Inspired by their outdoorsy husbands, Laura Cox and Mia Duchnowski joined forces to launch Oars + Alps in 2015, a line of high-quality and effective natural skin care products for men that lead active lifestyles. Prior to starting their company, Cox worked at Facebook and Duchnowski was a high-profile television reporter for Bloomberg TV.

Since its inception, Oars + Alps has continued to expand its product line, which includes everything from deodorant and skin care products to hand sanitizer. In May 2020, the brand announced its campaign and partnership with DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals, a longtime fan of the brand.

“The partnership came to be very naturally and organically,” says Duchnowski. “The brand lives by this mantra, ‘If the wind will not serve, take to the oars,’ which means when faced with challenges, one must look inwards for strength and courage to overcome and achieve your goals. DeAndre has faced many challenges both personal and professional, yet he’s been able to persevere and be successful. That’s something we really admire about him and value at Oars + Alps.”

While Oars + Alps was originally geared towards men, it has also developed a following among women who love to use its products. In 2019, the brand was acquired by S.C. Johnson & Son Inc., and with Cox and Duchnowski continuing to oversee the company’s growth, it remains at the forefront of direct-to-consumer men’s skincare and grooming products.

“I love the fact that I’m able to create something from nothing by looping in different people with different backgrounds and specialties from contract manufacturers, to customers, to creative photographers,” says Duchnowski. “I really enjoy helping to solve a consumer problem of finding naturally-derived skincare for people who lead an active life.”

We chatted with Duchnowski, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite products, future plans, and more.

When was Oars + Alps founded and what’s the meaning behind the name?

Oars + Alps was officially founded in November 2016. The muses for the line are my and co-founder Laura Cox’s husbands, so the name was also inspired by them. “Oars” represents my husband who likes to row and “Alps” represents both of our husbands who like to snowboard and ski. They would rather be outside than inside at any given moment and are avid cyclists and marathoners.

What inspired the creation of Oars + Alps?

Both Laura and I have outdoorsy husbands who love the sun. Being outside all the time, they sweat and their skin suffers from environmental stressors including wind and pollution, not to mention the dirt and grime of daily life. We noticed that there wasn’t anything on the market that was particularly made for them. Every option was too expensive, full of chemicals or just plain inconvenient. So we took matters in our own hands and created Oars + Alps. 

Tell us more about your products and what makes them special.

Our products are effective, affordable, travel-friendly, and made with naturally-derived ingredients. Every product is made with a purpose and was created to make your life easier, not harder. Oars + Alps was originally geared towards men but as the line evolved, we noticed that a lot of women were purchasing them as not only were they effective, but suitable for their skin too. 

Do you have a hero product?

Our Natural Deodorant is definitely what keeps consumers hooked. We currently have seven scents and introduced an unscented, microbiome-conscious deodorant in January 2021. Our Body Wash is also a huge fan favorite—once you try it, you’ll never use another body wash!

What’s your favorite product?

I love the Wake Up Face Serum. It has 15% encapsulated vitamin C (If a brand doesn’t disclose how much is in their serum, they can use as little as 1% and it won’t be effective). It really goes on nicely after I wash my face and tone, and it feels really good under makeup.

Where are your products sold?

Our products are sold on our website, at Target, Amazon, Kohls.com, Grove Collaboration, and more.

What's next for the brand?

We have a lot of innovation for 2021 that we’re excited to introduce to consumers! We recently launched our Anti-Everything Pads with 10% glycolic and the Unscented Natural Deodorant. Plus, we have a sun care line coming out this year! There is plenty more coming down the pipeline that we can’t quite share with you yet, but it will include a new category to give you a hint!

For more information and to purchase, visit oarsandalps.com and follow on Instagram: @oarsandalps

[Images courtesy of Oars + Alps]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk