Help me be less ugly after swimming!

[impossibleimposter]

Off to Center Parcs in Half Term. I haven’t been for ages and haven’t nailed the post swim routine so I don’t look hideous. My skin isn’t looking good at the moment with some rosacea so I don’t feel comfortable going completely bare faced day to day.

Any recommendations for a decent, genuinely waterproof mascara please?

And afterwards, what do you do with your face and hair to look as half decent as possible? My hair is shoulder length, thick and frizzy/course. Looks fine in a messy bun or pony when dry but takes an age to dry and pool hair dryers don’t touch it! The chlorine will make my skin tight but I don’t think the quick pool side showers will mean I can do a full cleanse etc! But equally can’t just leave it.

Finally what kind of clothes for active hols like CP? We will be biking everywhere.

Investments (as these aren’t on the cheaper or reasonable priced scale) beauty products if you are (or end up after your lovely Center Parcs trip) being an avid swimmer as a hobby

These are the BEST to wear before and during swimming and also on holidays if you’re out for the day and will be in the heat .. and/or dipping in the sea or the pool
Also good to wear /apply after a swimming session if prefer to go bare faced in the pool

(If ‘au natural’ whilst swimming then after use a good shampoo specifically to treat hair in chlorine (condense into small travel bottle you get from the bottles kits from primark for a pound) and then a good leave in conditioner (with moroccan oil in it) put your hair in a ballerina bun (donut bun again from primark for a pound) and then a nice travel pot of elemis balm cleanser followed by a hyaluronic acid serum and a brightening Vitamin C moisturising cream
followed by something like this list (I can send an equivalent list in order for you OP or anyone else reading this based on your skin types and conditions and concerns .. can also send a ‘dupe’ type equivalent list for a ‘like for like’ but reasonable drug store/high street products /prices.. and of course if specifically organic and vegan /leaping bunny can do that too)

1. Nars Smooth and Protect Primer
2. Nars Natural Radiance Longwear Foundation
3. Born This Way Concealer
4. Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder
5. Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara
6. Elf Cosmetics Bronzer

When I was a MUA I looked after Professional Synchronised Swimmers! And the above list (after trial and error x- times a MILLION these were the ‘bullet proof’ make up ‘winners’ that didn’t budge in the water, were gentle on the skin and looked natural but gorgous and ‘glowy/dewy’ during & after 🏊‍♀️

Ps- this is super hydrating but also great pigmentation to wear on lip and cheek during and/or after swim

hopefully this works

Ah damn it ! It’s a lip and cheek hydrating stain by MILK cosmetics 💄💋👄

I spend a lot of time in salt water so my hair and skin can get pretty stressed out. I find https://ethicalzinc.com/collections/all?srsltid=AfmBOooO3qpJ13H-HrJfzcpqfXTLrnB9kbgQZOnydbKWSNSc7lNu7xxu excellent, sometimes I wear the heavy one (if going to be in the direct sun/in out of the water all day) it smells really nice. Sometimes I wear the light one, and sometimes the tinted one. My skin is super clear these days. Good news is you can put it on clean dry skin, before you go in the water and it protects from the salt/chlorine.

For quick hair saving afterwards/before a proper shower I do a thorough rinse and then get an extra heavy conditioner and put that through. I dont bother with shampoo until later. Main thing is to restore moisture.

I dont care that much what I LOOK like, but I like my skin and hair to feel soft and nice, and un damaged.

@PurpleAxe ahh I think I’ve used this .. it smells like cream and scones or vanilla ice cream type of scent .. good enough to eat!

You are like me 🤣

I think that's a bit unfair.

I love swimming, and I am almost always au naturel. However I feel a complete ick post-swimming unless I take a proper bit of time to sort myself out, I just feel dirty. It itches horribly and I feel grubby. Even if I looking the mirror and it's fine!

I'd be going back to the accommodation and showering/drying properly, and I'm the least styled person I know.

The thing is the op didn’t ask for a discussion about whether wanting to look nice at CP is acceptable or not did she? She asked for some advice.

I agree she does use very harsh language about herself but that wasn’t what you stick your oar in about first off was it? But I assumed that was just AIBU hyperbole and got on with some answers to what she actually asked.

Hobestly this thread has been really interesting for a lot of people, including op. Do if it’s not the thread for you…

@SoapCollector I am a fan of Paula's choice stuff as it is clean, no perfume etc. For face, I use Calm Ultra gentle Cushion Cleanser. I have the travel set for on the go so a small bottle which is easy to cart about. Also I think E45 lotion is perfect for all the family so only one bottle of moisturiser for all.

The PP who made the point about the leisure centre swimming is spot on! The changing rooms are sensory hell and add small DC into the mix…!

The leave in conditioner tip is gold dust and I never would’ve considered that.

Thank you for all the product tips too, all fantastic.

We are going in a big extended family group so nipping back to the lodge to sort myself out won’t always be easy. And DP is very much “you don’t need make up, why do you care” etc so I don’t think would be very accommodating to me dictating everyone else’s routine and activities around me showering and doing make up at the cabin.

Thanks for the list but that lots costs £175+!

Any dupes?