Best Body Products for Runners (Elite-Athlete Approved!)

On February 16, 2013, Alysia Montaño came cruising around the final curve at New York City’s Millrose Games to clock a finish time of 1:23.59 in the 600 meters, a new indoor American record. It took countless sweat sessions for Montaño to climb that podium—and just as many wash-ups. “I work out two or three times a day, so I’m constantly in the shower,” she says.

Since we’re always on the hunt for the best way to get clean post-run, we thought, who better to ask than the ultimate product testers? Elite athletes, after all, have taken more showers before the age of 30 than most of us take over the course of our entire lives. Five pros shared their fave cleansers—and top tricks for feeling fresh while training hard. You’ll be surprised at which scrubs are used by more than one Olympian!

Kate Grace

First place fi nisher at the USA One Mile Road Championships this year, Grace, a Yale alumna, has her sights set on Rio in 2014.

Favorite Soap…“Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap in lavender smells great and is made with all the good stuff. But truthfully, the reason I am forever loyal is it helps prevent yeast infections. Not a fun topic, but a reality for anyone who is often in sweaty clothes.” $17 for 32 oz., drbronner.com

Favorite Face Wash…“I have combination skin and GlyMed Plus Mega-Purifying Cleanser is the first face wash I’ve found that cleans while adding moisture without the gunky residue.” $6, ulta.com

Favorite Exfoliant…“I add a dollop of St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub to my cleanser after runs and at night. It keeps things constantly buffed and brighter.” $34, ulta.com

Alysia Montaño

This middle-distance runner and multiple-time national champ runs every race with a fl ower in her hair.

Favorite Soap…“My husband and I have tried so many soaps and our favorite is Kiss My Face Olive Oil Bar Soap. I like bars because they last longer (store them away from the shower head!) and the lavender scent is so calming. I feel like Dorothy in the field of poppies.” $4, drugstore.com

Favorite Face Wash…“I use two cleansers. The first is Yes to Cucumbers Daily Gel Cleanser. It’s a really gentle cleanser which is important when you wash a billion times a day— the last thing you want to do is walk out with a rashy-looking face! Three times a week, I use St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub. It’s 100-percent natural and paraben-free.” $10, yestocarrots.com

Favorite Lotion…“I’m dark-skinned, so I’m used to lotioning after anything that has to do with moisture. I love Nivea Original Moisture. Plus, you can get it in little travel discs, which is awesome.” $40, perlier.com

Brenda Martinez

Cali girl Martinez clocked the fastest 1,500-meter time in the world in April at the 55th Annual Mt. SAC Relays.

Favorite Soap…“I use my husband’s Old Spice Pure Sport. I love that strong, manly smell on him and I love it on me, too.” $5, drugstore.com

Favorite Face Wash…“My cleanser of choice is St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub because it’s really good on sensitive skin and I feel that the micro-beads do a good job of keeping my face clean. I wash after any run or workout.” $6, ulta.com

Favorite Clarifier…“Once I clean my face, I use Clinique’s Clarifying Lotion 1 to keep my skin clean and clear without drying it out. It’s an amazing product.” $13, sephora.com

Amy Hastings

After a heartbreaking fourth-place finish at the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials (one spot from qualifying for the team), Hastings rallied and earned her ticket to London by winning the 10,000 meters at the track trials later that year.

Favorite Soap…“I love Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Magic Soap. It is extremely refreshing and the peppermint will cool you off after a hot summer run.”$17 for 32 oz., drbronner.com

Favorite Face Wash…“My cleanser of choice is Neutrogena Deep Clean Invigorating Foaming Scrub—the long name really says it all! I wear a lot of sunscreen and I sweat a ton so it does a great job of removing residue.” $7, neutrogena.com

Favorite Lotion…“I like to use Perlier Shea Butter Intensive Nurturing Body Balm on my feet to soften up my calluses. Feet work hard and deserve to be pampered, and this does the trick!” $40, perlier.com

Sara Hall

When this 2012 U.S. Cross Country Champion isn’t running (or showering), she’s working on the Hall Steps Foundation, a nonprofit she founded with her husband, pro marathoner Ryan Hall.

Favorite Soap…“I actually use CitriSafe Bio-Balancing Shampoo all over my body. It helps kill environmental allergens like mold and dander yet is gentle on skin.” $18, citrisafecertified.com

Favorite Face Wash…“I like CitriSafe Apple Delight Cleanser because it doesn’t contain any harsh detergents and I have pretty sensitive skin. It lathers nicely and feels fresh.” $22, citrisafecertified.com

Favorite Toner…“I like fi nding products that use natural ingredients like CitriSafe Antioxidant Toner which contains hazelnut extract to remove impurities from pores.” $20, citrisafecertified.com