It’s one feat to be motivated enough to get to the gym, but another to leave it looking like a toned prima donna. Especially important if you’re heading to the office, for coffee with friends or even to the supermarket right after a session of hardcore HIIT. Your athleisurewear, towel, water, favourite playlist and protein shake may have a permanent place in your gym bag, but here are the beauty essentials you need to throw in for that ‘I-came-out-of-the-gym-looking-like-this’ effect (wink, wink).
Deodorant
Burning calories comes with a hefty side of perspiration, after which people might want to keep arm’s length distance from you. Spare yourself any embarrassment with a good deodorant that won’t block your pores, but masks any odour, keeping you smelling fresh as the day.
Dry Shampoo
Speaking of perspiration, it doesn’t spare the scalp, so a bottle of dry shampoo will keep your mane bouncy enough for that post work-out selfie.
Hand Sanitiser
Zap potential bugs transferred from gym equipment onto your hands. Enough said!
Lip Balm and Moisturiser
Air-conditioned environments, typical to the gym, can dry out skin faster than you can say ‘incline bench press’, so slather on a light moisturiser all over for soft, supple skin. Keeping lips cocooned in the goodness of a chapstick or lip balm helps in easy lipstick application when you step out.
Tinted Base
You don’t want the blemishes to rain on the parade of your killer abs and glutes, and who has the patience for foundation, ergo a good BB cream. A tinted moisturiser will also stand you in good stead.
Face Cleanser
The 10 or 15 minutes you take to head home for a quick shower is enough for germs to penetrate your skin and clog pores leading to blackheads and acne, especially if you were already wearing a base during your workout. Washing the gunk off right after your exercise session has huge payoffs.
Hair band
Bad hair days are never in one’s control. Here’s where a stretchable cloth headband comes to the rescue. Hide sticky roots under one that doubles up as a scrunchy for a messy ponytail or bun.
Mascara
Of course, this one is not essential while you’re busting some exercise moves (unless you want to bat your eyes at that cute instructor), but one coat goes a long way in making you look ‘put together’ for the day or evening ahead.
Rose Water Toner
This helps calm all the redness and aggravated blemishes after an hour of sweating it out, besides quenching the face with hydration.
Hand Cream
All the pulling, pushing, hanging and lifting can cause unsightly calluses, but not if you pamper your hands with a heavy-duty hand cream afterwards. A pair of workout gloves could also save your palms from pain.
Lip Gloss
Because sheer lips only do you good!
