It’s been 10 months since I started working out properly, with a personal trainer. I don’t do anything spectacular – just resistance training twice a week, with a little bit of cardio thrown in. I’ve been consistent, however, and actually train more often now than I did in the beginning – I started out with one session per week, now sometimes do three. I’m also starting earlier, either 7 or 7.15 am, which gives me enough time to have a coffee and walk to work without stress.

All this probably doesn’t sound like much to most people, but for me, going to the gym, not to mention GOING TO THE GYM EARLY IN THE MORNING is a big deal. Sometimes I cannot believe I’m voluntarily waking up earlier than I absolutely need to, only because it makes going to and coming from the gym more chill. The thing is, exercising in the morning pretty much guarantees I’m going to have a good day and it’s also the only time when I can be sure work will not interfere with my PT commitments.

Despite my new-found determination to get to the gym early, I am still very keen to sleep until the very last moment. It has taken some trial and error to figure out what’s the most efficient way to have a proper skincare routine on these days, but I think I’ve got it sorted.

At home, I will only cleanse my face (with whatever morning cleanser I fancy at the moment) and put something hydrating and lightweight on my face. Often, that’s Hada Labo’s hyaluronic lotion, but could be any similar essence or serum. As I usually take the Uber to the gym, I don’t need SPF at that point of the day. Where I live, it’s also often still dark when I get out of the house, so I feel sunscreen is optional.

After the exercise, I cleanse my skin again. Post-workout, I prefer to use something slightly purifying/exfoliating, to make sure all the sweat and grime is removed. This usually means a cleanser with a small acid content, something like Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip or Indie Lee Brightening Cleanser – both come in travel sizes as well, which is handy for the gym. It also needs to be a cleanser that washes off nicely, as I can’t use a flannel, which I always do at home.

Then I proceed with my usual acid toner-serum-moisturiser-SPF steps. I try to keep my gym bag manageable in terms of weight and size (as I walk to work afterwards), so I pretty much only use travel sizes or products that come in small packages to begin with. My skin hasn’t been great lately, so my first choice for an acid has been Paula’s Choice (see what I did there) 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant – available in a 30 ml bottle. There are other great options, though. All Pixi toners now come in smaller sizes and both The Ordinary and The Inkey List acids are 30 ml by default. I prefer The Inkey List for the gym, because of the plastic bottles. Dr Dennis Gross individually wrapped acid pads would also work perfectly.

Most serums are in small bottles anyway, so not much hassle there, but my beloved Drunk Elephant C-Firma is an exception. Fortunately, it does come in a travel/trial size, as does Paula’s Choice Resist Super Antioxidant Serum. I also have a 5 ml bottle of the wonderful Omorovicza Daily Vitamin C serum, but I’m not sure you can actually buy it in this format (I received it as a GWP). Often, I like to mix or layer my antioxidant/vitamin C serum with a hydrating one – Drunk Elephant B-Hydra is my favourite, but Jordan Samuel Skin, The Inkey List and The Ordinary all have great options in manageable sizes and there are many others.

If I use a hydrating serum, I sometimes skip the moisturiser, depending on how my skin feels on that day. I don’t necessarily bother with eye cream either, but if I do, Drunk Elephant Shaba tends to be my first pick in this category and Protini for the moisturiser. Sunscreen, on the other hand, is non-negotiable now that the sun is up. Sadly, I’m out of my adored Biore and I really do not like most European SPFs, no matter how hyped or expensive. After seveal disappointments, I have for the moment settled on Guerlain Abeille Royale Skin Defense. It is overpriced, but at least it works for me and the 30 ml tube is great for the gym situation.

If I have any energy left by that point, I might put on some makeup. If not, it’s my new Dior sunglasses to the rescue, as they literally cover half of my face.

What about you? Do you have a gym skincare routine? Or any travel size recommendations?

PS The sunglasses are pictured purely for size refenrence.