Fitting in gym time on the daily is not always easy OR fun. Not only do you need to make time for the actual workout, but you also need to pack your gym bag, eat something and stretch (gah, bust out the foam roller!), and that’s all before you hit the ground running (or crunching). It’s an involved checklist, and one that’s not complete without including beauty products that will give your skin + hair a boost while you’re crushing reps. To prep your bod for the sweat and soreness to come, you really only need a handful of glamifying goods for your pre-workout beauty routine — think: the yin to your post-sweat beauty routine yang. Here, we’re breaking down the right essentials to stash in your gym bag for every kind of workout. Check out the 32 must-have beauty products to keep as close by as your water bottle.
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Barre Class
Lengthen and tone at barre class with a few beauty essentials guaranteed to keep you as prim as a ballerina. Keep your face refreshed and spotless with some fragrance-free complexion wipes, a set of conveniently pre-soaked cleansing cloths that give your skin a gentle cleanse pre- and post-workout. Keep your locks dry and smelling fab with a lightly fragranced dry shampoo in chic packaging. Hands still coated in powder? No prob. Follow it up with a bit of hand sanitizer fragranced with stress-reducing notes of eucalyptus and mint. Finally, whether you’re wearing makeup or bare faced, a clarifying mist is a must-have for your gym bag. The powder-in-toner will control excess oil, as well as soothe and hydrate your face, helping to keep you refreshed both during and after your barre time.
Yes to Carrots Fragrance Free Wipes ($6/25), Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo ($14/1.3 oz), Eucalyptus Spearmint PocketBac Sanitizing Hand Gel ($2) + Dr. Jart+ Pore Minish Mist ($30)
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Spin Class
If you’ve ever been through a spin class, you can attest to how exerting the exercise can be. Keep your body and face prepped and soothed with a lineup of products that’ll help you get through the high-intensity workout. Even if you’re in the best shape of your life, this class will get your blood pumpin’, so prevent any unwanted sweat with an antiperspirant that’s literally made for working out. As you pedal push, keep hair out of your face with a no-fuss bun and secure it with a tool that wraps up your locks in the shape of your choice. For your complexion, we’ve got a one-two punch, starting with some blotting papers to dab away oil during your workout and cleansing cloths to clarify and exfoliate afterward.
Degree Expert Protection MotionSense Antiperspirant & Deodorant ($7), Beachwaver Co. The Wrap Up Hair Piece Styler ($10), NYX Matte Blotting Papers ($4) + Dermalogica Skin Purifying Wipes ($19)
The Best Beauty Essentials for an Ab Workout
That burn you feel from working out your core can be simultaneously rewarding and, well, leave you very sore. Make the work a little easier with products that’ll keep your body in tip-top shape, even as you put it through the ringer. Start off by prepping your pout with a long-lasting, hydrating balm followed up with a lightweight moisturizer for your body. Then, to give yourself a little extra “oomph” during your workout, smooth on this truly innovative body shaper, with ingredients such as caffeine and aloe to firm, tighten and hydrate your skin while you exercise. Finally, keep hair out of your face, even while planking, with a supremely adorable headband.
Mio Skincare Get Waisted Body Shaper ($55), Glossier Balm Dotcom ($12), Free People Printed Wideband ($18) + OGX Weightless Hydrating Oil Body Mist ($7)
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Treadmill Run
Cool down and hydrate while running with a luxurious mineral water mist that will feel like you’re pampering your skin. Invigorate your joints and prep them to move with this uniquely formulated herbal muscle gel, perfect to rub into a few targeted areas pre-workout to keep your body both energized and soothed. For your complexion, it’s important to both start and end your exercise with a clean slate. Whether you’re taking off your makeup before running, or giving your skin a quick cleanse after, you can’t go wrong with a travel-friendly pack of cleansing wipes. As for your hair, you can give your typical ponytail a makeover with some super fun and colorful elastics.
Evian Spray ($12), Mio Skincare Workout Wonder Invigorating Muscle Gel ($33), Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Facial Cleansing Wipes ($7) + Fantastic Elastics Hair Bands ($10)
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Pilates Class
The only thing you want to focus on in Pilates is perfecting your alignment, not the dry patches on your legs or oily, second-day hair. Pick up a pampering body serum to keep your skin moisturized without feeling greasy and give your roots a spritz of dry shampoo beforehand. During your class, you’ll want to keep your pout moisturized without having to carry around a lip balm, so try out a long-lasting solution such as this all-natural lip mask, a great way to keep the hydration going all class long. Post workout, freshen up in a flash with some discreet and lightly fragranced disposable towelettes.
One Love Organics Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum ($39), Klorane Dry Shampoo ($20), Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask ($26) + Box Naturals Trial Pack of Towelettes ($2)
The Best Beauty Essentials for Lifting Weights
While you’re powering up with some dumbbells, make sure your skin is in top form too. Go for a gentle hydrating mist formulated with a plethora of anti-inflammatories, so even the reddest, most irritated, most chaffed of skin won’t stand a chance against its healing powers. When you’ve pumped about as much iron as your body can stand, show your muscles some love and rub in this innovative calming gel, a natural formula that will cool and soothe strained limbs. As for your complexion, blot away unwanted oil and soothe irritated skin with some green tea blotting linens, available in a travel-friendly package that makes it easy to keep in a nearby gym bag. Finally, lock in the firmness and moisturize with this simple body lotion, which is formulated to be both absorbent and lightweight, so you’ll never have to worry about a greasy bod.
Yuli Cocoon Elixir ($12/10ml), Tata Harper Sothing Muscle Gel ($40), Boscia Green Tea Blotting Linens ($10) + Acure Organics Firming Body Lotion ($10)
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Yoga Class
Yoga is all about taking care of your mind and body in a holistic way, and the beauty essentials for this class make it all the easier. Get into the om zone with this stress-relieving mist with a light fragrance that will help move you into a restful state without disturbing your neighbors. While you’re at it, keep unwanted B.O. at bay with this all-natural, non-irritating deodorant. Say goodbye to painful ponytails with some stylish ribbon elastics, an easier and less constricting alternative to your regular hair tie. Finally, it’s important to keep your body hydrated, both inside and out, so stave off dry lips with a do-it-all ointment, which will make sure your pout is kept hydrated through even the longest mantra.
Lotus Wei Inner Peace Mist ($40), Meow Meow Tweet Baking Soda Free Deodorant Cream ($14), Goody Ouchless Ribbon Elastics in Metallic Polka Dot ($4) + Lucas’ Papaw Remedies Papaw Ointment ($12)
The Best Beauty Essentials for a Zumba Class
When you’re getting in the groove and shakin’ it up in Zumba class, the last thing you want to worry about is slick skin or dry lips. Opt for a lip balm that will last all class long to moisturize and soften your pout. For your complexion, make sure to keep oil at bay by choosing a moisturizer with a hydrating but matte finish. After class, refresh your sweat-drenched skin with a deep cleaning toner. A good rule of thumb is to pick one with salicylic acid, an ingredient that helps treat and prevent acne and blemishes. Finally, when it comes to your mane, keep it tucked up and away in style with rose gold bobby pins.
Bliss Fabulous Softening Lip Balm ($16), Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Moisturizer ($7), Clean & Clear Essentials Deep Cleaning Astringent ($5) + Ban.do Everyday Bobbis in Metallic Rose Gold ($12)
Let us know what beauty essentials are in your gym bag by tagging us on Instagram!
