6 Strategies To Hiding Your Excessive Summer Workout Sweat
Avoid the embarrassing stains with these expert tips. (Photo: Thinkstock)
It’s the universal truth: everyone sweats. It’s unavoidable, and in the blazing summer months, it’s consistent. Naturally, when you’re working out, the sticky situation gets even worse.
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Summer workout sweat may be pretty standard, so concealing it is just the natural next step. Sure, we’ve all figured out by now that opting for dark colors makes a damp situation a little less obvious. Instead of swapping all your sweat-friendly threads for a darker color options, follow these expert tips for nixing the appearance of your (increased) summer sweat:
1. Choose Your Workout Times Wisely
If you’re planning on working out between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (the sun’s most heated hours), expect to sweat more. Instead, workout early in the morning, or later in the afternoon, when you’ll have a natural lower body temperature and the cooler outdoor temperatures will work in your favor.
2. Use Lightweight Performance Fabrics
“To beat the heat, look for fabrics … that wick away sweat from the skin, are breathable, and feel barely there,” says Britt Gelineau, the Global Brand Product Education Manager at Lululemon. “Products with open backs, or featuring mesh fabrics, add ventilation to the piece, encouraging airflow in the garment whether you’re sweating in the studio or out on the streets.”
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3. Have Strategic Placement
“Mesh fabric paneling in high sweat areas, like behind the knees or in the lower back, is also a good choice,” says Gelineau. Let your most sweaty areas breathe just a little more. The open fabric on the legs and back will allow for efficient ventilation throughout the outfit, naturally helping cool sweat.
4. Read the Labels
Check your antiperspirant bottle. Is aluminum chloride listed? Good. Any anti-perspirant with this ingredient helps, says Dr. Hooman Khorasani, the Chief of Dermatologic and Cosmetic Surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital. If it has at least 10 percent, it’s ideal for summer workouts.
5. Go Old School
“Baby powder works like a charm,” Khorasani adds. “Apply it in the groin area, between the buttocks, between the thighs, and under the armpits and breasts.” The easy (and cheap!) solution helps to absorb excess sweat during and after workouts. If you’re avoiding using anti-perspirant on certain areas (like the groin and thighs), baby powder is a safer, and equally effective, alternative.
Related: 5 Expert Tips to Ensure You Never Miss Another Workout
6. The After-Workout Strategy
"After a sweaty indoor cycling class, the last thing you want to put on your body in the heat is a non-breathable top later,” Gelineau adds. “Instead, throw on a lightweight jacket made of fabric that wicks away sweat as you cool down so you can continue feeling your best as you leave the studio.” Just because the workout’s over, it doesn’t mean that the sweating has ended. Make sure that you’re still protecting and concealing the perspiration, even after you’ve done your cool down.
By Suzee Skwiot
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