Grooming essentials you should keep in your gym bag

After a grueling, sweaty workout, the urge to come straight home and collapse on the couch is strong, but it’s not the healthiest course of action for your skin. Dr. Michele S. Green, a cosmetic dermatologist based on New York’s Upper East Side, told InsideHook in 2020 that not washing immediately after a tough workout — or after sweating in general — can lead to a body and buttock acne, especially if you wear tight-fitting workout clothes that can trap sweat. It’s best to get rid of your gnarly exercise gear and jump in the shower straight after you sweat.

So first you will need a gym with showers, but also all your grooming necessities.

You can just sweep all your at-home grooming products into your gym bag every time you go for a workout, but it’s a pain in the ass, and you’ll eventually forget about it anyway. We therefore encourage you to have a separate set of grooming products stored in your bag. You can stick to the same types and brands of skin/hair care products you use at home, or If you don’t have a structured grooming routine or just want to try new products, keep reading.

We spoke with George Baxter-Holderaesthetic nurse practitioner SkinSpiritfor some skincare recommendations suitable for a post-workout wash, as well as other recommendations from yours truly.

Something to wash your face with

“Washing your face is the single most important grooming step for men’s skin health after sweating it out in the gym,” says Baxter-Holder. “I recommend a great facial cleanser such as Oxygen Infused Cleanser by SkinBetter. For an extra boost post-workout, I also like easy-to-carry pads for the gym bag like ZO Skin Health Complexion Replenishing Pads. For men with acne-prone skin, a deep cleanse followed by an acne-specific product, such as Age Intervention Duality by Jan Mariniis ideal.

Something to protect your skin from harmful UV rays

“It’s essential for men to remember their sun protection after the gym, and there are so many great options out there for men,” he adds. “If you’re looking for a dual-action sunscreen that helps with aging, SkinMedica’s Total defense and repair has a boost of antioxidants. For a lighter sunscreen, I love the 35 FPS Essential Defense also from SkinMedica.

(You can also check out our SPF recommendations.)

Something to keep your hair looking its best

Maybe you’re doing a quick workout before heading to town, or just want to pep up your looks a bit more for the drive home (never know who you might run into in the train!) Your sweaty future self will thank you for putting the product in your bag.

Something to make you smell good

A few of our favorite solid deodorants, body washes and colognes for long-lasting odor control.

A 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner that will get the job done efficiently and effectively

The 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner is kind of like the team in your post-gym shower routine. His job is to get you in and out of that locker room. Still, you can’t have just any old gang fixing your tires. You want a quality all-purpose product that will effectively cleanse and soothe your hair and scalp, like these options below:

A pack of face and body wipes for when you’re in a hurry

Alright you like really have to leave and don’t have time to take a shower. At the very least, wipe down with a handy wipe.