There’s nothing wrong with wanting to feel good before you break a sweat. The right workout set, a little pop of blush, or even a familiar beauty ritual can make an otherwise routine sweat session something you actually look forward to. But in an age when fitness is so easily turned into content, motivation can just as easily become another set of expectations about how you’re supposed to look while doing it.

For Bethany Talbot, though, the point is much simpler: if something makes movement more enjoyable, why not embrace it? Having grown up playing competitive football while later building a career in content creation, she’s learned that wellness doesn’t have to look—or feel—one particular way.

These days, her workouts span the gym, bouldering, and Muay Thai, with a few beauty essentials coming along for the ride. In this Allure Philippines exclusive, Talbot shares what’s inside her gym bag, how beauty fits into her approach to fitness, and why learning to enjoy movement at your own pace matters more than keeping up with what you see online.

What are the items that you usually bring in your workout bag? 

I always have tissues for me, as an allergic, sipunin girlie. But also, of course, for my sweat. 

Next, this is super essential: it’s the Dr. O Hypochlorous Spray. It’s really good for when you sweat because you’re more prone to acne breakouts. So, I always have my Dr. O Hypochlorous Spray with me.

Next is a lip and cheek tint. Because I never know what plans I have after the gym, or after I go, like, Muayi Thai, baka mag-mall ako bigla. So, I usually like to bring one with me in my makeup pouch. But definitely, what I grab after is a lip and cheek tint. 

My forever favorite is the Benetint lip and cheek tint. As in, you can never go wrong. Kahit hindi plakado ang face, kahit puro pawis, it’s still nice to apply. So, you can never go wrong with Benetint. 

Next is a sunscreen stick, or even just sunscreen. Especially if you’re still out during the day, I like to touch up on my sunscreen. If you want a trusty sunscreen, Beach Hut has really good sunscreens. They even have lip sunscreen, which I also bring.

Next, because I do Muay Thai, I have my Muay Thai equipment in my workout bag. I have my own gloves and hand wraps, I think another thing I had to worry about when I started Muay Thai was the wraps that you can also use as a headband. I used to do that when I played football—I forgot the name of the wrap, but it’s those clear wraps for injuries or if you need support on your legs or your foot. But you can also use it as a headband if you have a lot of baby hair like me. That’s an athlete kind of thing!

And last, I love SOLA Dew It Fresh Vitamin C Hydrating Mist. This is the collab with Jelly Eugenio. It’s one of my favorite sprays, whether I’m getting ready in the morning, doing my nighttime routine, or catching up in the middle of the day. As in, everyone I know loves this spray. So, if you haven’t used it yet, the spray from SOLA with Jelly [Eugenio] is so good.

Why are these items important for your workout sessions? 

These items are important to me just to give me comfort. I feel like after my workout, I feel like it just makes me less worried about where I’m going after or what I’m going to feel after. As in, a little spray of, like, let’s say, the Sola spray or a little touch-up of my chin. As in, it just gives me that extra boost of confidence.

What is an important beauty or wellness habit you do during your workout sessions? 

I think a lot of people do this unknowingly, but it’s making yourself look cute para mas ma-enjoy mo ginagawa mo. I love putting on a cute workout set, a cute gym set, or doing a sports-friendly makeup routine. It just adds that boost of confidence so that you enjoy what you’re doing more, even if it involves sweat and being out in the sun. 

But, you know, it just adds that little touch of fun to it.

How important has fitness been in your beauty journey? 

Very important. I guess as someone who grew up with sports and with football, I used to think, probably, that it couldn’t go hand in hand. But definitely, as I matured, I realized how much they do. 

Your physical wellness—I think it helps a lot with how you take care of your beauty as well. And I think that’s what people don’t realize nowadays. Wellness is definitely a holistic thing: if you take care of your physical health, then I think that definitely reflects outward in your beauty. 

What is one tip you can give to someone who’s starting their fitness journey?

I think it’s definitely not putting pressure on yourself because of what you see online. I think it’s knowing that you can progress slowly and gradually. You don’t have to go all in right away. 

It’s also nice to do activities, play a sport, or go to the gym with friends or with people that you trust also helps. But, yeah, don’t put pressure on yourself because the important part is that you’re enjoying. It’s supposed to be an enjoyable process.

So don’t forget to enjoy it, and whatever helps you enjoy it, then definitely do that!

Frequently Asked Questions

A hypochlorous acid spray, like the Dr. O Hypochlorous Spray content creator Bethany Talbot carries, helps address sweat-related breakouts. It is meant for reapplication throughout the day, making it practical for gym bags, Muay Thai sessions, or sweat-heavy activity.

Sun exposure continues during outdoor training, so reapplying sunscreen helps maintain protection as sweat and movement wear it down. Athletes and content creators like Bethany Talbot keep a sunscreen stick, including lip sunscreen, in their gym bag for quick touch-ups.

Content creator Bethany Talbot names Benefit’s Benetint as her long-time lip-and-cheek tint pick for after workouts, noting it applies easily even with sweat or minimal makeup underneath, which is why it has remained a gym bag staple for her.

According to content creator Bethany Talbot, small beauty habits, like wearing a cute workout set or a light sports-friendly makeup routine, can add comfort and confidence that makes movement more enjoyable, independent of performance or appearance expectations.

Bethany Talbot advises beginners to progress gradually rather than comparing themselves to what they see online, and to consider training with friends for support. She frames enjoyment, not intensity or pace, as the real priority when starting out.