Even those of us who aren’t prone to breaking out are likely to suffer from bumps and redness if we don’t take care of our skin after excessively sweating. That said, there’s no need to sacrifice getting the most out of a workout to avoid blemishes thanks to a few key, tried and true, skin savers. Similarly, while intense cardio is likely to leave you with oily wet hair, that’s nothing a high performing dry shampoo can’t fix. Here’s a look at some standout gym bag beauty essentials to keep you looking your best, even when you can’t rush from the treadmill to the shower.
1. Dry Shampoo
Keratin Complex Volumizing Dry Shampoo Lift Powder ($35) is available in blonde, brunette, or white iterations, and it allows for a quick and easy hair lift. While there are other great dry shampoos, this one beats out its competitors thanks to its easily controlled application, enticing smell and, as an added bonus, if you opt for one of the ones with color, it’s helpful for covering up roots for those of us with colored hair.
2. Facial Wipes
Fight existing breakouts and stop future blemishes from forming with Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes ($7.99). Cheap, portable, and effective, they work double duty to remove dirt, makeup, and other pollutants.
3. Facial Spray
Not a fan of wipes? No problem with Mario Badescu’s Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs & Rose ($7). Not only will a few spritzes help refresh, but it will impart skin with much needed post-workout hydration.
4. Body Clarifying Spray
Face aside, one of the most common breakout areas for those who workout is the back. Murad’s Clarifying Body Spray ($37) lets you target that hard-to-reach back area to prevent bacne thanks to a formulation that includes salicylic acid. To boot, unlike most anti-acne products, it doesn’t smell bad!
5. Fragrance
Take it from the French — a little perfume can go a long way. Not only do the Hermessence ones from Hermes smell divine, they’re offered in portable .5 oz sprays (four for $145).
6. Hand Lotion
Whether you’re gripping onto weights or doing push-ups off of a step, many workouts can leave your hands feeling rough. Soften up your paws with Aveda’s aptly named Hand Relief ($20).
7. Deodorant
No explanation really necessary here, but Lavanila Laboratories’ The Healthy Deodorant ($10) is a standout because it’s a clinical-strength product that is 100% natural and formulated without parabens, sulfates, synthetic dyes, petro-chemicals, phthalates and other common noxious things you’ll find in deodorants.
8. Hand Sanitizer
Wipe down your hands — or sketchy looking gym equipment — with a portable hand sanitizer like Sephora by OPI’s Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Spray ($3), which kills 99.9 percent of germs on contact — no water necessary.
9. Brightening Serum
Prone to frowning when you’re lifting a heavy weight? Don’t worry, it’s common! Fight redness, brighten skin, and treat pesky fine lines with Super by Dr. Perricone’s First Blush Brightening Serum ($48), which harnesses the power of superfoods to achieve its impressive results.
10. Microfiber Towel
Conveniently compact, Microfiber towels ($15.20-500) are able to absorb a significant amount of water and then dry quickly, helping to avoid potentially nauseating smells.
Now that you’ve got the lowdown on these gym bag beauty essentials, it’s time to give your gym bag the once-over to ensure optimal post-workout beauty conditions. And, remember, when you’re working out you should be focusing on fitness — not appearance — but, with a wisely-packed gym bag, you’ll never have to worry about gym-related breakouts or olfactory issues again.
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