If there’s one thing all athletes deal with, it’s sweat! Nothing can ruin a run faster than sweat dripping into your eyes and fogging up your contacts not that that’s ever happened to me. Ok, I confess, I don’t just glisten – I SWEAT. It’s not quite as noticeable in the winter when I have 80 bazillionty layers on and it’s negative 50 degrees, but I’m still sweating. When asking my c25k group for blog post ideas, Kellie asked for tips on keeping the sweat out of her eyes and not being so stinky afterwards. Two issues EVERY runner has faced.
(Disclaimer: These are some products and tips that have helped me or friends of mine. The products listed are not endorsed by or affiliated with Shrinking Jeans in any way and we haven’t been compensated to mention them.)
Sweaty Solutions
There are a number of sweaty solutions but probably the best tip I have for keeping the sweat out of your eyes is to wear a running hat. If you look at the majority of my race photos, I’m almost always in a hat. I like that they keep the sun out of my eyes if it’s a sunny day, keep the rain off when the weather is dreary, and they help absorb sweat. When you finish your run, you can just toss your hat in the washer with your running clothes.
Another option for blocking sweat is a sweat wicking headband. Two favorites of mine are Bondi Bands and Sweaty Bands. Both are great for keeping your hair out of your face and they can direct the sweat away from your eyes. Bondi Bands also absorb quite a bit of moisture and if you can tolerate having it down over your forehead, it will work great.
If you have longer hair, I can’t stress enough how great the pony tail is. Pulling your hair back helps draw the sweat back away from the face. I can literally wring out my ponytail at the end of a great run! How women (and some men) run with hair flowing down their backs is beyond me.
A few of my triathlete friends swear by the use of Vaseline or Chapstick over the eyebrows or across the forehead. Personally, the thought of putting oil on my face gives me the heebie jeebies, but they insist this directs sweat to the sides of the face and out of the eyes.
After the Workout
What can you do after your workout if you can’t immediately take a shower? This little detail is why I never run on my lunch hour – I have to shower after a hard, sweaty run. If a shower isn’t an option, there are a few products on the market that can be used to freshen you up.
Action Wipes are large, individually packaged natural wipes that remove dirt, oil, sweat and odor. They have no alcohol and I like that they don’t smell like baby wipes. Baby wipes will also work but they are sized for your baby’s tushy, so you’re going to need a few, and you end up smelling like a baby. ShowerPill is another option that cleans well and also kills 99.9% of common germs. These also come individually wrapped for easy transport in your gym bag. I think you know which areas to focus on when taking your dry bath 🙂
I’m one of those “tomato” people who look red for hours after my workout. I’ve found that a cold washcloth can help to a degree, but usually I just end up walking around looking highly embarrassed until my body temp has returned closer to normal. If anyone has tips for getting rid of the red face, I’d love to hear them.
What about your hair? I know some runners use dry shampoo after a workout but I’ve never tried any of those. If you can, blast your hair with a hair dryer, throw on some deodorant, and add a fresh coat of mascara. You’re ready to re-enter the work place or your local supermarket without looking like you’ve just returned from the surface of the sun.
Happy sweating! I hope you find these tips helpful. If you’ve found something that works great for you, please let us know about it in the comments.
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