From Sweaty to Sassy: Gym Bag Beauty Essentials

Thanks to Lunchbox for sponsoring today’s post. As always, all opinions are my honest thoughts. I only work with companies that I truly love!

I’ve always had a reputation for being a busy bee. I’m notorious for overloading my agenda with back-to-back activities, so I’ve made a real effort over the past few years to lighten my schedule. I’ve said no to a lot of things, but somehow I still feel busy and stressed even when my planner isn’t overflowing. Over the past few months, I realized why I’ve been feeling this way. I’ve been saying no to things that don’t matter, but I haven’t been filling those empty time slots with activities that I truly love. Maybe I’m saving an hour here or there, but the extra time doesn’t seem very special when I’m sitting at home on the couch.

One of the activities that I’ve been neglecting is exercise. I’ll go through phases where I’m working out several days a week, but I’ll be honest…I normally prioritize work over fitness. That means those phases of commitment to exercise are few and far between. As someone who practically lived in a dance studio for 20 years, a few hours of exercise each month just doesn’t cut it. While I’d love to drop a few pounds or look better in a bikini, I mainly miss how exercise makes me feel. Getting up off the couch and excercising for an hour each day makes such a huge difference in my overall mood and energy levels, so I’ve made it a top priority to move every single day. Whether I’m riding my bike around the park, attending a dance class, or completing a yoga Youtube video in my living room, moving always makes me feel better.

While I feel better after exercising, I look absolutely ridiculous. Sweaty hair and greasy skin aren’t a cute look, so I always tuck a small bag of beauty essentials into my purse if I’m exercising outside my house. The first and most important step to reclaiming my appearance is to get rid of sweat and excess oil. If I have access to a shower, I’ll hop in for a quick rinse, but if I don’t, I’ll use baby wipes to wipe away as much sweat as possible. I’ll also use makeup remover wipes to rinse off my melted makeup. Once my skin is cleansed, I’ll spray dry shampoo in the roots of my hair and allow it to soak up excess oil for a minute or two. Once the dry shampoo has worked its magic, I’ll run a brush through my hair and tie my hair back into a sleek ponytail or chic topknot. The final step of my “fake shower” is to apply a generous spritz of

The final step of my “fake shower” is to apply a generous spritz of Degree MotionSense Fresh Energy Dry Spray Antiperspirant. The cool temperature of the spray is refreshing, and I love the crisp and clean scent of the Fresh Energy version. Now of course I also apply this product before I workout. The MotionSense technology releases extra boosts of freshness as you move, so you’ll feel cleaner and fresher throughout your workout. I simply re-apply after exercising because I wipe off most of the product with my shower/baby wipes.

Once I’m feeling and smelling clean, it’s time to fix my makeup. If I’ve just spent the past hour or two sweating away at the gym or dance studio, there’s no way I’ll have the patience or time to sit and apply a full face of makeup. I like to keep my post-workout makeup quick and easy, so I stick to the essentials. Instead of reaching for my normal liquid foundation, I’ll apply powder foundation with a fluffy powder brush to even my complexion and soak up excess oil. If my oil/sweat levels are out of control, I’ll grab an oil-absorbing sheet and blot my T-zone.

My cheeks flush horribly when I exercise, so I always skip blush after working out. I do like to brush on a bit of matte bronzer around the sides of my face to balance the pink flush of my cheeks, and I’ll use my finger or a fluffy eyeshadow brush to run a bit of the bronzer through the crease of my eyes to add quick dimension. The final steps of my post-workout beauty routine are to apply two quick coats of mascara and dab on a bit of pink lip gloss.

This simple beauty routine helps me go from sweaty to sassy in under 10 minutes. I love these beauty products to freshen up after a workout, but I’ll also keep this beauty kit in the car during hot summer days. Even fifteen minutes in the Florida heat can sometimes leave me looking like I’ve spent an hour at the gym, so it’s always handy to have on hand!

Even if you’re busy, I’d highly encourage you to take the time to exercise. Even thirty minutes a day will make you feel better, and I guarantee that you won’t regret the time that you’ve invested. If you’re looking for a fun new way to move, check out Becky G’s step-by-step dance step tutorials with Degree. They’re a fun and easy way to get moving each day!

What’s your favorite workout or post-workout beauty essential?