Working up a sweat at the gym is not only good for strong muscles and improved mood, but it can also do wonders for your skin. Regular physical activity not only helps you to sweat the toxins and bacteria from your system, but it reduces levels of stress, decreases inflammation, and improves your sleep pattern which is beneficial for healthy skin. Be that as it may, not including post workout skincare into your routine could cause more harm than good.
After you’re done working out for the day, it is important to tend to your skin before continuing on with your day. Below, are a few tips to looking your best after a great workout:
Don’t Touch Your Face
As tempting as it might be to swipe your hand across your brow to remove sweat, touching your face is the worst thing you can do. Your skin is especially sensitive after a workout and you’ve been exposed to germs, dirt, and bacteria from all the exercise equipment at the gym. Putting your hands on your face can actually cause you breakout.
Get Out of Those Clothes
Those yoga pants and tank tops might look great but after working out you want to get out of them right away. These tight-fitting clothes are harboring sweat, bacteria, and other toxins in them and it’s constantly in contact with your skin. This increases the chances of the pores getting clogged. So, be sure you have a change of clothes with you to change in to.
Wash Your Face (But Be Gentle)
Washing your face as part of your post workout skincare is ideal to rinse off the gunk. Be that as it may, you don’t want to make the mistake of scrubbing too hard. Your skin is already flush and sensitive from working out and is, therefore, prone to scarring and abrasions. Gently wash your face with mild soap and some water or, if you bought it with you, use skincare for oily skin like cleansers and moisturizers to reduce the chance of a breakout. If the gym doesn’t have the best restrooms or you were working out in a park or other location with no running water, having some facial wipes on hand can remove the surface dirt and sweat until you’re able to get home and clean more thoroughly.
Take a Thorough Shower
Take advantage of the gym showers while you’re there. Remember, the longer you keep those sweaty clothes on the higher the chances are that your skin breaks out. So, using a deep cleaning shower gel, lather up really good and rinse away all that sweat, bacteria, and dirt.
Moisturize
You might think you don’t need lotion after working out but that’s far from the truth. This is especially true when you’ve participated in high impact activities that cause you to break a sweat. The more you sweat, the more moisture your body loses which can cause the skin to become dry and flaky. Replenish your moisture by lotioning up from head to toe.
Go Easy on the Makeup
Wearing makeup while you’re working out is one of the worst things you can do, but if you want to touch up your appearance after working up a sweat, just don’t overdo it. Your skin is so sensitive and flush right now and your pores are exposed so it is best to keep it simple to avoid scarring, abrasions, or clogged pores. A fresh face with a bit of tinted gloss is really all you need to look amazing as you leave the gym.
Hydrate
Drinking water before and during a good workout is recommended. Yet, as explained before, when you’re sweating, your body is losing a lot of moisture. The only way to replenish it from the inside out is to consume enough water. Refill that water bottle and drink up on your ride home.
Whether you work out at home or the gym, getting a work out is great for your skin (and overall health). If you’re going to reap those benefits, however, it’s extremely important to make sure you take the extra precautions to care for your skin immediately following your workout. Following the above-mentioned post workout skincare steps will ensure that you look just as good on the outside as you feel inside.
