It’s safe to say that as a runner my skin takes quite a beating. It is regularly exposed to the elements and not to mention a LOT of sweat. Wiping your salt-encrusted face after a long run can be a bit like using an exfoliator. Gross, I know but we’ve all been there!
As a woman who is always on-the-go, I like a ‘no fuss’ skincare routine that’s quick, simple and made for skin that sweats. Because let’s face it (see what I did there?) when our skin looks it’s best, we feel our best!
I was asked to try some of the Pretty Athletic range, obviously, I jumped at the chance. I’ve seen lots of women rave about the brand online so I was yet to try them myself.
Skincare is such a personal thing, what works for one person, might not work for another. So, in order to give a fair and thorough review, I switched my regular products to Pretty Athletic for a whole month.
About the Brand
Pretty Athletic is a skincare brand designed and formulated for active women. It is the brain child of ex lawyer / fitness enthusiast Leyla Cooper who found herself struck by a lack of products relating to what to use on her skin before and after exercise.
The range is designed to address the specific needs of active women’s skin – both pre and post-workout; perfect if you live in activewear like me. Their products are 95% naturally derived, cruelty-free and carefully formulated with botanical ingredients to keep the skin balanced, hydrated and happy.
So… here’s what I’ve been using
Workout Glow: Hyaluronic Vitamin Tonic
Let’s start with my fave product and one of Pretty Athletics most popular. The Hyaluronic Acid Vitamin Tonic – simply spray this on your face pre and post-workout and wipe off any excess with a cotton pad. It removes makeup, sweat and impurities and leaves the skin feeling hydrated. It is really soothing and helps to stop that tight ‘dried-sweat’ feeling.
Enriched with gentle coconut-derived cleansers and vital skin nutrients – it’s a super quick way of achieving clean, nourished and hydrated skin in one simple step. It comes in a handy little spray bottle which is great for chucking in the gym bag (when they reopen)
It contains a range of botanicals and actives leaving your face feeling refreshed with a healthy glow.
Instant Refresh: Invigorating Shower Scrub
I think it goes without saying that that post-run shower is the best. It’s what I spend most of my run dreaming about and now been made even better with this Instant Refresh: Invigorating Shower Scrub.
It rids you of that grubby sweaty feeling and leaves you feeling squeaky clean without drying out your skin. It has a handy pump action bottle that dispenses just the right amount.
It’s light, refreshing and full of natural ingredients. The raspberry seeds are lovely to exfoliate with and leave your skin feeling soft.
Smells delish, leaves you feeling fresh and contains no nasty ingredients! What more could you want? It gets a big thumbs up from me.
Recovery Boost: Cell Repair Serum
Intended for use post-workout the Recovery Boost: Cell Repair Serum is rich in phytosterols and high levels of antioxidants that help to restore the skin barrier and fight the signs of environmental damage. It contains grapeseed oil which helps to improve skin elasticity and firmness and Jasmine and Rose Damascena to calm and soothe.
A little goes a long way with this, you only need a few drops so this will last ages. It’s lovely and absorbs really quickly. As with any serum I layered this under my regular moisturiser as part of my post-run shower routine.
In all honesty, I was a little apprehensive about using this at first as I have sensitive skin that’s prone to redness. I’m happy to report, one month on, there’s been no breakouts, irritation or redness. For me, the only drawback on this product is I’m not so keen on the smell, but that is just personal preference.
The Verdict
I’m really impressed with the products I tested. It’s great to have finally found a skincare and body range tailored for those who are active. So well done Pretty Athletic – you have nailed it as the go-to brand for active women! You can check out the whole range click here.
The range is also available at Waitrose, Feel Unique & Holland and Barrett
*I was kindly sent these products to try, with no expectation of a review. All opinions and photographs are my own.
