Carpe Reviews: Should you choose this antiperspirant?

Carpe’s antiperspirant lotions, sticks, and wipes are some of the most effective non-prescription products on the market. They stop excessive sweating in your armpits, and Carpe offers equally effective products for face, hands, feet, groin, chest, and thighs.

Let’s face it: no one wants to be in a public setting with rapidly spreading armpit stains from sweat. But most of us have been there at one point or another. This occasional influx of sweat can arise from anxiety, hormonal fluctuations, or many other factors.

Hyperhidrosis – excessive sweating unrelated to body temperature regulation – affects over 15.3 million people (4.8%) in the United States. Among those affected, 70% have primary focal hyperhidrosis (PFH), which leads to sweating in particular areas like the hands, feet, armpits, face, and groin. And teenagers, already in an awkward phase of life, struggle with excessive perspiration the most.

Carpe offers new antiperspirant products to combat hyperhidrosis. We’ve tested and evaluated Carpe’s products alongside both over-the-counter drugstore brands and dermatologist-prescribed treatments to see how their line of antiperspirants stands up to the competition. Read our full review below to find out if Carpe may be the cure for your sweaty moments.

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We extensively test each health service we review. We try our best to give you, our readers, an unbiased exploration of at-home health services, free of marketing jargon or gimmicks. We evaluate the service based on our adherence to quality, the latest medical evidence and health standards, and a simple question: would we buy the product or service ourselves if it weren’t part of our job, and would we recommend it to family and friends?

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.

Quality

9.2/10

Carpe’s products combine prescription-strength components with natural ingredients. Their aluminum-based formulas block sweat-producing pores over time and prevent excessive sweating. The natural ingredients–like eucalyptus–help to soothe skin. They offer a diverse range of products for armpits, face, hands, feet, groin, and other areas. All in all, Carpe has got you covered.

Keep in mind that there are some concerns that the use of aluminum-based antiperspirants could be linked to breast cancer or kidney disease, but more studies are necessary to link products to those health concerns.

Effectiveness

9/10

If you use the products as directed, you should see an improvement in the amount of sweat you produce over time. Because the formulas need a chance to build up within the skin, it does take a few weeks to 1 month to reach maximum effectiveness. But, with consistent use and a commitment to staying dry, these products are highly effective. Over time, you’ll even require less product for the same results.

Cost

9.4/10

Carpe keeps costs low by bundling products and offering discounts and subscriptions. Right now, their site offers a 15% discount on your order if you provide an email address. Their bundles include several products that save you anywhere from 15-25% off the cost of buying them individually. If you opt for a monthly subscription, you save 20-30%. Shipping is also free on all orders over $20. Innerbody Research readers can save an additional 30% on bundle orders over $70.

User-friendliness

8.8/10

Carpe’s website is very user-friendly with thorough product descriptions and enlightening videos about each product. The Sweat Quiz helps you determine which product or products might be best suited to your sweat needs. The ordering process is straightforward, and your products ship quickly and discreetly. Because they offer so many products and bundles, it’s easy to get a little lost on their shopping page. But, each product and bundle is so unique that they literally offer something for everyone.

Customer support

9.3/10

Besides an extensive FAQ page, Carpe also offers a Sweatopedia, which features articles about excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis). They provide insight into treatment options, causes, and other biological factors that can impact your body’s sweat production. This feature stands out because it helps educate customers about their condition while also providing products to treat it.

To contact Carpe, you can reach out via email, and they will answer your question within 24 hours. On average, our testers received a response less than an hour after reaching out to customer service. They do not have chat or phone support at this time.

Carpe is an American manufacturer of dermatologist-recommended, over-the-counter antiperspirant products that yield 60% median sweat reduction in users. Carpe’s products will work for anyone, but they are especially beneficial in addressing excessive sweating, called hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis affects 4.8% of the overall U.S. population but is particularly common among teenagers, with nearly one in five reporting excessive and uncontrollable perspiration.

While various treatments are available to address hyperhidrosis, including botulinum toxin injections and surgical and laser procedures, the first line of therapy is topical antiperspirant. Carpe’s products address excessive perspiration in the main areas affected:

• Hands
• Feet
• Armpits
• Face
• Groin

For easy, on-the-go use, Carpe offers:

• Lotions
• Wipes
• Deodorant sticks

You can purchase Carpe antiperspirant products in many stores, but buying directly through their website helps you enjoy the best discounts.

Carpe’s ingredients

The active ingredient in Carpe’s antiperspirant products is aluminum sesquichlorohydrate, a form of aluminum salt common in many over-the-counter antiperspirants. It reacts with proteins in sweat, effectively plugging up your sweat ducts. Carpe antiperspirant stands out from average drugstore deodorants because its supporting ingredients, including eucalyptus oil, work together to achieve a drier, cleaner feeling.

Antiperspirants are not the only products that Carpe presents in their line. They also produce sweat absorption products that wipe away perspiration throughout the day. These products, used in conjunction with Carpe’s antiperspirants, help you maintain freshness from morning until nighttime.

The effectiveness of Carpe’s antiperspirants improves over time with twice-daily use. Using antiperspirants at bedtime allows for absorption and penetration into the sweat ducts. To use Carpe’s lotions, simply apply a pea-sized amount to the hands or feet and massage in. Carpe’s products absorb quickly and do not leave behind a greasy residue. This makes them particularly beneficial to athletes who need to maintain stability in their grip. Continued use improves efficacy over time and may lead to the need for less product in the future.

Carpe offers products designed for specific body areas most commonly associated with excessive sweating. In addition to the products below, you can find savings in Carpe’s bundle offers. These bundles range from underarm-only products to head-to-toe bundles covering the full range of Carpe’s line.

Carpe’s Subscribe & Save option saves you 15-20% off the one-time purchase price of all items. Carpe sends you email notifications a few days before each order renewal, and you can cancel at any time without penalty. If you decide to do a one-time purchase, you have the option of buying multi-packs of most products.

Underarm

Carpe offers three main products and one system to address underarm perspiration:

• Carpe Underarm Lotion: stick ($19.95) and tube ($19.95)
• Antiperspirant Underarm Wipes ($19.95)
• Exfoliating Underarm Wash ($14.95)
• Underarm Regimen ($58.88)

Here are some essential things to know about Carpe’s Underarm Lotion:

• Carpe Underarm Lotion contains 15% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate.
• Supporting ingredients include sweat-absorbing powders and eucalyptus oil.
• The lotion comes in a typical twist-dial stick or in a tube applicator.
• To use it, you smooth a dime-sized amount of the product onto your underarms in the morning and at bedtime.
• Effectiveness improves over time, with best results achieved after one month of consistent use.

Carpe’s Antiperspirant Underarm Wipes contains 15 large wipes for on-the-go use. These wipes are great for use at the gym or any midday moment when perspiration arises. The wipes contain:

• 15% aluminum chlorohydrate
• Sage leaf extract
• Lichen extract
• Other supporting ingredients

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. For those with moderate hyperhidrosis, the wipes are very useful.

The Exfoliating Underarm Wash is a new product from Carpe that helps make the underarm lotion more effective. The gentle pumice scrub removes excess oil, sweat, and other build-up from your armpits. Massage a quarter-sized drop of exfoliator into your armpits and then rinse. It’s safe enough for daily use.

The Underarm Regimen is Carpe’s most effective system. It includes:

• Underarm Antiperspirant Wipes
• Clinical Grade Underarm Antiperspirant Stick
• Exfoliating Wash

Using these products in combination helps to maximize their effectiveness. Wash your underarms with the exfoliating wash before using the wipes before bed. In the morning, use the antiperspirant stick to remain sweat- and odor-free all day.

Face

Carpe’s products for facial perspiration include lotion and wipes, both retailing for $19.95. These products do not contain aluminum salts but instead focus on absorption for this sensitive skin area.

Carpe’s Sweat Absorbing Face Lotion combines a blend of sweat- and oil-absorbing molecules with natural ingredients to soothe the skin and keep it dry, yet hydrated throughout the day. Ingredients include:

• Silica microspheres
• Jojoba esters
• Witch hazel
• Aloe vera
• Colloidal oatmeal
• Plant extracts

Carpe’s Sweat Absorbing Face Wipes provide cooling relief at any time of day with tea tree oil and witch hazel. They also include eucalyptus and chamomile, which contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The pouch contains 15 wipes for on-the-go use.

Our testers found these very pleasing and effective products, giving skin a sense of cleanliness and rejuvenation. But as with any new facial product, try it out on a small patch of skin the first time to make sure you don’t have any unexpected or unlikely irritation.

Hands

Palmar hyperhidrosis is one of the common manifestations of primary hyperhidrosis. It involves excessive sweating of the hands, which can be a disabling issue for athletes.

Carpe’s Antiperspirant Hand Lotion addresses the issue of sweaty palms with 15% aluminum sesquichlorohydrate and supporting molecules, including sweat-absorbing powders and eucalyptus oil. And our testing convinced us that this product works.

Here’s what you need to know about Carpe’s Antiperspirant Hand Lotion:

• Carpe Antiperspirant Hand Lotion costs $14.95 for a 40 mL bottle.
• To use, simply apply a dime-sized amount onto clean, dry hands and rub in the lotion thoroughly.
• It is fast-drying and non-greasy.
• It should be used twice daily, in the morning and at night.
• The lotion reaches maximum effectiveness after one month of consistent use.

Thighs and groin

Carpe produces three products to address excessive sweating in the thigh/groin area. All products cost $19.95:

• Sweat Absorbing Thigh Lotion
• Sweat Absorbing Men’s Groin Powder
• Sweat Absorbing Women’s Groin Powder

The ingredients in these products differ slightly from the others due to the sensitive nature of these body areas.

Carpe’s Sweat Absorbing Thigh Lotion is designed for sweat absorption and chafing prevention. It contains:

• Moisture-absorbing starches and powders
• Witch hazel
• Vitamin B3
• Aloe barbadensis cactus
• Other supporting ingredients

Apply this lotion in a quarter-sized amount and rub it into your thighs and groin area where you are most affected by sweat and chafing.

Carpe’s Sweat Absorbing Men’s Groin Powder comes in an applicator with a swiveling nozzle to deliver powder into the folds of the male groin without dumping powder everywhere. The Sweat Absorbing Women’s Groin Powder helps prevent moisture and odor at any time of day. They both contain a variety of sweat-absorbing powders made of corn, tapioca, and kaolin, among others. Marigold, sage, and aloe vera extracts deliver a cooling tingle. And, importantly, Carpe doesn’t contain any talc.

Breasts

Carpe’s Sweat Absorbing Breast Lotion is $19.95 and provides quick-drying, cooling sweat absorption in the following areas:

• Breasts
• Chest
• Torso

Apply this lotion every morning to dry, clean skin. It contains sweat-absorbing powders, witch hazel, vitamin B3, and rosemary, sunflower, rice, and apple extracts.

Bundles

Carpe offers an extensive list of bundles that target various sweat issues. Their most popular bundle is the Goodbye Sweaty Underarms bundle, which includes 3 sticks of underarm lotion for $47.88. Learn more about Carpe’s other bundles below:

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. You can participate in the Subscribe & Save option for 20% off retail prices. 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 multiple-choice questions about your sweat situation and get matched with products that can help.

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 option for 20% less. Depending on the product you choose, you can alter the delivery increments for Subscribe & Save, and cancellation is easy and penalty-free.

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.

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 may share your personal information:

• 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 antiperspirant and deodorant brands on the market that it can be hard to choose the best one. Below, we’ve outlined several of Carpe’s competitors to see how they compare.

Lumē

Lumē offers a line of deodorant products that are all-natural and cruelty-free. Lumē sells deodorant sticks and tubes that can be used anywhere on the body, including armpits, feet, and private parts. They also offer soaps, body wash, wipes, and body butter that help improve odor. To keep clothes from holding on to deodorant, Lumē sells a pre-wash laundry spray and soaking solution. You can also save money by trying one of Lumē’s product bundles. None of their products are made with aluminum.

Drysol

Drysol is an antiperspirant with aluminum chloride hexahydrate as its main active ingredient. The product can be used on underarms, feet, hands, and other skin folds. It comes in three strength levels:

• Mild
• Regular
• Extra strength

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. The product only needs to be applied once per day for the first 3 days. After that, you only need to apply it once or twice a week.

One downside of Drysol is that a prescription is required for customers in the US. However, some health insurance plans will cover this hyperhidrosis treatment.

Duradry

The Duradry 3-step system makes getting started with their product super easy. The kit includes:

• AM deodorant/antiperspirant stick
• PM antiperspirant gel
• Deodorizing body wash

In addition to these three products, Duradry also offers a deodorizing body spray. If you choose to order the products individually, you can opt for a single order or a 3-pack. Duradry also offers a subscription service that saves 20%.

The AM deodorant stick and the PM antiperspirant gel are aluminum-based products. The body wash and body spray are made with natural deodorizers.

Certain Dri

A popular, over-the-counter antiperspirant, Certain Dri offers three products that meet different perspiration needs:

• Certain Dri Prescription Strength Clinical: This roll-on formula is made with aluminum chloride. Certain Dri claims that it is the strongest antiperspirant you can buy without a prescription.
• Certain Dri Extra Strength Clinical: This product is an antiperspirant and deodorant made with aluminum sesquichlorohydrate (the same ingredient as Carpe).
• Certain Dri Everyday Strength Clinical: This product comes in both solid and roll-on formulas. It is an aluminum-based antiperspirant and deodorant.