What I think about the Degree Women’s #domore ads.

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Degree for Women (@DegreeWomen) has a whole line of advertisements out for their antiperspirants that show women doing ballet, yoga, running, and other active workouts.  They use the hashtag #domore to promote ads of women in sleeveless tops, sweat free, stretching, weight lifting, etc.

Their advertising targets active women with gems like:

“When every muscle is moving, you need protection that works as hard as you. #DOMORE”

“You release tension, motionsense releases bursts of freshness with every move. #DOMORE”

Maybe some of that tension is from crazy advertisements implying that women should be worried about their sweat while they’re working out.  Maybe we don’t need ANY protection when we’re working out, because… get this, WE’RE GOING TO SHOWER AFTERWARDS.

Here’s what I’m thinking: NO.

We don’t need to wear antiperspirant when we’re working out.  WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE SWEATING.  It’s our body’s natural cooling system, and even though it’s not as amazing a toxin remover as sauna builders would have you believe, it’s definitely healthy.

To be clear, I don’t think it’s necessarily dangerous to wear antiperspirant at the gym.  I wouldn’t wash it off if I was heading out to run and already had some on.  Our bodies have tons of sweat glands, and don’t rely specifically on our underarms as their only source of cooling.  Fine.

But I do resent advertising that implies that women should be worried about how much they’re sweating during their workouts, and be using products to avoid it.

Save your money and spend it on a post-workout snack, instead.  Go ahead and sweat.   If you’re at the gym, running with a group, or in a fitness class, everyone else is going to be sweaty too.  Shower before you’re around other non-sweaty people, and presto – problem solved.  There’s ZERO reason to be buying a product to keep you from sweating during a workout!  And these are antiperspirants they’re advertising, which reduce sweat, not just a product to mask the odor.  Another thing I would not worry about, by the way, because you’re around other sweaty people either in a gym that no spray can fix or outdoors where the fresh air is on your side.

What about makeup? While I’m at it, I’m not a big fan of makeup during workouts either.  If you have some on because you’re working out later in the day, you can wash it off if you’re worried it’s going to clog your pores or smear everywhere, or you can leave it.  I don’t worry about removing my mascara if I head out for a mid-afternoon run and happen to be wearing some.  But I don’t put it on for race-day, either.  Yes, there will be race photos.  Yes, I will see people I know.  No, I’m not going to look for sweat-proof eyeliner and mascara.

If you want to, if it makes you feel confident, and you like how you look, fine.  But if you’re just wearing it because you’re afraid of being seen without your makeup…. take a deep breath, look around at all the sweaty people in spandex at mile 5, and realize that none of them can even process the fact that you look well-rested thanks to your under-eye concealer.  Also, you’re with a bunch of sweaty people wearing spandex.  This is worth reiterating.  People are spitting on the sidewalk.  There’s no need to wear makeup to these events.

Degree for Women – You’ve missed the mark with this ad campaign.  I want to sweat while I’m working out.  It shows me I’m working hard.  It’s a badge of my accomplishment.  It’s healthy, it’s human, and everyone around me is sweating, too.  The only thing I need is a post-run shower.

Antiperspirant is for when you’re going out.  Not when you’re working out.

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3 comments

  1. Bravo!! Bravo!!

  2. Thank you! I personally sweat a ton when I work out. Sometimes in the warmer months, I’ve been completely soaked. And I love it! It’s proof that I’m not pretending. If you’re not sweating, you’re probably not working hard enough.
    Do I want to have sweat stains at work in a pretty blouse? Not really. Do I care if I’m dripping sweat when working out? Not at all! I agree that their ad campaign missed the mark.

    1. Thanks! I agree, there’s something really satisfying about seeing the sweat and knowing you earned it. I remember seeing it snake down my arm once at spin class… I have never felt like such a bad ass!

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