The Gym-Bag Beauty Products Our Writer Relies on (original) (raw)
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers
As someone who has commuted to New York City from the suburbs on and off for more than 20 years, I’ve tried just about every possible way to squeeze a nonnegotiable workout into a packed day. I’ve done the 5 a.m. gym-before-the-train routine. I’ve taken a 6 a.m. train and hit a gym in NYC before the office. I’ve even belonged to a gym in my office building, which was convenient — as long as you were comfortable being naked in a locker room with co-workers and the occasional editor-in-chief. In recent years, I’ve mastered work-from-home workouts. Whatever the routine, I always have products on hand to help me cool down, clean up, and look presentable — fast.
All the items below are the pre-, post-, and sometimes during-the-workout beauty products I actually use. They’re compact, effective, and meant for people who don’t have time for a full reset between a workout and whatever comes next.
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I’ve tried countless dry shampoos over the years, and most disappoint: too chalky on my dark hair or too heavy on my fine strands, somehow making my roots feel dirtier than before. I was genuinely surprised by this one from LolaVie. It’s a nonaerosol pump that releases a targeted puff of powder right where you need it. The formula includes scalp-friendly ingredients like colloidal oat flour and crushed rose quartz, but I’m most impressed by its ability to absorb oil effectively without leaving behind white residue or grit.
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On days when dry shampoo just isn’t cutting it and I really should wash my hair, I reach for Swair. I first got it in a gift bag years ago, and it became a staple. It cleans hair without lather, water, or residue. You spray it on, comb through to distribute, then towel-dry to absorb dirt, sweat, and oil. You can air-dry or blow-dry. For oily-prone roots like mine, it’s a true in-between-washes game changer.
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I loathe blow-drying my hair. My strands soak up water and take forever to dry. In my experience, gym hair dryers are often subpar and don’t speed up the process. This dryer claims to dry medium-length hair in five minutes flat, and it delivers. The airflow is impressively powerful for such a compact tool, and the negative ions help smooth hair and add shine. It also weighs under a pound, making it easy to toss in a gym bag.
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I love micellar water for gentle cleansing and removing makeup, especially pre-workout, but bottles aren’t gym-bag friendly. These wipes solve that problem. They’re premoistened with micellar water so you can quickly remove makeup, sweat, and grime. Easy, effective, and no sink required.
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A telltale sign I’ve just worked out: my fiery-red face, which tends to linger. After a sweat session, I spritz on this Tower 28 spray to calm things down. It contains hypochlorous acid, known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which reduces redness while decreasing the likelihood of a sweat-induced breakout. A fitness friend dealing with perimenopausal acne swears by the spray too.
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The only time you’ll catch me wearing a headband is during a workout. This one keeps hair in place while wicking away frizz-inducing sweat around the hairline. It’s made from stretchy Lycra and lined with soft velvet so it stays put without pulling.
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These comfy hair elastics won’t leave dents or pull or snap strands, even in fine or breakage-prone hair. They hold securely without feeling too tight. And because they’re metal free, they won’t rip out strands during removal.
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I’ll never forget taking a long walk in hot, sweaty Las Vegas and rubbing my inner thighs raw. Anti-chafe products have been in my fitness routine ever since. I prefer a solid stick to potentially messy gels or creams, and this one feels weightless on skin while protecting it with sunflower-seed wax and absorbing moisture with volcanic ash. It also includes soothing chamomile, licorice-root extract, and niacinamide.
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Of course, a postexercise shower is ideal, but sometimes there’s just not enough time. These individually wrapped wipes can be used anywhere on the body, including underarms, underboobs, and groin, to neutralize odors with boric acid. They’re a smart holdover (not a replacement) until you can take a proper shower.
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Whether I’m exercising outdoors or reapplying before leaving the gym, sunscreen is nonnegotiable. I like this Dr.Jart+ stick because it’s easy to pack, goes on invisible, hydrates with hyaluronic acid, and doubles as a primer, blurring pores and giving skin a smooth finish.
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Most days, I don’t wear much makeup, so I don’t need my entire makeup bag on hand after a workout. I love multipurpose makeup sticks that can be used on eyes, lips, and cheeks. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with these crayons from Make Up for Ever. They come in 24 shades and two finishes: shimmer and natural. Some of the muted shades, like Swanky Mauve, work beautifully for an easy, monochromatic look that instantly makes me appear put together.
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The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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