The summer sweat struggle is real. Especially right now, as temperatures reach all-time highs, just the thought of stepping outside already has us perspiring. And for many of us, when it comes to preventing the dreaded pit stains and odor, the first line of defense is an antiperspirant.

But if you're the kind of person who feels like they sweat more than the average individual, you know that not every formula is going to cut it. Four members of the Shop TODAY team, who all self-identify as "sweaty girls," were recently talking about how hard it is to find an antiperspirant that actually helps cut down on sweat, when the brand Carpe entered the conversation.

A few of us had seen ads for the company's total-body sweating solutions popping up on our TikTok pages, and I even had a friend who recommended it to me. One dermatologist that we previously spoke to also shared that the brand has an excellent line of antiperspirants that target hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), and the lotion in particular is a great choice. It contains aluminum salts, which our expert noted help to manage sweating.

When the brand sent us its most popular formula, an underarm antiperspirant, we asked four of our sweatiest editors to try it and see if it actually holds up to its claim of "maximum effectiveness" in preventing sweating — even on the hottest days of the season. Here's what we thought.

Carpe Underarm Antiperspirant and Deodorant

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Underarm Antiperspirant and Deodorant

Why we like it

"I sweat a lot, like a lot — and I have a bunch of sad, stained white shirts sitting in the back of my closet to prove it," says associate social media editor, Dani Musacchio. "I’ve tried tons of deodorant brands, including men’s, but haven’t remained loyal to one because they all just worked pretty meh for me. The one deodorant I found that combatted my sweat very well left me with such bad irritation that I quickly ditched it. That’s why I had to see if Carpe deodorant lived up to its claim that it can combat excessive sweating — without any irritation."

You don't need much product for it to work

Musacchio noted that a little goes a long way with this deodorant, and applied with a lotion-like texture that differs from others she's used.

"Applying too much can leave your pits feeling a little sticky and can transfer onto your clothing," she says. "A small twist should give you just enough product. I also recommend that you let your pits dry for a minute or so before putting on clothes to avoid any transfer.

"After using this product for over two months, I can say that this is the only deodorant that has actually combatted my sweat without any irritation whatsoever. While it doesn’t stop me from sweating completely, I experience way fewer embarrassing pit stains and haven’t had to ask my friends for a 'pit check' in a long time (you’re welcome, friends!). My favorite scent is Sandalwood, but the Powder and Coconut Vanilla scents that I tried also smell great and are not too overpowering.

"At $20 a bottle, this is a bit pricier than other deodorants I’ve bought, but I will absolutely be purchasing more Carpe once I run out. For me, $20 is worth it if it means that I could avoid ruining more clothing and smelling stinky."

It's more effective than other products

Production associate Audrey Ekman was hesitant at first to try this antiperspirant, but was left "impressed" after using it.

"I've tried the gamut of products designed to keep pit stains at bay," she says. "At the risk of oversharing, from 48-hour, extra-strength deodorant to overnight antiperspirant wipes, nothing has ever truly stopped me from sweating under my arms.

Her and Musacchio agree that letting it dry completely before going about your day will help to keep you sweat-free.

"Odor isn't as much of an issue for me as just sheer sweat, but I loved the scent of the mountain breeze one — not so much the so-called 'unscented' one, which I found had an almost medicinal smell and mysteriously oozed out from the top on its own when I wasn't using it."

Continued use boasts better results over time

Emma Stessman, commerce writer, has also tried a significant amount of products that claim to stop sweat. But "none have worked as well as this formula," she says of Carpe.

"I've been using it consistently for a couple of months now and have noticed a big difference in how much my armpits sweat. It doesn't necessarily stop me from sweating altogether — I truly think that would require some sort of medical intervention — but it has seriously helped cut down on the amount of sweat under my armpits. Meaning, fewer sweat stains. Big win!

"During the last couple of months, I've really put the deodorant to the test, too. I'm in the process of training for a marathon, and as someone who hates running long distances on the treadmill, I've recently had quite a few days where I've been running outside in the 85+ degree Fahrenheit heat. And while there's no question that I've still been profusely sweating, I've noticed that my armpits stay much drier than the rest of my body. And I will say, I felt like it got more effective the more I used it (the brand says for best results, you should use it consistently for four weeks)."

What to consider

Applying it can be messy

"The one thing I didn't love about it was the application process. It took a while to figure out how much to use, and sometimes it would dispense more than I wanted, so it would go on goopy," explains Emma. "But for the impressive results, I'm happy to deal with that."

It's not fool-proof when it comes to odor

Former Shop TODAY editor Fran Sales typically reaches for a natural deodorant, prioritizing odor prevention over stopping sweat. While carpe worked for her, she didn't see a major improvement in body odor. "I did stop using it after a few weeks, because while it was effective in stopping sweat for longer periods (for reference, I sweat the minute I walk out the door), it didn't really work on stopping the odor. For me, the most important thing is minimizing BO, with or without the sweat. But for those who don't mind using chemical antiperspirants, this is a good choice."