Going to the gym isn’t all about looking glamorous. However, that doesn’t mean that we want it to affect our appearance too negatively. All that sweat can cause some problems for the skin, dehydrating it, clogging the pores, and leading to things like dry skin breakouts and problems with acne and other skin conditions. As such, here’s how to make sure you give your skin the care it needs pre and post-workout.
Stay hydrated no matter what
There’s nothing more important to your workout performance than making sure that you’re well hydrated. Aside from keeping your body working as it should, it also matters a great deal to your skin. Your body heats up when you work out and without the proper hydration, it can lead your skin to try out, which then leads to the signs of aging appearing much more easily, not to mention issues with dry skin such as flaking and rashes if you have that skin type. Whether or not you choose water or sports drinks is up to you, they’re both effective at helping to hydrate your skin, but the additional electrolytes in the latter are often preferred for athletic performance.
Get that sunscreen on
If you’re working out in the sunshine, then do not forget to apply some sunscreen before you start sweating. This applies even when you’re not working out in the outdoors. If your gym or workout area lets in even a little sunlight, then your skin can be a lot more vulnerable when you’re sweating away and the skin is already heated. As such, make sure that you’re investing in an SPF 30 minimum, full-spectrum sunscreen. You should make sure that you’re looking specifically for sweat-proof sunscreen, as well, as some can get washed away as you perspire. Make sure to apply it to every part of the body that’s exposed, including the face, neck, arms, legs, and wherever else you need to.
Wear the right gear
Taking care of your skin isn’t just about what you make sure you put on or in it, it’s also about making sure you’re not causing any additional problems for it. You want to make sure that you’re choosing your workout clothes carefully. Baggy clothes that shift too easily aren’t going to be comfortable when you’re sweating, and all the friction can lead to rashes and breakouts. However, if you’re looking at workout clothes, don’t be fooled by appearance alone. Leggings and tight tops can trap oil and dead skin, leading to breakouts, especially if there’s plenty of sweat. Make sure your gym clothes are breathable, more important than sweat-wicking, as highlighted at Activewearx. Get out of those clothes as soon as you can following your workout, even if it’s tempting to sit and breathe for ten to fifteen minutes, first.
Forget the makeup
You might want to look your best headed into the gym, but it’s usually a better idea to keep your face clear of any make-up. While you’re working out, you’re going to start sweating, which opens up the pores. However, any form of dirt or debris on those pores can clog them up, which can lead to issues with breakouts and the like. This applies to your makeup just as much as anything like dead skin or oils. Make sure that your skin is able to breathe by avoiding having makeup on your face while you’re working out. The easiest way to do this is simply not to apply makeup for the day until after the gym session, but using a cleanser before hitting the gym works, too.
Moisturize before you get sweaty
Moisturizing your skin not only locks in water to help keep your skin hydrated. It also soothes the skin of the issues that can be stirred up by the heat and sweat of a workout, such as redness and itchiness that many of us call a gym rash. This redness is temporary, but moisturizing can help it calm down a little sooner. Similarly, if you have rosacea, then moisturizing your skin before and after the workout can help you reduce your chances of a breakout. This is due to both the cooling effects and the anti-inflammatory nature of good moisturizers like those from Synergie Skin. Water-based moisturizers are the best to use if your skin is a little sensitive and can help it cool down a lot more quickly.
Don’t scrub up for a morning workout
When you work out determines a few things, such as whether or not you should wash your skin before you get sweaty. If you’re working out first thing in the morning, then you don’t need to do much in the way of cleansing except for using some water and a light, sensitive soap. When you wake up, your skin is already mostly clean. If it feels excessively oily, that’s an exception. However, if you wash too much, then your skin is going to get irritated. If your skin is prone to issues like rosacea or acne, then you’re more likely to see a breakout, even more so if you’re getting all sweaty.
But do lather up if you’re working out in the evening
However, if you’re working out in the evening, rather than in the morning, then it is important to take the time to cleanse it all with a good gentle face wash. As mentioned, working out will open up your pores, and they can get clogged by any dirt or debris on your face. Washing your face too often is a concern at any point of the day, so gentle is the keyword here. Washes that use ingredients like salicylic acid can be especially effective at removing things like dead skin and sebum, which are two of the things more likely to start clogging your pores during a gym session. Pro-biotic face washes can good for those who experience issues like acne, as well.
A double cleanse is essential after working out
One of the reasons that you don’t want to wash too hard before your workout is that you’re going to want to cleanse yourself following the workout, as well. In fact, many dermatologists will recommend that you opt for a double cleanse after you work out. This means that you first make use of a good oil cleanser that can wash away the oils, sweat, and sunscreen that’s currently on your skin. After that, you make use of a gel or foam face wash (again, with salicylic acid if you can find out) to break down dead skin and give you a deep clean. However, you should avoid scrubbing your skin since it’s going to be especially delicate after your workout.
Focus on the face and hands post-workout
If you don’t have the time to take a full shower after your workout, then you should at least try to wash a few of the most crucial parts until you’re able to be more thorough. Washing the face is crucial since this is where most of the oils are likely to build up during the day. However, you should also consider using products like an Aesop hand wash to stop your hands from trapping dirt and clogging up pores. After all, your hands are one of the parts of your body most likely to start showing the signs of aging first.
Source – CC0 License
Keep your face hands-free while working out
As mentioned, your skin is delicate before and after a workout. This is most true of your face and especially the “T-Zone.” The pores here are going to open up and the sweat that comes out can be great for detoxifying your skin, but you want to make sure that you’re not touching it with your hands. Our hands are naturally some of the most bacteria-ridden parts of the body, especially when we’re touching gym equipment with them. If you touch your face with this bacteria, it can clog pores and cause breakouts, something you want to avoid. To keep your hair out of your face, make sure that you tie it up. If you need to wipe sweat from your face, keeping a soft towel nearby.
Let your skin cool down
It’s not just the sweat, dead skin, and oils that can cause problems with your skin after a workout. The heat itself can be pretty harmful if not managed right. When your skin gets that much hotter, it can limit its capacity to restore itself. After all, UV protection is, in large part, protection against heat. However, cooling your face down doesn’t need to be too complicated. Simply avoid using hot water to wash your face Instead, you can cooling it with cold water or a nice water-based moisturizer. If you have a cooling mask at home, then that can work just as well.
With the tips above, hopefully, you can make sure that your skin doesn’t take too much of a beating from your gym sessions.
