Working out is an important part of life that should not be ignored. Workouts will give you the perfect glow you need to feel confident and improve your physical, emotional, and mental health.
However, breakouts will soon torment you if you do not take various measures to take care of your skin before and after your workout sessions. Some of the undesirable side effects of ignoring your pre and post-workout skin care include plugged oil glands, poor skin health, dryness, dull appearance, and acne, among others.
Therefore, it is very important to have a pre-workout and post workout skin care routine before you hit the gym and a post-exercise remedy to allow detox and rejuvenation.
Types of Pre-Workout Skin Care & Benefits
There are a few things to note before you head out for your regular workout sessions. These are mainly preparations that ensure you are refreshed and fit to hit the gym without compromising your skin’s health.
The two most important pre-workout skin care measures are makeup removal and moisturizing.
Makeup Removal
It is very important to remove all the foundation, makeup, mascara, and other products you applied in the day before you work out. Even if you use makeup to conceal a few imperfections of the skin, it is still advisable to free up your pores and allow the skin to breath. Workout will result in a lot of breathing and sweating, and you do not want your pores to be blocked during such intense activities.
What’s more, all the makeup will eventually come out leaving unsightly traces and lines. This is even more embarrassing since everyone will know you did not perform the basic pre-workout care needed. The benefits of removing all makeup include comfort, prevention of acne and breakouts, and improved breathing and perspiration.
Moisturize Your Skin
Exercises result in perspiration and evaporation which drain a lot of water from your skin, leaving you dehydrated. Skin dehydration can result in excess surface lines, premature death of skin cells, and increased aging. Moreover, the dying skin cells will quickly pile up and clog your pores. You can use a lightweight moisturizer to help your skin retain some of the water.
If you are going to exercise outdoors, choose very light (thin) moisturizers and a sunscreen. Dry skin is one of the top causes of skin ailments and outbreaks, and moisturizing your skin is a pre-workout practice you must never forget.
Types of Post-Workout Skin Care & Benefits
After finishing your workout, it is time to perform a cleanup and help your skin naturally rejuvenate its properties and benefit from the workout. Exercises take a toll on your entire body, including the sweat glands and skin cells. These post-workout skin care measures will protect your skin and keep you glowing.
Take a Shower
This is a no brainer. Your body will demand that you take a shower soon after a workout, otherwise you will be in great fatigue and discomfort. A refreshing warm water shower or bath is the perfect detox for your skin and removes all the sweat and dirt accumulated from sweating. Use moisturizing soap enriched with natural oils such as almond, honey, or cucumber to gently wash off all the perspiration.
Apply Some Baby Powder
To combat post-workout perspiration, apply some baby powder on your skin, especially on your back and chest areas which are more sensitive. This will absorb the excess moisture and oils from the skin’s surface and prevent you from perspiring continuously or developing breakouts.
Cleanse, Tone, and Moisturize Your Skin
This three-step routine will help you eliminate any chance of a breakout. Find products and formulas that suite your skin type. If you have oily skin, use oil-balancing soaps to cleanse your skin. You can find products that include lemon in the ingredient. The lemon acts like an astringent as it stops excessive secretion of oil.
If you have dry skin, use a hydrating wash with ingredients such as aloe vera or cucumber. Avoid alcohol astringents as they are known to strip off essential oil from your face and skin.
Rehydrate Your Skin
After taking a shower and cleansing your face, apply a new line of moisturizer to refresh your skin and seal in moisture. It is advisable to do this when your skin is still damp to prevent dirt from contacting your open skin. Choose light lotions to avoid clogging your pores. You can find lotions rich in aloe vera, cocoa butter, and winter cherry to gain the advantages of Vitamin E and protect your t-zones.
Consider a Weekly Facial
Weekly facials and steams can improve your skin health by opening pores and exfoliating dead cells. They also cleanse and moisturize the skin, leaving you clean, soft, and tender. You can use a 15 minute DIY facial mask for amazing results.
Top Products
Taking adequate pre and post workout skin care measures can help you prevent undesirable outbreaks and improve the positive impact of exercise on your skin. However, there is a huge risk involved in using skin care products especially since many options flood the market and it is quite overwhelming to pick one that can be trusted.
Identifying one particular brand as the best is obviously subjective and there are probably many top quality products available. Fortunately, reputable quality skin care options have numerous hallmarking characteristics you can use to distinguish them from the rest.
Important aspects to review include reputation, user comments and evaluations, ingredients used, and the retailer. Also make sure the given product is ideal for your skin type and has never been linked with any side effects.
Some of the popular recommendable moisturizers, lotions, and cleansers you can try out include the following:
- Garnier skinactive cleansing water and moisturizer
- Maybelline makeup remover
- Neutrogena skin moisturizer and makeup remover kit
Best Pre-Workout And Post-Workout Skin Care Final Words
Before using any skin care product, you should consult your cosmetologist or dermatologist, especially if you are prone to outbreaks or have overly sensitive skin. Stop using any product if you experience breakouts, irritation, or allergies.
It is recommended that you shop from reputable credible beauty stores that are licensed to provide original quality products within your area. Following these procedures will ensure your skin remains healthy and protected throughout all your workout sessions.
