Recreate all the beauty benefits of a heart-pumping session with a few easy tricks (and not a drop of sweat).
By: Nicole Catanese, Q by Equinox
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.
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.
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.
