Post-workout beauty: 5 ways to say goodbye to sweat and hello to skincare when you’re at the gym
How’s your January been so far? As the unofficial month of fitness and healthy habits, chances are you’ve made an effort to add more gym visits into your schedule over the last four weeks. While incorporating more workout time is obviously a great thing, it can prove tricky for timing and wreak havoc on our beauty regime—especially when we’re busy. No one wants to show up to work with a flushed face and sweaty hair, courtesy your AM workout. Or if afternoon workouts are your thing, how are you supposed to meet the girls for a drink post-spin class without looking like a drowned rat?
While we all know a post-workout cool down is key, what you do to your skin once you’re done getting physical can be just as important. Of course, this doesn’t mean carting your entire vanity around in your gym bag. We asked the Beauty Panel to share their favourite gym-friendly products and post-workout beauty tricks. By adopting a quick locker room beauty routine with a few key items, you will not only save your skin from sweat-induced breakouts—you’ll also look fresh and beautiful on the go.
Challenge 47: What is your post-work out beauty routine? See the answers now! »
Maggie Ng from Beauty PhD, maintains that healthy gym-glow with a few quick steps, thanks to some time-saving beauty products. Montreal’s Genevieve Peeke, the girl behind Gen In The City, places top priority on banishing post-workout skin irritation. Overall, when it comes to post-workout beauty, the consensus seems to be similar to that of health professionals: it’s all about moisture and replenishing that lost water!
Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.
Jump to: MAGGIE NG | GENEVIEVE PEEKE | MARILOU MOLES | AMY MCKISSOCK | ELLIE SOMFELEAN
Maggie Ng
Toronto | Beauty PhD
As health and wellness are at the top of everyone’s New Year’s resolutions, a lot of us are hitting the gym, especially in this cold, chilly weather! If your gym bag has limited space or you are pressed for time, here are some of my beauty tips for your post-workout beauty routine:
Whether we workout or not, perspiration is inevitable. So as part of our beauty routine, we can’t neglect our body odour! For this, I like to use an all-natural deodorant cream by Soapwalla, which I recently discovered at The Detox Market’s pop up shop in Holt Renfrew. It lasts all day and it’s also vegan-friendly!
After a workout, it’s nice to be able to spray a refreshing facial mist, which I’ve been using Miyu Beauty Essence in No. 02. It totally calms and soothes the skin.
For my face, to cut down on a lot of makeup steps and beauty bag space, I will opt for a BB Cream such as Dior’s Hydralife Hydratant Sublimateur BB Creme with SPF 30 in “#1.” It’s like a moisturizer/primer/SPF/foundation-in-one. I find BB Cream will help to even out my skintone, but I still need a little bit of coverup in certain areas of the face, which I turn to Face Atelier’s Ultra Camouflage Duet in Light.
For my lips, I used an organic tinted lip conditioner by Ilia in Nobody’s Baby. This also doubled as my blush. The creamy texture blends well on my cheekbones with my MAC #190 Foundation Brush.
Quickly, I added a couple coats of mascara using Clinique’s High Impact Mascara for nice volume and filled in my brows with my Deca Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown.”
And lastly, to maintain that healthy post-workout look, I used Benefit’s Watt’s Up! highlighter on my eyelids/browbone, cheekbones, and down the center of my nose to create a nice luminosity on my skin!
Products used: Soapwalla Deodorant Cream, Miyu Beauty Essence in “No. 02,” Dior Hydralife Hydratant Sublimateur BB Creme with SPF 30 in “#1,” Face Atelier Ultra Camouflage Duet in “Light,” Ilia Beauty Tinted Lip Conditioner in “Nobody’s Baby,” MAC #190 Foundation Brush, Clinique High Impact Mascara in “Black,” Deca Brow Pencil in “Dark Brown,” Benefit’s Watt’s Up!
Marilou Moles
Ottawa | Twenty York Street
I cannot possibly stress the importance of post-gym skin care! From gym equipments that are not sanitized to sweating to dehydration during a work-out, we need to ensure that we properly care for our skin and body right after! I always carry facial wipes with me especially for times that I cannot take a full shower at the gym. I also carry an ant-blemish solution, it comes in handy if you feel a break-out is about to come!
It is important to re-hydrate right after by using an all-natural moisturizer for face and lips! My all-time favourite? THANN’s Anti-Aging Face Cream. My new favourite? Avene’s Thermal Spring Water and Epic Blend’s Premium Lip Balms. With formulas like Hemp, Vegan and More Moisture, I keep one in my office, my gym bag and my jacket pocket! They’re soft, buttery and paraben-free! Epic Blend’s tropical flavours like my favourite Coconut and Pineapple Mint gives me a happy illusion of summer this winter!
If I really need to go out after working out? I simply swipe a coat of Bourjois Mascara and light touch of pink berry gloss and I’m all good to go!
Products used: Aveeno Ultra Calming Make-up Remover, THANN Anti-Aging Face Cream, Epic Blend Hemp and Vegan Lip Balms, Avene Eau Thermale, Bourjois Mascara and Revlon Super Lustrous in “#210”
Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box
Given that I like to stretch my workouts forever I usually have to get ready for work or school in record time.. a task I’ve learned to master over time with the help of a few key products. After a quick shower (because there isn’t a replacement for that) I make sure I tone and moisturize my face as usual and then proceed to spray my favourite dry shampoo generously at the roots of my hair to soak up all that sweat and oil. While the dry shampoo works it’s magic I apply a dab of concealer under my eyes to look presentable and to hide blemishes or spots. Given that I’m still heated from the exercise and most likely prone to sweat I like to work with mineral powders which are not only easy to apply but will help control shine through the day while not feeling to heavy or cakey on. I finish the face off with a blush and highlighter to bring some life and dimension back to the face.
I like to keep the eyes simple, a touch of eyeliner and mascara to help bring out my eyes is enough followed by filling in my eyebrows with a brush. If I do have a date or more special day, I swap in the regular liner for a more colorful one. I finish the lips off with a balm and gloss and I am good to go. Before I head out, I brush the dry shampoo out and usually put my hair up in a ponytail.
Products used: Benefit Hello Flawless, Lancome Mineral Foundation, Revlon Highlighter, Nars Orgasm Blush, Revlon Age Defying Concealer
Genevieve Peeke
Montreal | Gen In The City
After a workout, I don’t like to cake on a ton of makeup. I like to keep it nice and fresh and make myself look more awake. I love the Bioderma Micelle Solution to quickly cleanse the face and prepare it for makeup. I then follow that up with a good moisturizer and with the Bioderma Anti-Redness Cream to calm any redness and irritation post-workout. I apply my favourite BB cream to even out the skin tone and then a brightening concealer to hide those dark circles. I set it with a mattifying translucent powder. For my eyes, I apply a white eyeliner to the waterline, the inner corner of the eye and the brown bone under my eyebrows to look more awake. I then curl my lashes and apply a bit of lengthening mascara. For the lips, I like to apply a tinted lip balm! It moisturizes and gives my lips a little dose of colour. I’m loving the Revlon lip butters so much at the moment. Spray on your favourite light scented body mist to keep you smelling fresh!
Products used: Bioderma Sebium H2O Micelle Solution, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion +, Bioderma Anti-Redness Cream, Clarins BB Cream in “Light,” Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser, Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in “Translucent,” Revlon Photoready Kajal in “001 Carbon Cleopatra,” Annabelle Expandable Mascara, Revlon Lip Butter in “Berry smoothie”, The Body Shop Body Mist in “Vanilla”
Amy McKissock
Burlington | The Pretty Vain
Hopefully we have all been keeping up with our new years resolutions of going back to the gym and living a healthier lifestyle. I for one have fallen back in love with yoga, but the living a healthier lifestyle part.. well I’m not quite there yet. However, I have mastered to art of leaving the yoga studio within minutes, while still ensuring that you look beautiful and feel fresh. This beautiful YSL Makeup Bag holds 9 products that are absolute must haves for the gym, just add your favourite body wash!
The Products:
Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes – Every gym bag contains cleansing wipes, but these contain a blend of aloe vera, chamomile, cucumber, and vitamin E to remove makeup without harming your eyes or the environment.
Lush No Drought Dry Shampoo – This Dry Shampoo powder packs a fruity punch, scented with lemon and grapefruit oils, leaves hair oil free with a matte finish.
Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray – To create a great and easy braid after a work out I like to spritz some of this wonderful salt spray in to hair to create texture.
Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation – Not only is this foundation the perfect travel size, but it’s lightweight, air-whipped formula is also incredibly hydrating and creates a smooth, natural look that won’t dry skin or clog pores.
Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Powder – This translucent powder sets the foundation for hours leaving a weight-less natural look.
E.l.f. Studio Eyebrow Kit in Ash – Brows create all the difference and this kit contains a pigmented wax that defines and shapes the brows alongside the color complementing setting powder to keep them looking arched and perfected.
Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara – The curves of this revolutionary mascara wand hug each lash to create a separated, clump-free look, and have you looking done up in no time.
Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter in “Pink Lemonade” – This sheer barely-there pink lip butter is absolutely perfect for day to day wear. It gives your lips a subtle healthy pink sheen while moisturizing the way a typical lip balm would.
Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb EDT Rollerball – Dab this sensual, yet floral perfume on your neck to release a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive.
Products used: Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, Lush No Drought Shampoo, Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray, Cover Girl Clean Whipped Creme Foundation, Make Up For Ever HD Powder, E.l.f. Eyebrow Kit, Cover Girl Clump Crusher Mascara, Revlon Colour Burst Lip Butter, Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb Rollerball Perfume
