The 5 best gym kit essentials: From face wash to shampoo bars

A separate wash bag kept with your gym kit means you'll never be stuck resorting to hand wash in the shower or hand cream on your face

Shampoo bar in Jumping Juniper, £5.95, lush.co.uk ( )

Often it's not that easy to slot exercise into your regular routine: the workout itself might only take 30 minutes, but factor in getting to and from the gym as well as changing, and you could be closer to a couple of hours. I think that's why so many of us feel that we simply don't have time to exercise, but it just means that you need to think about things a bit differently.

If you can bear the pre-dawn darkness, a morning workout can be convenient as you'll (probably) be showering at that time anyway, and you can wear your gym clothes there. But it does take some planning – a separate wash bag kept with your gym kit means you'll never be stuck resorting to their hand wash in the shower or hand cream on your face. Buying in bulk is good value, but carrying that extra weight all day could be just the excuse you need to slack off. Instead, stock up on compact, multi-tasking and time- saving products – or decant your favourites into travel-size bottles.

OI all in one milk

£17.95, davines.com

Making sure hair is clean of conditioner can take ages and this no-rinse treatment will save plenty of time. It will make combing out tangles much easier when applied to towel-dried hair.

Neutrogena

£4.49, Neutrogena, boots.com

If you are prone to break-outs and blemishes, don't be put off from working up a sweat – a gentle but effective face wash will leave your skin clean without irritating it further.

Shampoo bar in Jumping Juniper

£5.95, lush.co.uk

Some people can spritz a bit of dry shampoo and go, but I get too sweaty. Lush's solid shampoos are nicely portable, and juniper and citrus provide a great deep clean.

Normaderm 3in1

£12, vichy.co.uk

Red-faced and shiny isn't the best way to go about your day.This mask will help decongest your skin, leaving it pleasingly matte. It can also be an exfoliating scrub.

In shower body moisturiser for dry skin

£3.69, Nivea, boots.com

Not comfortable with being naked in the changing room? Don't tangle yourself in a towel trying to keep covered up – use this in the shower and you can get dried and dressed straightaway.