each with a different active ingredient, and both contain alcohol. Certain Dri’s Extra Strength Clinical formula and Carpe’s standard formula use the same active ingredient, but Certain Dri’s is 25%, while Carpe’s is only 15%. A 1.7oz of Certain Dri’s Extra Strength Clinical is a solid stick that costs about $9, whereas Carpe’s 1oz Underarm Lotion is about $20.

Certain Dri antiperspirants are only for use on the underarms, and they only come in one standard scent for each formulation. Carpe, on the other hand, also has antiperspirants for the hands and feet, and their underarm lotion comes with eight fragrance options, including fragrance-free. Certain Dri’s only other products are three body powders for absorbing sweat, but it appears you can only buy those in stores, not online. If you’re looking for whole-body sweat prevention that’s readily available, Carpe is the better choice.

If you’ve got moderate to severe hyperhidrosis, a prescription antiperspirant might be more effective than an OTC antiperspirant because it is stronger. And if you’re mostly worried about smell, a deodorant could be all you need.

Drysol

Drysol is a Canadian topical antiperspirant brand with aluminum chloride hexahydrate as its main active ingredient. A prescription for Drysol is required for customers in the U.S. because the active ingredient isn’t approved by the FDA for OTC antiperspirants.9 So, you can’t buy it from retailers as you can with Carpe.

Drysol products can only be used on the underarms, torso, feet, and hands, so they don’t offer products for the face, scalp, thighs, and groin as Carpe does. Carpe has two strength options formulated with different active ingredients, so you can’t simply try a stronger version of the same Carpe antiperspirant. Drysol has three strength levels of the same active ingredient:

• Mild (6.25% aluminum chloride hexahydrate)
• Regular (12% aluminum chloride hexahydrate)
• Extra Strength (20% aluminum chloride hexahydrate)

All three levels come in a dab-on stick, and the extra-strength product also includes a solution that can be applied with fingers or a cotton ball (no applicator included). Drysol only needs to be applied once per day for the first three days. In comparison, Carpe should be applied every night for four weeks to start. Drysol is also a bit more expensive than Carpe. A 1.1oz Extra Strength dab-on bottle of Drysol costs about $30, whereas the 1oz Carpe underarm lotion is about $20.

Lumē

You’ve probably seen Lumē’s energetic commercials and ads, but their products are not antiperspirants, so if that’s what you’re after, this brand can’t help prevent sweat. Unlike Carpe, none of Lumē’s products are made with aluminum. Lumē’s main ingredient is mandelic acid, which is an antibacterial agent.13 Lumē does offer a line of deodorant sticks, creams, and wipes that can be used anywhere on the body, including armpits, hands, feet, and private parts. They also offer deodorizing soaps, body wash, pre-wash laundry spray, and laundry soaking solutions, which Carpe doesn’t. But if you’re concerned with perspiration, you’ll want to look elsewhere.