(Skin)

13 Glow-Giving Products You Need To Nail The Post-Gym Skin Trend

Just back from the gym? Nope, it’s just my skin-care routine.

by Bianca Lambert

Aug. 25, 2022

Here's the thing: The sweltering hot temperatures aren't a thing of summer's past just yet. And that means putting on makeup after an endorphin-boosting workout is even more difficult given our body temperatures are cranked up and it’s likely to just melt right off. With that said, “post-gym skin” is officially trending this season, and we can see why: After all, who doesn’t love the gorgeous afterglow you get after a good workout session? The glossy sheen on your cheeks and the natural rosy flush that makes you look fresh and vibrant? Yeah, we’re all for it.

That’s why, this season, we're ditching the post-workout makeup and instead opting to let our au naturel skin shine through. Albeit not without the help of some powerhouse skin-care products from our friends at Ulta Beauty. Here, we took the liberty of compiling our favorite formulas that work to hydrate, protect, and make skin glow, all while letting it breathe at the same time.

Keep reading to learn more (and shop!) our must-have products for scoring skin that looks like you just left the best workout of your life.

Hydrate

(+)

1/2

Hyrdated skin is glowy, plump, and all-around healthy-looking. Hence why it’s super important to load up on intensive hydrators in order to maintain that just-back-from-the-gym radiance we’re all coveting right now. (Pro tip: Don’t forget about your lips!)

Morphe 2 Keep It Calm Facial Mist

$16

A post-gym cleanse requires a little extra something-something to cool the skin down and prep it for your next layer of skin care. Enter this alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic facial spray, which is infused with reishi mushrooms, aloe vera, and lavender to soothe and help minimize workout-induced redness.

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Water Gel Moisturizer

$40

Get glass skin sans the 7-step routine with this gorgeous lightweight gel moisturizer from K-beauty powerhouse Peach & Lily. The oil-free formula contains vegan pre-and probiotics, along with hyaluronic acid and fruit extracts to hydrate and nourish even the most sensitive of skin types. On top of that, it helps restore your skin’s microbiome, which is key to maintaining a healthy barrier and happier skin overall.

Korres Santorini Grape Velvet Skin Drink

$50

This luxurious, multitasking dry oil helps blur the appearance of texture and pores, while Santorini grapeseed oil and resveratrol work to improve the look of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and texture. Add a drop or two to your skin after moisturizing for an unmatched radiance that lasts all day long.

Aquaphor Lip Repair

Take a note out of celebrity makeup artists' beauty books and use a touch of Aquaphor's fragrance-free formula as a highlighter on the cheeks to add a makeup-free highlight. It also looks beautiful on the brow bone — and the lips, of course.

Protect

(+)

1/2

One of the major tickets to healthy skin success? Sun protection, of course. That, and safeguarding your skin from everyday environmental aggressors like pollution, too. Stock up on glow-boosting sunscreens and antioxidant-rich formulas (hello, vitamin C) to keep your skin radiant and resilient.

Live Tinted Hueguard 3-in-1 Broad Spectrum Mineral SPF 30 Primer

$32

Sunscreen is always a must, and this clean 3-in-1 formula checks all the boxes: Not only does it safeguard against both UVA and UVB rays, but it also acts as a primer and moisturizer with a subtle universal tint that leaves skin protected — and perfected. Oh, and a white cast? Nowhere to be found.

Tula Protect + Glow Daily Sunscreen Gel Broad Spectrum SPF 30

$38

Tired of sunscreen that dulls your skin with a white cast? This innovative formula from Tula does no such thing. It goes on completely transparent, doesn’t clog pores, and leaves a beautiful glow behind on the skin. A powerful blend of probiotic extracts work to smooth and strengthen skin, while papaya and pineapple help to even out skin tone. Oh yeah, and it protects against blue-light damage, too, thanks to a unique ingredient known as wild butterfly ginger root.

COOLA Full Spectrum 360° Sun Silk Drops Organic Sunscreen SPF 30

$46

Did we mention sunscreen’s a non-negotiable? This nourishing formula is one of our top picks because it can be used solo or blended with your favorite moisturizer or foundation. Made with over 70 percent certified organic ingredients and enriched with skin-plumping hyaluronic acid, this non-comedogenic formula provides both sun and bluescreen protection.

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C and Turmeric Face Oil

$40

Facial oils are a quick and nourishing way to give your skin an instantaneous glow — and this formula happens to be one of our most-loved. Infused with vitamin C and golden turmeric, it not only delivers superior antioxidant protection, but also helps soothe and protect your skin, too.

M.A.C. Cosmetics Fix+ Magic Radiance All Day Hydrating Spray + Vitamin C

$34

Formulated with skin-loving hyaluronic acid and brightening vitamin C, this non-acnegenic spray hydrates and improves skin radiance with just a few spritzes. Mist it on throughout the day to maintain skin hydration and dewiness.

Glow

(+)

1/2

Post-gym skin never looks dull, sallow, or lifeless, right? More like warm, subtly flushed, and supremely glowy (thanks for that, sweat). So with that in mind, go ahead and embrace the mega-glowy life with products that enhance the look even more.