The Equinox Blog has included us among a list of products to use to recreate that lovely, healthy, post workout glow. Many thanks to our friend, talented makeup artist
Sage Maitri, we love your work and are honored to be a staple of your kit!!
The Faux Workout Glow
Recreate all the beauty benefits of a heart-pumping session with a few easy tricks (and not a drop of sweat).
Thursday, October 11, 2012 |
Nicole Catanese
Picture yourself after killing a
good-but-not-grueling workout: Your cheeks are slightly flushed, your
skin looks clear and dewy, and even though your lip gloss is long gone,
damn, you look
good. The same reasons that a regular fitness
routine does your body right extend to your post-workout aesthetic as
well. “When you’re exercising, the increase in your breathing rate
causes an increase of oxygen in your blood; your heart begins to beat
faster to move the newly oxygenated blood to your muscles, and your
small blood vessels widen,” says David E. Bank, a dermatologist in Mount
Kisco, New York and founder of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and
Laser Surgery. "It leads to an increase of blood flow to the surface of
your skin."
Whether it’s because you’re not hitting the gym until later or you've given yourself
the day off, here’s how to get that fresh-faced effect. No workout required.
1 Rosy Cheeks
Why You Get It:
Disclaimer: We're after the pretty pinkness (not
look-like-you're-gonna-die redness) that you get after a to-the-point
strength and cardio hybrid. “The dilation of your blood vessels works to
release heat,” explains Dr. Bank. “And since the air is usually cooler
than our body’s 98.6, the blood runs under the surface of the skin,
throws off heat to help cool you — and it’s this increased blood flow
that causes the red appearance of the face after exercise.”
How To Fake It: Sure, you can layer on some pink blush
and call it a day, but that’s not going to create the same finish as a
natural flush. Kick start blood flow and increase circulation by
applying a stimulating fruit enzyme-based mask (such as Kate
Somerville's ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliating Treatment), to clean skin,
directly along cheeks for 30 seconds max, suggests Sage Maitri, a makeup
artist in New York City. Then wipe off with a clean tissue.
FIND IT >
2 Brighter Eyes
Why You Get It: “While
there is no direct influence, regular exercise can help decrease the
appearance of dark circles and puffiness underneath eyes,” says Dr.
Bank. “Many times dark circles under the eyes are caused by low blood
circulation and the increased blood flow can help them disappear.”
How To Fake It: All you need is a highlighter to
reflect light off of skin. Maitri’s makeup kit staple: Prtty Peaushun
Skin Tight Body Lotion in plain or light. (She says to ignore the body
tout on the label and feel free to use it under brows, along the brow
bones, and across lids). “Use this slightly iridescent and tinted cream
over the body to perfect flaws, then tap what's left on your fingertips
onto cheekbones, and a bit on the eyelid,” she says.
FIND IT >
3 Radiant Skin
Why You Get It: As exercise
increases oxygenated blood to the skin, expect a complexion-perfecting
side effect. “When the small blood vessels widen, they aid in carrying
waste away from cells,” says Dr. Bank. “Your body then releases toxins
through your sweat glands — all of which leads to even and clear skin.”
How To Fake It: Two words: tinted moisturizer. These
lightweight formulas offer the perfect cocktail of hydration and tint —
evening out skin tone, not hiding it. If your skin is dry, opt for
hydrating Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30; more on the oily
side — try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 Oil-Free ($43,
lauramercier.com). “Because you want to keep some rosiness to your skin,
keep your cheeks bare and use the tinted moisturizer everywhere else,”
suggests Maitri.
FIND IT >
4 Full, Rosy Lips
Why You Get It: Once again,
you can thank the stellar blood flow. “When there is increased blood
circulation, the result is a flushed face — which includes your lips,”
says Dr. Bank. And since lips are naturally a bit tinted, a workout can
take your born-with-it hue up a notch long after you put in the towel.
“After exercise, this increased circulation keeps blood pumping for
several hours,” he says.
How To Fake It: Not only do you need a surge of
see-through color, you also need it to look fresh and hydrated. “Keep
lips like yours but with a bit of moisture and a tint of color,” says
Maitri, who reaches for tinted lip balm Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream
Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint Sunscreen SPF 15.
