Noon-hour workouts: Tips on looking office-ready after exercising

By Nicolina Leone

Ah, summertime. Yoga on the Hill (every Wed. at noon!) has been flowing smoothly for weeks, and the pathways are brimming with runners and cyclists. There’s nothing like a good workout over lunch, but by the end most people barely have 15 minutes to clean themselves off and touch up makeup and hair. That may be enough to ruin those feel-good hormones generated or, worse, discourage some from working out at all.
In an effort to solve this conundrum, we spoke to a makeup artist, hair stylist, and dermatologist for quick tips on looking office-ready after a workout:

Makeup

Face off
Although you may be tempted to keep your makeup on throughout your activity, Tina Marina, Assistant Beauty Boutique Manager in the CF Rideau Centre, advises against it.

“It’s best to work out without your make up on so the pores don’t get clogged,” says Marina. “A quick, easy, and effective way to remove makeup would be by using a facial wipe. Korres makes an amazing facial wipe that works great.”

Keeping it on
But if you prefer to work out with makeup on, Maria has a suggestion for that, too.

“To keep makeup from melting off during a workout, I suggest a long-wearing foundation. Dior makes a lovely foundation that will last all day. And if you feel that you need to touch up your foundation, Marcelle makes a beautiful BB cream that you can layer on top of any make up. And wearing a waterproof mascara and eyeliner will save you from having to touch up your eyes. If you are not a fan of waterproof mascara, Clarins makes a clear gel (Double Fix) that can be layered on top of your favourite mascara to make it waterproof.”

Final touch
“Add a little bit of the Stila cream blush to your cheeks and lips for a great finishing touch post workout.”

Author’s note: I have worn Stila waterproof mascara during a spin class and it survived!

Hair
Brigitte Godbout, a hair stylist at Hair Junkie by Fads, has some tips to tame the mane without taking too much time.

Hair revive
Says Brigitte, “The one thing that I cannot live without is my dry shampoo. Post workout, it is a great way to revive hair. It soaks up all the oils that may have surfaced during a sweat session. My preference with a dry shampoo is the Redken Pillow Proof Two Day Extender. It has the best smell, texture in your hair, and effectiveness as far as rebooting your hair goes!”

Author’s note: My personal favourite was Baptiste until I started making my own – equal parts cocoa powder and arrowroot flour.

Ponytails
“There are a few ways that you can dress up your ponytail. If your hair is shorter, you can wear it low and backcomb the top and crown area to liven it up. As for wearing it high: if you feel good about your braiding skills, you can create a small French braid at the top or underneath that flows into the ponytail. Wrap little pieces of my hair around the elastic; it will make it look more put together.”

Buns
“A second idea is the top knot or the high bun. You can play around with French braiding the top and/or bottom with these styles as well. And either tie the knot tightly or throw in a hair donut and create a nice big bun. This is mostly for long-haired people. If you have shorter hair you can bring the top third of your hair into a little top knot and leave the rest down.”

Use some heat
“If you have time before you have to jet back to work and you brought your flat iron or curling wand, remember that heat styling is hard on the hair. Always include a heat protector before re-styling it. I highly recommend the Living proof Restore Instant Protection Spray. Not only does it protect hair from heat styling, it also protects from UV rays. A big trend these days is outdoor boot camps and yoga sessions. If you colour your hair, the sun will make your hair fade a lot sooner than it normally would. So UV protection is a must!”

Final touch
“As far as hair trends go, we are seeing a lot of messy, unkempt looks. This can be an advantage — a messy ponytail, tight top knot, or even two French braids that you loosen up a bit with your fingers are all styles that we see every day.”

Skin
Dr. Lisa Kellett, Dermatologist from DLK on Avenue gave us a few tips on how to take care of your skin. Number one: “Always apply sunscreen: SPF 30 with UVB and UVA protection before going outside.”

If you don’t have time to take a full shower, “a gel-based, non-foaming exfoliating cleanser after a workout is a good idea for most skin types. If your skin is sensitive, then look to use a non-foaming, gentler cleanser.”

Like to lift heavy things? “Barrier creams can be used on the skin post workout to protect hands and feet.”