I Dared to Wear a Natural Deodorant During a Marathon and It Really Worked
Ahead of running my first marathon, one burning question stayed front of mind. I wasn't concerned about the 26.2-mile course, or my sneakers, or even how I should be eating. Instead, I was worrying over which deodorant I would wear.
You see, the deodorant would have to be tough. Race day starts at 4am and goes until I reached the finish line. I didn't want to lug anything with me at the start—and everything I bring would have to be thrown away, anyway—so packing a stick wasn't an option. On top of that, the forecast was sunny and in the 50s which actually feels super hot when you're running, so buckets of sweat were inevitable.
I heard about Kopari's deodorant through word-of-mouth praise. Friends loved the scent and feel, but most importantly loved that the deodorant was a natural alternative to aluminum-based ones. I'm not precious about using only organic or natural products, but deodorant is one of the easiest switches to make. Being a longtime user of "clinical strength" anti-perspirants from drugstore brands started making the skin on my underarms feel clogged, irritated, and sucked dry. I hadn't even considered the alarming facts: That aluminum plugs sweat glands from naturally secreting and, since it is applied near the breast, can possibly be absorbed by skin and have hormonal effects linked to developing cancer.
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I've tried several natural deodorants and found none were long-lasting nor did a great job of preventing B.O.—some of them even made the smell stronger. Kopari is the first one I've tried that works like a traditional deodorant. It's aluminum-free, silicone-free, baking-soda free, and doesn't leave any white streaks on my skin or clothing. Its main ingredient is organic coconut oil, which is known to be anti-bacterial (note: what causes odor in the first place is bacteria mixed with perspiration). I like the familiar feel of Kopari with its solid, moisturizing formula, and easy twist-up application stick. I found it was perfect for everyday use, but would it last through a marathon?
I applied it right before I got out the door at 4:45AM, saying a little prayer because I knew I wouldn't be able to reapply. I went on with my day, running through all five boroughs of New York City never once getting a whiff of a foul smell from my underarms. (Other runners were not so lucky. The whole course was B.O. city, but thankfully that only makes you run faster.) When I crossed the finish line around 3PM, I triumphantly raised my arms without a worry. I hugged friends and family confidently. When I got home and finally laid down, I did a quick sniff test only to find there was no smell there.
Behold, the face of a natural deodorant-believer:
