Of all the rituals we have for getting ourselves ready — from pre-gaming glam sessions with friends to clocking 15 minutes of mirror time while listening to a true crime podcast — the one that feels least like self care (and most like going through TSA) is the stuff that happens immediately before and after workouts. Is it even possible to inject a little joy or elegance into what inevitably becomes a hurried ordeal in which the scarcity of counter space meets the gawky discomfort that comes with primping in front of strangers?
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Megababe Thigh Rescue
Sure, sore muscles can make the simple act of walking a painful exercise, but so can chafed inner thighs. Instead of scaling back on cycling, running and rowing, protect your skin with this balm that makes thighs glide like water off a duck’s back. It’s also clutch for preventing blisters on ankles and toes, and keeping the skin near your sports bra from getting red and raw.
Megababe Beauty Thigh Rescue, $14, available at Megababe Beauty
Clinique FIT Workout 24-Hour Mascara
High-endurance makeup collections can feel a bit gimmicky, but where they really hold their weight is with no-budge mascara. This volumizing option is made to outlast a sweaty workout — or just a really long day of running around.
Clinique CliniqueFIT Workout 24-Hour Mascara, $20, available at Ulta Beauty
R+Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray
This lightweight finishing spray taps a proprietary polymer blend to block humidity from messing with your style. Spray on the bergamot, fig and cedarwood-spiked scent before a muggy hot yoga session to minimize frizz. Or, spritz a quick hit after your session to reign in flyaways and fuzz.
R & Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray, $32, available at DermStore
Supergoop Poof 100% Mineral Part and Scalp Powder
Supergoop fans have long requested scalp-friendly sun protection from the brand. With this multitasking powder, it finally delivered — and then some. The mineral sunscreen doubles as an oil-absorbing dry shampoo, thanks to the zinc oxide and silica inside. Even better: The non-aerosol spray makes for even application without stinking up the locker room.
Supergoop! Poof 100% Mineral Part and Scalp Powder, $34, available at Sephora
Stephanie Johnson Miami Makeup Bag
A see-through and spill-proof makeup bag is essential for hasty post-workout spruce-ups. But that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. This kicky, water-resistant version allows you to immediately ID what’s inside, wipes clean, and comes in three happy shades.
Stephanie Johnson Miami Medium Zip Closure Makeup Bag, $30, available at Nordstrom
SLMD Step Zero: Cleansing Wipes
Our gripes with face and body wipes are many. Chief among them? Individually-wrapped options that deliver a pang of guilt with every packet we toss and formulas that leave skin feeling tacky. This option uses cleansing and soothing ingredients — aloe, chamomile, cucumber, oat extract, and glycerin — to de-funk the face and body without a lingering sticky residue. The click-tight closure on these bundled wipes also ensure they won’t dry out a few days after opening.
SLMD Step Zero: Cleansing Wipes, $15, available at SLMD Skincare
Ernest Supplies Gentle Face Wash
The most earth-friendly way to wash your face forgoes wipes altogether. We were initially concerned the eco-friendly pouch — which uses about 75% less plastic than a standard bottle — would get absolutely butchered while knocking around in our gym bag, but it’s held strong for months. The ultra-gentle face wash inside, which releases oil, dirt, makeup, and sweat while leaving hydration in tact, has kept our skin in tip-top shape, too.
Ernest Supplies Gentle Face Wash, $8.99, available at Target
Pixi Beauty On-The-Glow
This slender stick might look like a deodorant sized for an American Girl doll, but the moisturizing balm inside actually packs many of the ingredients found in pricier creams (including caffeine, glycolic acid, and antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E, and D12). A quick cleanse followed by a few swipes of this stick transformed our skin from sweaty to dewy without leaving behind a tacky residue.
Scrunchies aren’t just for sweet-ass festival looks: they help minimize breakage for those with thin hair and the dreaded hair crease that imprints thick and curly hair — all while keeping your pony in place during hardcore exercise.
Madewell x Outdoor Voices Madewell x Outdoor Voices® Scrunchie, $9.5, available at Madewell
Yuni Flash Bath No-Rinse Body Cleansing Foam
Barre, yoga, and pilates studios offer a lot. One thing they don’t have is shower-equipped changing rooms. Thanks to neem and aloe inside this rinseless cleansing foam, we can fake a full-body shower without getting wet or toweling off.
Yuni Flash Bath No-Rinse Body Cleansing Foam, $22, available at Sephora
Face Gym Multi-Vitamin Training Stick
We talk a lot about post-workout skin care, but arguably the most important thing to consider is what's on your face during your gym session. Go with something too oily, and it will be in your eyes halfway through class; leave it bare and you risk your skin overproducing oil and causing breakouts. This heat-activated, vitamin C-infused stick does you one better by treating your skin while you sweat. Swipe a thin layer all over, clock your best spin time, then wipe it clean for a post-workout glow that lasts all day.
FACE GYM MULTI-VITAMIN TRAINING STICK, $49, available at Face Gym
Ilia Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment
Nail the quickest of post-gym monochrome makeup looks with this liquid-gel pigment designed to be used on eyes, cheeks, and lips. Unlike other so many other multitasking stains out there, this one packs legit color payoff that keeps lips rosy and extended our endorphin-charged flush all afternoon.
Ilia Color Haze Multi-Use Pigment, $32, available at Credo
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