Gym Bag Beauty Essentials Segment On KXAN’s “Studio 512”

It’s the New Year, which means we’re all hitting the gym with renewed enthusiasm and motivation, focusing on meeting our fitness goals and establishing  a healthier way of life. But as our schedules get more hectic, we might find ourselves squeezing in a pilates class before work, taking a ballet barre class before brunch with friends, or pedaling away during a spinning session before a parent-teacher conference. In order to stay smelling fresh and looking fresh-faced, then, it’s important to carry some beauty products in your gym bag that will help you transition seamlessly from one scenario to the next. I stopped by Austin’s “Studio 512″earlier this week to chat about some of the beauty products that should make their way into your gym bag!

Check out the segment as it aired above at top, then click on the video below it for Part 2, which was posted on Facebook after the segment aired.

Want to know more about the products shown? Well, let’s get into it!

GYM BAG AND WATER BOTTLE

Since we were chatting about what to pack in your gym bag, it was necessary to feature a saucy duffle. Everyone on set was giggling over this fun pink ban.do duffle bag, which is emblazoned with the phrase “After This, We’re Getting Pizza” along the front ($28 at bando.com). The cotton twill bag measures 20″ in length and 9″ in width and features two leatherette shoulder straps. The 24 oz.  acrylic water bottle peeking out from inside the bag is also from ban.do, and it says, “Think It, Want It, Get It” ($20 and bando.com).

FACIAL TOWELETTES

If you’re going to yoga after work, you’ll likely need to remove all the foundation, eye shadow, and blush on your face, which is why it’s wise to always carry a pack of makeup remover wipes. They’re also incredibly refreshing after a strenuous workout. These are the two I showcased:

I love these Simple Cleansing Wipes ($5.99 at drugstores) because they’re so gentle yet effective. Each pre-moistened towelette is infused with provitamin B5 and vitamin E, which soothe and condition the skin, but part of what makes these wipes stand out from the fray is what they don’t contain – chiefly drying alcohols and potentially irritating mineral oils, artificial dyes, and perfumes.

These Korres Greek Yoghurt Cleansing and Makeup Removing Wipes ($15 at Sephora.com) are also among my favorites since they’re ultra nourishing, boasting a protein-packed Greek yogurt concentrate, as well as soothing chamomile and calendula oils and moisturizing macadamia and jojoba oils.

POST-WORKOUT CLEANSING PRODUCTS

After your intense sweat session, you’ll likely want a deeper, more through cleanse than what you’d attain using a makeup remover wipe. One of the best tools for attaining a deep cleanse in a matter of seconds is the Clarisonic Mia Fit ($219 at Clarisonic.com, Sephora.com, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Ulta). The compact sonic cleansing device will fit in even the smallest of gym totes, and the powerful brush will remove dirt and debris up to six times better than when using hands alone to wash your face. The free-standing brush features two speed settings: a 60-second Delicate Cleanser and an 80-second Power Cleanse that’s  over 50% more powerful than the former setting. The brush comes with a sample-sized cleanser, a removable Radiance Brush Head, and a USB-enabled charger,

Next, I discussed the latest breakthrough in facial cleansers: water-activated powder formulas. Unlike gel and cream cleansers that can spill inside your gym bag, damaging your electronic devices in the process, powder cleansers are less likely to create any such chaos. Moreover, they’re really lightweight, so that you won’t need to lug around a bag that feels like it’s filled with medical school textbooks!

The brand new Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Exfoliating Cleansing Powder ($30 at Sephora.com) contains charcoal powder, which is known to draw out dirt and impurities from deep inside pores, as well as walnut shell powder, which sloughs off dead surface skin cells while nourishing the complexion with omega-3 fatty acids.

Next up, I showcased the Honest Beauty Refreshingly Clean Powder Cleanser ($22 for 30 single-use packets at HonestBeauty.com). This cleanser is formulated with soothing calendula and chamomile, as well as corn, rice, and oat powders that absorb excess oil. During the segment, we demonstrated how to use this cleanser, a process that’s delightfully simple: just tear the singe-use packet open, pour the cleanser onto the palm on one hand, wet your other palm, rub your hands together to create an emulsion, and massaging it onto the face, rinsing when finished.

FAST-ABSORBING MOISTURIZERS

After you’ve cleansed your face, it’s time to hydrate! In the segment I showed these two moisturizing products:

The OSea Atmosphere Protection Cream ($48 at OSeaMalibu.com) is incredibly lightweight and yet it’s packed with powerful ingredients: algae extract, shea butter, avocado oil, and jojoba oil. Together, these ingredients nourish and soften the skin while protecting it against such environmental aggressors as UV rays and air pollution.

Those who prefer facial oils, meanwhile, can rely on the new bareMinerals Eternalixir Skin-Volumizing Oil Serum ($55 at bareMinerals.com, Sephora, and Macy’s), which features a dual-phase formula that combines the anti-aging benefits of a serum with the nourishing prowess of a facial oil. The serum portion of the formula is powered by plantain leaf extract, which helps to increase the skin’s volume and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles; skin-calming lavender oil; vitamin B3, which strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier; and Lady’s Slipper, an orchid species with soothing properties. The oil portion of the formula, meanwhile, combines evening primrose oil, which is highly moisturizing and known for its anti-aging benefits; rosehip seed oil, which is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as skin-brightening and collagen-boosting vitamin C; and baobab seed oil, which soothes dry and irritated skin.

NATURAL-LOOKING MAKEUP

After you’ve scorched all those calories, you’ll want to flaunt your post-workout glow and enhance it ever so slightly by using some hydrating cosmetics that yield a very natural, I-woke-up-like this effect.

I like to start off with a tinted moisturizer or multi-tasking beauty fluid, so I showed two of my go-to picks. First, I spoke of the new IT Cosmetics Anti-Aging Armour ($38 at ITcosmetics.com).

This do-it-all product contains hyaluronic acid, which attracts moisture to the skin and binds it therein, as well as hydrolyzed collagen to give the complexion a more taut appearance. But that’s not all! The beauty fluid also features color-correcting pigments that help you attain a more even skin tone, neutralizing any dark circles or red patches, and it features a Skin Perfecting Technology that blurs imperfections like blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, and dark spots.

Another fantastic choice is the Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation Serum ($60 at Sephora.com).

This lightweight serum is packed with neuropeptides that minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, and it comes in a universal shade that flatters most skin tones and creates a believable second skin effect.

Next, to keep lips hydrated, you can count on the Lano 101 Ointment Multi-Balm ($13.50 at ULTA.com), which is available in either a Peach or Strawberry flavor.

This concentrated balm is formulated with lanolin, a fatty substance derived from freshly shorn sheep’s wool that’s extremely moisturizing and which boasts a molecular structure that mimics that of the human sebum, thereby ensuring rapid absorption. The dense ointment can be applied to lips as well as cuticles.

If you want to hydrate your pout and give it a glossy sheen — without any stickiness — there’s the Kopari Beauty Coconut Lip Love ($10 at KopariBeauty.com)

This delicious lip conditioner is formulated with extra-pure coconut oil and it gives lips a beautiful sheen, but it never feels tacky or gummy.

For a touch of color, meanwhile, I love the Juice Beauty Phyto-Pigments Luminous Lip Crayons ($22 each at JuiceBeauty.com)

These handy jumbo-sized lip crayons feature Juice Beauty’s exclusive Moisture Plant Blend — a mix of vegetable glycerin, jojoba oil, and phospholipids — to nourish, hydrate, and soften the pout, and they’re packed with plant-derived pigments that deliver a lovely luminous veil of color. The pigments are derived from rose petal powder, neem leef extract, red seaweed extract, eggplant extract, and more.

If you wish you were born with long and feathery lashes, you can fake the funk with the Benefit Cosmetics They’re Real! Tinted Lash Primer ($24 at BenefitCosmetics.com and Sephora.com), which comes in a deep mink brown color that’s reminiscent of most gals’ natural lash color.

hen you apply the primer to your lashes then, you’ll be conditioning them with provitamin B5, giving them greater definition, and fanning them out beautifully. You can, of course, wear this product under your favorite mascara but, if you’re going for a no-makeup makeup look, the primer does wonders all by itself!

HYDRATING FACIAL MISTS

After applying any cosmetics, you’ll want to set your look with a facial mist that also hydrates and refreshes the skin. I love the Algenist Splash Hydrating Setting Mist ($35 at Sephora.com) since it’s a nutrient-packed serum in mist form.

The cooling and invigorating spray is formulated with alguronic acid, a complex derived from microalgae that has scientifically proven anti-aging benefits; mineral-enriched sea water; an algalyte complex that binds moisture to the skin; and a polysaccharide blend.

Another one of my favorites is the Coola SPF 30 Organic Makeup Setting Spray ($36 at Sephora.com), which features moisture-binding hyaluronic acid and soothing cucumber and aloe leaf extracts.

Best of all, the Coola spray offers protection from the sun’s UV rays, so it’s a very convenient way to reapply sunscreen throughout the day — especially when wearing makeup!

Last, I showcased a travel-sized bottle of the Vichy Thermal Water ($9.50 at VichyUSA.com).

This refreshing and 100% pure mist is packed with 15 skin-regenerating minerals, many of which boast skin-smoothing and replenishing properties.

HAIR HEROES

After a grueling sweat session, most of us need to give our strands a pick-me-up. One fail-proof way to do so is by using a top-notch dry shampoo. I swear by the Dove Refresh + Care Detox & Purify Dry Shampoo ($3.99 at drugstores).

This weightless dry shampoo absorbs dirt and oil at the roots without weighing down strands or leaving behind any powdery residue.

Another great choice — especially if you love the idea of wearing fragrance in your hair as the French often do — is the Elizabeth and James Nirvana Dry Shampoo ($28 each at Sephora.com).

Released in November 2015, these were the first fine fragrance dry shampoos on the market. Like the perfumes that preceded them, these dry shampoos feature two very distinct scents, with the Nirvana White Dry Shampoo featuring notes of peony, muguet and musk, and the Nirvana Black Dry Shampoo featuring notes of violet, sandalwood and vanilla.

If you need to tame some fly-aways, count on the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Smoothing Hydra-Gelée ($28 at Sephora.com).

This paraben- and silicone-free styling aid can be applied to wet, damp, or dry hair, and it features caviar extract to smooth strands and eliminate any frizz and static, as well as Seasilk, a blend of hydrating marine botanicals.

If you have damaged or color-treated hair and need to give your mane a moisture boost or if you have curly strands and want to give those spirals a boost, just spritz the WEN by Chaz Dean Pink Jasmine Peony Replenishing Treatment Mist ($65 at ChazDean.com) onto your hair.

This sulfate-free, floral-scented, hydrating mist contains over 20 botanical extracts — among them sunflower seed oil, white tea extract, black tea extract, cucumber extract, black cherry extract, seaweed extract, lavender extract, and rosemary extract. It functions as a weightless leave-in conditioner and leaves strands smelling like jasmine and peony blossoms. Swoon!

TIME-SAVING HAIR STYLING TOOLS

Depending on how much you sweat during your workout and how well you’d styled your hair prior to your cardio session, you might need a bit more than dry shampoo to whip those strands into shape!

If you want to rock sleek and straight strands, the CHI Escape Professional Cordless Styling Iron  ($109.99 at Ulta.com) will come in handy.

This travel-sized flat iron features a rechargeable lithium battery so that you can style your hair while on the go, without having to worry about finding an outlet in which to plug in a cord (let’s face it: they’re often hard to find in a locker room!). Featuring 1″ ceramic plates, this cordless styling iron is equipped with three color-coded settings: blue is 340 degrees, green is 375 degrees, and red is 392 degrees.

When you’re pressed for time, the DAFNI Ceramic Hair Straightening Brush ($199 at DAFNIHairUS.com) is a lifesaver! First, it’s incredibly easy to use: just allow it to heat up to its 365-degree setting, then brush through a section of hair slowly and steadily, using a pulling motion. The brush’s ceramic-coated 3D surface ensures a more even distribution of heat and allows you to cover a larger section of hair with each pass.

The straightening brush makes styling strands up to 10 times faster. Can you imagine all the time you’ll be saving?

BODY REFRESHERS

If you don’t have time to shower at the gym before heading out, you’ll have to improvise a bit in order to feel and smell fresh. Fortunately, athleisure-minded beauty brands like YUNI Beauty have come to your aid! The YUNI Sweat, Refresh, Go Kit ($32 at Sephora.com) was designed for women who are on the move, hence its clever name!

This four-piece kit contains the brand’s Shower Sheets, extra large body wipes that contain peppermint oil, neem leaf extract, aloe, and green tea; its Flash Bath, a no-rinse body cleanser; its Chillax, a Muscle Recovery Gel that helps to relieve aches and pains; and the My Om World body mist.

If you do have time for a quick shower or if your skin is feeling parched, you can hydrate your legs, arms, and torso with the H2O+ Beauty On The Move Dry Body Oil ($18 at H2Oplus.com).

This non-greasy body oil comes in a travel-friendly spritzer bottle. It contains sesame seed oil and quinoa seed oil and it comes in two irresistible scents: Teak Rose and Lemongrass Vetiver.

And, of course, no gym bag would be complete without a reliable anti-perspirant! I swear by the Dove Advanced Care Antiperspirant ($4.88 at drugstores), which protects against wetness and odor-causing bacteria.

Moreover, this deodorant hydrates the delicate skin under one’s arms, making it gentle yet effective.

TRAVEL-FRIENDLY FRAGRANCE

Who doesn’t want to smell like a fresh-picked blossom after a strenuous workout? The Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb 10 ml Travel Spray ($29 ay Sephora, Nordstrom, and Lord & Taylor) allows you to do precisely that! A portable version of the Flowerbomb scent, it features top notes of tea and bergamot, a floral heart with jasmine, freesia, orchid, and rose notes, and a patchouli base.

This 10ml perfume comes in spray form as opposed to in a rollerball tube, so that it’s less likely to break in your bag. Also, because it’s an EDP spray, it allows you to wear fragrance any way you wish, whether you spritz the scent onto pulse point or spray it into the air and then walk through that aromatic mist.

Well, I hope that helps you stay fresh as a daisy wherever your fitness regimen takes you!