You’ve all probably heard that wearing makeup to the gym is a HUGE no no. Why? Because wearing makeup while you workout can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. You see, when you exercise, your body temperature starts to rise and your pores will start to relax and open (in other words…they get larger). An increase in body temp can also mean sweating, which causes makeup to run and streak down your face. Not a great look. Now, imagine what will happen when all of that sweat helps your carefully applied makeup run right into your large, open pores. Gross, right?

There are plenty of articles out there detailing what you should and should not wear to workout, but I thought I’d share my own personal beauty routine for a day at the studio. While I would recommend going as barefaced as possible, I personally struggle with the occasional breakout, and those early morning classes can leave me with really dark circles under my eyes. There are 5 products I use almost every day to keep myself looking presentable at the studio. 1) Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer: Oil-free is important because your skin needs to breathe, especially during a workout. I love this product because it gives me just the right amount of coverage I need to hide any blemishes or uneven skin tone. Plus, it has SPF! It’s lightweight, so, while it won’t hide any major flaws, I can use it without worrying about clogging my pores and causing future breakouts. I apply a thin, even layer to my face with my fingertips, making sure to blend properly. Laura Mercier is all about only applying product where you need it. So if my skin looks good, I use less; if I need extra coverage, I can easily layer the product with a makeup sponge to achieve the desired results.

2) Bobbi Brown Corrector: This is a miracle worker for those under-eye circles. Some days, I don’t finish teaching my last class until 8:30 pm, and then I have to be up at 4:30 am the next day to teach. By the time I drive home, eat dinner, take a shower, etc., I’m looking at 4, maybe 5, hours of sleep. The corrector helps me look bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I really feel like a zombie. I use my fingertip to gently pat this on, starting at the inner corner of my eye and working towards the outer corner. Most experts recommend using your ring finger to apply makeup under the eyes. The skin there is very thin, and a ring finger will typically apply product with less pressure than an index finger.

3) Bobbi Brown Concealer: I really try to minimize the amount of concealer I put on to reduce the risk of clogged pores. I pat a small amount over any major blemishes or dark spots I may have, and then apply a thin layer under the eyes to cover dark circles. My recommendation? Don’t go overboard trying to hide every perceived flaw. Instead, use concealer on the most noticeable areas and leave the rest of your face alone. Trust me, your skin will thank you for this later and reward you with more good skin days. 

4) Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo: I wish someone had told me when I was a teenager that full brows would be in one day, because now I am suffering from the effects of over-plucking. Enter Anastasia. I really feel that defined brows make a huge difference, and I use this brow powder to fill in the gaps left from my overenthusiastic tweezing phase.

5) EOS Lip Balm:  I love this little ball of balm!  First of all, the packaging is just plain fun. My nieces love this stuff. Whenever I’m around them, I try not to bring it out because the second they see that little ball they want it — and it’s a lot of work trying to get it back. The product itself is great. It keeps my lips hydrated and soft. A quick swipe of this and my makeup routine is done!

*Bonus Product* Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo: Okay, technically this is not makeup, but whoever invented dry shampoo is a genius! Not washing my hair means an extra 20 – 30 minutes of sweet, precious sleep. That alone is reason enough to use dry shampoo, but most hairstylists will tell you that washing your hair every day is bad anyway, because it strips your hair of its natural oils. Personally, I like the feeling of a clean scalp, so even if I use a dry shampoo in the morning, chances are I’m washing my hair that night. Directions for use are on the bottle, but let me tell you why I love this product. Made with natural tapioca, Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo instantly absorbs oil and makes my hair look brand new again. Seriously. It looks clean. Plus, this stuff smells GREAT! The scent is described as white grapefruit and mint, and I have to say that it has a very “up and at ’em” effect. I do a quick brush after spraying and then I am on my way out the door.

Herbal Essences Naked Dry Shampoo

That’s all it takes. Six products and I feel put together and ready for a day at the studio. I should point out that most of my day is spent teaching Pilates, which is quite different from actually doing Pilates (there’s less sweating). Occasionally, I squeeze in a quick one-hour workout between classes, but I usually save my own sweat sessions for the end of the day — that way, I can get home and clean my face as soon as possible. Can’t get home fast enough? Throw some makeup removing wipes or facial cleansing towelettes in your gym bag and use them right after your workout, before your skin completely cools down. What kind of products do you wear when you’re working out?