I’ve always ignored “workout makeup” here, not because I object even remotely to women wearing whatever they damned well please to the gym, but because I’ve never “worked out” in my life. But while, perhaps regrettably, my habits haven’t changed, the weather has (at the time of writing, my house is as humid as the Eden Project), better allowing me to replicate gym conditions. I also recently visited a sauna and steam room, and tested products with a view to writing about menopausal skin; but those that performed best were designed for hot yoga, not hot flushes.
So here we are. Clinique sprang first to mind, since its CliniqueFIT range (online and selected stores) is dedicated to sweat-proof, lightweight, breathable formulas with superior longevity. It looks attractive, the concept is smart and the products didn’t disappoint. I expected Workout Makeup SPF40 (£20.50, 30ml) to feel gross, look pasty and change colour in the heat (in my imaginary gym, my notional self would be bare-faced), but it was light, comfortable and natural-looking, with a pretty glow that made it ideal for anyone seeking a great, affordable summer foundation. It looks darker fresh from the tube, so blend a little on the jaw before committing to a shade from the fairly limited colour palette.
The same brand’s Post-Workout Mattifying Moisturizer is great for underneath, although its stable, textured, ungreasy but hydrating formula acts equally well alone or with other foundations and primers. I was bowled over by the lasting power of Lip + Cheek Flush (£14, 7ml). I am not crazy about the pink colour (if you like Benefit Benetint, you will like this) and I am generally not keen on gels, but it deserves to find its audience.
There’s also a post-workout face spray in the Clinique range, but I preferred the one from new brand Pretty Athletic (nice name; I wish I had thought of it, ahem). Its Workout Glow Hyaluronic Vitamin Tonic (£17.50, 100ml) is a refreshing, vegan-friendly skin-hydrating mist that contains coconut, rosewater and my beloved hyaluronic acid; I’ve been using it post-cleanse, or when I feel hot, clammy or mardy. The most sauna-proof lashes came from Eyeko’s Yoga Mascara (£15.20), a suitably flexible, vegan formula with stamina.
