Active beauty essentials: what you need to look great after working up a sweat, indoors or out

Shape, Feb, 2005 by Heidi Schiller

Hairline breakouts When you sweat during a workout, hair products can transfer to skin--which is why it's best to avoid wearing styling products during an intense workout. The treatment: Use a cleanser with glycolic acid in problem areas. (Try Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, $29; murad.com.) And regularly wash baseball caps, sweatbands or anything else you use to pull your hair back from your face.

Sore muscles Smoothing a cooling gel onto tired legs and feet or soaking in a warm blend of soothing herbs will provide instant relief. Try Kneipp Arnica Active Gel ($18; sephora.com) or Ole Henriksen Muscle Comfort Soak ($38; sephora.com) with rosemary, juniper berry, lavender and eucalyptus.

RELATED ARTICLE: A SPORTING INDULGENCE

To pamper your sport-stressed body, try one of these spa treatments designed specifically for athletes.

** The Golf Performance Treatment at Willow Stream-The Spa at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona ($139 for 60 minutes; willowstream.com) uses massage and stretching to increase flexibility and relieve sore upper-body muscles to help improve that all-important swing.

** Vista Clara Ranch Spa Resort in Galisteo, N.M., soothes tired toes with the Hikers Foot Therapy ($50 for 25 minutes; vistaclara.com), which includes reflexology and massage to boost foot circulation and relieve aching arches and ankles.

** At the Moonlight Spa at East West Resort in Big Sky, Mont., the Skier's Rescue Package ($245 for 2 1/2 hours; eastwestbigsky.com) includes a massage to help stretch apres-ski muscles and increase circulation to extremities, a honey foot scrub and reflexology treatment to rejuvenate ski-boot-cramped feet and a facial to soothe cold- and wind-chapped skin.

** Select Spas at Equinox Fitness Clubs in New York City offer Sports Manicures and Pedicures that can be tailored to clients' individual needs ($65 for both; equinoxfitness.com). Aestheticians pay special attention to the needs of athletes like rock climbers and weight lifters, who may want to keep nails short or to maintain their calluses.--Sarah Kahle

RELATED ARTICLE: Shape giveaway

keep post-gym hair fresh ... FOR FREE!

At lunchtime, hitting the gym or going for a run would be a lot quicker--and easier--if you knew you didn't have to fit in a shower afterward. That's why we're giving away 50 Aveda Light Elements Reviving Mists (each a $21 value!). With organic lavender water and red clover, the mist refreshes hair after a workout so you don't have to rewash it. Log on to Shape.com/aveda from Jan. 18 to Feb. 14 for your chance to win. good luck!

Heidi Schiller, a freelance writer based in Short Hills, N.J., has never let being active get in the way of looking good.