Don’t work out without these skin saviours!
A grubby 73 per cent of us don’t shower straight after exercise, nearly half of us wait hours before washing and a whopping 18 per cent don’t bother at all! (EUGH). If you’re rushing back to work after a lunchtime HITT session or meeting friends after a sweaty spin class, these super-smart beauty buys will ensure you leave the gym with time to spare and looking flawless.
A clean slate
Facial wipes are a smart way of pre-gym cleansing to remove pore-clogging make-up. Look for ingredients such as aloe vera, cucumber, green tea and chamomile to soothe skin and help avoid post-exercise breakouts. And if you REALLY want to give your skin a helping hand, consider popping on a nourishing face mask while getting sweaty – your blood flow will be boosted by your cardio so nutrients will get to work faster.
Lock in the moisture
When you sweat, your body loses moisture which can leave you dehydrated. Thankfully sweat contains antibacterial proteins and moisturising agents which can nourish the skin, but if you don’t wash after exercise you might leave yourself prone to spots or rashes.
Applying moisturiser to skin pre-workout can help prevent dehydration, couple it with a gentle soap on the skin to wash away the sweat and grime and moisturise it post-workout will help to cleanse the skin, rebalance its natural pH levels after you sweat out toxins, and creates a barrier to prevent damage from free radicals, such as pollution. You’ll get most protection from one packed with antioxidants.
I believe in minerals
If you hate taking make-up off for the gym (well, we don’t want to give that too-cute PT a scare), choose a mineral foundation that is sweat-resistant and allows skin to breathe – mineral make-ups don’t contain nasty fillers such as talc, chemical dyes, binders or chemical preservatives, so skin will still glow once you’ve stepped off the treadmill.
Wash and go
Cut down on your beauty kit with a multi-tasking soap bar. Yes To Coconut Milk Bar Soap contains coconut oil and shea butter, and doubles up to cleanse body and face, without drying out your skin. And Pretty Athletic’s Workout Glow Hyaluronic Vitamin Tonic is a three-in-one wonder product: rose water enriched with gentle coconut cleansers and vital skin nutrients is a super quick way of cleansing, nourishing and hydrating skin in one simple step. Close your eyes and spritz liberally on your face, then wipe off the excess – skincare sorted!
Protect your skin
We’re pretty clued up on how important it is to protect skin from the sun’s damaging rays (even on grey days). A tinted BB (beauty balm) or CC (colour correcting) cream with built-in SPF (the higher the better) will reduce post-workout redness and create a flawless complexion in seconds.
Make your eyes pop
A waterproof mascara is an absolute godsend when getting sweaty – no smudge? No problem! Set aside 60 seconds to add a slick of mascara and eyeshadow to add definition to your eyes. Beautiful Me Mineral Eyeshadow is 100 per cent natural and can be dusted or mixed with a little water for a more vibrant look – handy if you’ve just jumped out of the shower. And lip balm can double up as a clever brow shaper for a slick polished natural frame to your peepers.
Dare to hair
No time to wash your hair? Avoid messy tresses by running half a teaspoon-sized blob of conditioner through hair with your fingers, avoiding the oily roots, before sweeping into a high bun, or clipping shorter hair back for an effortless style. If your hair feels damp, a quick blast with a hairdryer can help create a naturally tousled look. Dr. Organic Aloe Vera Conditioner is gentle on the scalp – and has the added bonus of giving your hair a deep condition to enhance the shine.
A fragrant note
Don’t underestimate the power of scent! A hydrating spritz can be applied all over your face and body, to calm and hydrate after getting sweaty. Miaroma’s Relaxing & Hydrating Lavender & Coconut Spritz contains liquid coconut oil, to quench and nourish dehydrated skin, and will leave you feeling fresh as a daisy!
Handpicked article: The ideal bedroom workout
Sources
www.showerstoyou.co.uk
