Fresh, fast & FABULOUS!

Want your skin to look great while you work out? Fitness idol Kirsty shares her expert tips

Lean, mean, homegrown fitness queen Kirsty Godso is now based in New York, working from the famed Equinox Gym and as a NikeMaster Trainer. With 128k Instagram followers, the exercise guru is inspiring us to reach our goals one burpee at a time.

Now she has been named international ambassador for CliniqueFit, a new skincare and make-up range designed for active women. Launching the collection in her native Auckland, she chatted to us about beauty, exercise and NYC.

Kirsty, you’re up at 5am and out the door for back-to-back classes, working until 8pm. Tell us about your beauty regime.

It’s express, low-maintenance but high-performance. I’m not coming home for a long time and I don’t want to be taking the time to be touching up during the day. With the type of job I do, you don’t want to go in looking overdone with make-up, but you want to look presentable and fresh. I never used to use foundation, just a tinted moisturiser, but the Workout Makeup is super-light and stays on all day. I use an oil as a base for glow, then apply the foundation – you just need the tiniest amount. I put on mascara, brush my brows, then add a little bronzer or a highlight just so I look fresh.

What do you love about the CliniqueFit range?

I love that it’s a make-up range made for working out. There’s nothing worse than when you go into the gym and people look totally overdone. You’re coming into the gym to sweat!

What’s your favourite product?

I’m obsessed with the Workout 24-Hour Mascara – that’s my hero piece of the collection. It seriously stays on all day.

Why do you think it’s important to feel and look your best when working out?

For a start, there are mirrors everywhere in gyms! We’re trying to make people feel more confident about themselves, so it’s great if a bit of stuff on their skin is going to make them feel better and focus more on their workout, instead of thinking, “Oh, my God, I look terrible.” It gives that little bit of “body armour”.

How does exercise help skin?

You’re sweating, so it cleans you out. You’re getting the blood moving around your body and getting your pores to open up.

Do you have regular beauty treatments?

My beauty treatments are acupuncture and massage – it’s more for my body. I’d rather go sit in an infra-red sauna or go to yoga than get a facial. My main concern is how I can get my body operating from the inside out, then that shows up on my skin.

What’s the best beauty advice you’ve ever received?

Brush your brows and have a smile! My mum doesn’t wear much make-up, but I recall her using the Clinique 3-step skincare system when I was growing up.

What’s your signature scent?

Comme des Garçon BlackPepper or White. Or Maison Louis Marie No. 3 from a beautiful homeware store in New York called The Line. It’s an oil and stays on well. When you’re working out, you don’t want to smell too intense.

What do you miss about New Zealand?

The food and coffee. The quiet. I FaceTime my cat! I like how Kiwis are chill, easy-going and humble. I’m so proud of New Zealand!

What do you love about NYC?

The energy. It’s the epicentre of wellness. Everything is really starting there – there’s so much opportunity. You can say, “I have this crazy idea,” and someone will say, “Cool, let’s do it,” and get behind you to make something happen. It’s taught me patience and to get over stuff, not take things personally and just keep moving forward.

What’s your advice to women who don’t exercise and know they should, but don’t know where to begin?

Start somewhere! Don’t delay, procrastinate or make an excuse. If you’ve got five minutes and a body length of space, legs that work and a heart that functions, let’s go! Don’t expect to kill it on your first time – be in it for the journey and process. Don’t train for a bikini – train for everything! Train to feel good in your body and be grateful for your body.