Go-to gym bag essentials that are cruelty free

Love animals and want to honor them even while at the gym? Looking to add something a little more eco-friendly to your gym ritual? Maybe you’re just curious about some new products. Whatever brought you to this blog, rest assured that incorporating cruelty free items into your daily routine is easy and feels great! It’s especially easy to add these animal friendly items to your gym bag to help you start, sustain, and finish your workout strong all while looking, feeling, (and smelling!) top notch.

Most people are born loving animals. Children are drawn to animated cartoon characters, fawn over animals at petting zoos, and beg their parents for a pet. Somewhere along the way, we lose our connection with animals. Part of it is cultural, part of it is how your family views animals, and part of it is just growing up. But there are so many reasons to keep that connection with our four-legged friends alive! For example, maintaining a connection with animals can help us be more eco-friendly by eliminating harsh chemicals from the environment and our bodies. Using cruelty free cosmetics can also have a positive impact on your skin and overall health as they are usually made with natural simple ingredients that won’t harm sensitive skin or digestive systems.

Contrary to what you might think, switching the cruelty free gym bag essentials is easy and won’t break the bank. All it takes is dedication and a little research. Trust me, once you get into the habit of using your new favorite items, you’ll never look back. Here are five go-to gym bag essentials that are cruelty-free and should be added to your routine.

Five Gym-Bag essentials

Larabars
No matter where you are on your fitness journey, you’ve got to fuel your body. Fuel it with natural snacks that your body craves! Larabars boast only 3-5 ingredients depending on the flavor. Ingredients you can pronounce. The natural sugar in the dates found in Larabars make for a great pre-workout snack, allowing you to burn through the natural sugar during your sweat sesh. Dates do have quite a bit of natural sugar so they can satisfy that sweet tooth. Just don’t go overboard.

Native Deodorant
Deodorant companies pay laboratories to test the chemical ingredients on animals by exposing the animals to these caustic agents and seeing how the animals’ skin and eyes react. Not good, right? That’s why I swear by Native Deodorant. Admittedly, it can be hard for a natural/cruelty-free deodorant to stay strong during a workout but Native Deodorant keeps its promises. Free of aluminum, sulfates, and parabens, Native Deodorant never tests on animals. I love it because the fragrance is so refreshing, I want to somehow spread the it through my whole house. As mentioned, it also keeps working even after a long work out. Another thing I love about Native Deodorant (besides their commitment to never test on animals) is that you get a tiny mini deodorant when you order online. Perfect for your gym bag! They even offer free returns if you decide this isn’t the deodorant for you.

Pacifica Beauty Quinoa Sensitive Face Wash
I love the CAC’s showers. When I get up early for those 6am BODYPUMP classes, you better believe I’m walking on air after class all the way to the showers, but not before I grab my Pacifica Beauty face wash out of my gym bag. Pacifica Beauty is a very accessible cruelty free brand. It’s available at Target and reasonably priced.The packaging is eye catching and just...fun! This face wash is incredibly refreshing after a hard workout. It doesn’t leave your skin feeling papery or dry and it leaves no waxy residue on your face or hands. The gentle foam gives you full coverage clean. The light scent of the facewash isn’t overpowering. Instead, it’s subtle and sweet like smelling flowers. Since there are no harsh chemicals, it doesn’t sting your eyes. Can you tell how much I love this face wash? Please note, everyone’s skin is different and your skin might react differently to a new cleansing routine at first.

Bob’s Red Mill Pea Protein Powder
Put this in your gym bag AND your kitchen! Vegan protein powders are becoming more and more common but what makes Bob’s stand out is its availability. You can find this powder at your local grocery store instead of going to a specific supplement store or ordering it online. This vegan and gluten free pea protein is perfect for sprinkling on top of yogurt, mixing a dash into your water, blending it into a post-gym shake, or stirring it into your breakfast. Although it’s not branded specifically as a pre or post workout powder, this product is great when your body is craving some healthy fuel.

Burt’s Bees Towelettes
Let’s face it, sometimes you just don’t have time to jump in the shower. Do the next best thing and freshen up with Burt’s Bees Towelettes, specifically the cucumber scented ones. The cucumber will cool down your face after your gym session and take care of your skin by eliminating the sweat. Swap the sweat for a fragrant cooling “mask.” Makeup running? These wipes are also great for removing runaway mascara or eyeliner. Doctor up your makeup with these towelettes. The light fragrance stays with you when you leave the gym. You’ll be feeling great after your workout and smelling great thanks to these cruelty free products!

Katie is a long time fitness class attendant and has recently taken her love for group fitness to the next level by becoming an instructor. One of her favorite things is helping others feel empowered, strong, and successful inside and outside of the fitness studio. Outside of the gym, Katie loves to spend time and be goofy with her boyfriend and pets. If you want to feel empowered and strong, come pump it up with her in a BODYPUMP class at Lincoln Park Athletic Club in the new year!