Freshen Up after the Gym in 10 Minutes or Less
Let’s be honest here, one of the main reasons students don’t make it to the gym during their regular weekday is the fear of being sweaty and smelly for their next class. I mean I personally don’t care whether or not I show up to class sweaty because A. it’s usually 32847 degrees and everyone’s sweaty anyways and B. I earned that sweat with a killer workout. With that said, I still try to show up to class looking somewhat presentable even if I just did my oh-so-wonderful leg workout.
This post-gym routine takes about 10 minutes at most and allows me to stay in the gym for as long as possible, which we all know is a plus. Ain’t nobody got time for a 30 minute post gym routine because we all have lives and places to be.
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Step 1: Wipe Down
GO-TO PRODUCTS:
- Up & Up Wet Cleansing Towelettes
- Baby Wipes
- Secret Antiperspirant/Deodorant in Fresh Orchid
- Up & Up Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer with Sunscreen
For the face:
If anything, just wipe off your face. Sweat and dirt are great causes of breakouts, and if you’re trying to keep your skin clear, wipe off your face. Ideally, it’s best to wash your face with a face wash and washcloth, but we’re in a rush here. So we’ll settle for face wipes.
Don’t forget to apply a face lotion with SPF. No one wants skin cancer.
For the body:
Feel free to use the rest of that face wipe for your arms, chest, and back if you want. Baby wipes are a product I use on the daily to wipe down the rest of my body. They’re safe to use, smell decent, and do the job. If you’re prone to back or chest acne, make sure to wipe down under the straps of your sports bra as well.
Step 2: Fix That Hair
Have you heard that phrase “gym hair, don’t care?” Yeah well I do care. Maybe because when I sweat, my hair gets frizzy and my hair loves to crease whenever I put it up and this halo of baby hairs appears around my head. What an attractive look.
GO-TO PRODUCTS:
- Garnier Fructis Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment
- Pantene Pro-V Scrunching Spray Gel
- Garnier Fructis Curl Construct Creation Mousse
Everyone’s hair is different so everyone requires different hair products. I have curly, medium-length hair that loves to have a mind of it’s own. I take my hair out of the messy bun or ponytail that it was in while I was killing it at the gym. Using the my hands, I wet my hair to make it slightly damp. We’re not talking about soaking wet here because it would take AGES to dry. Then I take a quarter-size drop of Garnier Fructis Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment and run that through my hair. Depending on whether or not I washed my hair the previous night, I add either the curling spray or curling mouse.
Step 3: Makeup
I keep it simple. We’re talking only eyeliner and mascara. But why so few products?
My pores are already open thanks to all the sweat and I’m not about to clog them with layers of foundation, blush, bronzer, etc. I already have very moody skin so that’s not going to happen.
GO-TO PRODUCTS:
Plus, it’s hot here all the time, and I sweat off any and all makeup on my face in a matter of minutes. I stick to eye products only.
I throw all of my smaller items (aka makeup, deodorant, face lotion, extra hair ties and clips) into my all-time favorite makeup bag. Sharks are probably one of my favorite animals and I found this makeup bag at Forever 21 about three years ago. The vinyl outside is great because if anything spills, it’s not getting in to the makeup bag nor is it going to leak from the makeup bag.
Hopefully you see just how quick and easy it is to freshen up after the gym and make it to class all within a short amount of time! This is no substitute for showering, but it can take a shower off your to-do list for at least a few hours. Now you have no excuse not to get yourself to the gym, get sweaty, and accomplish those fitness goals!
Do you have a post-gym routine that you swear by? Are there any products you use to keep yourself smelling fresh after a workout?
~abigail gray
