On any given day, you can take a peek inside my gym or handbag and expect to find a few staples, among which is a pack of Simple’s Sensitive Facewipes. That’s because I never work out wearing make-up, not wanting to feel self-conscious of sweating or restricted in my training. So when Oxygenetix approached me about their foundation – a post-surgical cream developed to conceal scars while allowing enough oxygen through to facilitate the healing process, as well as being water- and sweat-resistant to suit humid environments – I said the very same thing. I was happy to trial it as an everyday foundation, but not as “makeup you can work out in”. With the terms of the review set, I waited for my sample to arrive…

The first thing I noticed about Oxygenetix was its small size – the bottle is no bigger than Benefit’s High Beam (another staple in my bag). But you need only one small pump to cover your whole face. As someone who much prefers tinted moisturisers to traditional foundations, I instantly liked how lightweight and smooth the texture of Oxygenetix is. It’s easiest to apply using only your fingers, and it spreads a thin, even veil across the skin’s surface. I requested the Honey shade, which is just a touch darker than my natural skin tone but gives a natural glow for winter.

On the first day of my review, I broke my cardinal rule for the purposes of research. I wore make-up during exercise. It was rather convenient, actually. Working for a fit fashion brand, I often do sweaty studio classes at lunchtime and it makes little sense to apply a full face of make-up only to remove it a few hours later. But on this occasion I was making an appearance in one of the boutiques, so thought I’d make more of an effort for the sake of customers. I also wanted to try the barre class they run in the store’s basement studio, so I planned to squeeze in a gentle workout between meeting with store managers and talking to customers.

My make-up routine on the day was as follows: Veil primer by Hourglass, Oxygenetix foundation, a sweep of Benefit bronzer, a sweep of Bobbi Brown blusher and a couple swipes of Benefit mascara. Four hours after application it still looked fresh as I went into my barre class feeling like a right ballerina. Only it turns out I underestimated the class – high repetitions of tiny muscular movements was sweatier work than expected and I didn’t want to end up a streaky mess, so I pulled back more than I usually would. Still, to my surprise, the foundation held up to moderate perspiration and the only post-workout touch-up I needed was a bit of powder for the shine.

I carried on straight to 10pm wearing the make-up, and even after running around all day and fitting in an hour’s workout, I looked matte-fresh and loved the lightweight feel of Oxygenetix. Cleaning my face before bed, I paused to inspect my pores and make sure I hadn’t caused any unwanted congestion. No damage done!

This experience didn’t change my view on wearing makeup during exercise as a regular habit. I still believe a bare face is important for the feeling of being free to sweat as well as for the long-term health of my skin. But for fitting lower-intensity workouts like Pilates or yoga into a busy day, I feel confident wearing Oxygenetix straight through. It’s new to the UK this year and stocked in a number spas and boutiques – all of which you can find on oxygenetix.com – if you’d like to try it for yourself.

*I would like to remind readers and businesses that I never feature anything on my blog that I don’t personally love or think would be beneficial to readers.*

Going to the gym has so many benefits on top of getting fitter, among which is definitely healthier looking skin and that just-exercised glow. If I skip the gym for more than a few days, my skin looks duller and I get a collection of noticeable pores in the crease of my chin and around my nose. Sweating is such a great way to cleanse the skin of toxins and bring the blood closer to the surface – the reason for that much-revered glow.Movie Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Pre-workout beauty prep

Of course, the number one beauty rule before working out is to remove any make-up! The pores in your skin will open up as your body begins to sweat, and you don’t want any lingering creams or powders to fill them up when they do. I carry Simple Face Wipes in my gym bag at all times. They’re quick, hassle-free and almost always on a 3 for 2 offer at Boots. So I usually pick up their Replenishing Moisturiser to rehydrate after my workout and before applying any make-up.

Perfect post-workout coverage

After a particularly tough workout, it takes ages for my skin to cool down. I like to let it breathe, so I apply just a thin layer of this Hourglass Primer called ‘Veil’. It’s a staple with women in the Middle East because its ultra lightweight and helps to control shine under even the most extreme circumstances. It also makes your skin super soft, so it’s a great base before applying your alphabet cream or foundation. I often go without, but if I’m heading out on the town and want a bit of coverage then Clarins’ BB Cream is my absolute go-to. For fuss-free post-gym prep, I apply both the primer and BB cream with my hands. No sink? Those Simple Wipes will come in handy once again!

Prolong your healthy glow

Benefit and Bobbi Brown are two brands I always trust to give my face extra definition and colour. I like Hoola Bronzer by Benefit because it doesn’t have any sparkle, which can add unwanted shine after a workout. Where I do like a touch of sparkle is on my cheeks.  Bobbi Brown’s Shimmer Blush in Pink Sugar adds a lovely pop of colour and works really well with Benefit’s High Beam cream as a highlighter. I brush the Hoola powder all over, then make a ‘pucker’ face and sweep the blusher along the contour of my face. To finish, I use my fingers to gently blend three dabs of High Beam right on the cheekbone. I love how it catches the light when I venture into the sun.

Big up your eyes

The one make-up product I never miss out is mascara. I’ve searched high and low for a mascara that consistently creates mega volume. Benefit’s They’re Real is my favourite because it uses a clever brush with bristles all around the tip to lift even those tiny lashes at the end of your lashline. When I have time, I also line my upper lashes with a Magic Ink cat flick and balance it with their charcoal-based Bad Gal liner along the bottom.

One of my biggest beauty dilemmas has resulted from overplucking – I have sparse bits in my eyebrows that can take away from their shape.  I don’t like to spend ages on my brows though, so a quick touch-up using the ‘blonde’ No.7 brow pencil is perfect for filling in the gaps.

Voila! These nine miracle-workers transition me from the locker room to the great outdoors in five minutes flat. And they make all the difference compared to the sweaty mess I am when I first finish a workout!