Oh the joy of feeling sweat drop from the tip of your nose post workout because you gave your all in a workout! Everyone and their momma knows how great exercise is for the body, but what about its possible effects on the skin... especially the face.
I'm no licensed dermatologist or anything; I'm just speaking from personal experience. So - lets talk about this. I read somewhere that sweating helps remove toxins from the pores. Riddle me this though, if I don't wash my face properly what happens to the toxins? I certainly don't want all that bacteria having a dance party on my face or body. That being said, it's important to wash away any bacteria/toxins that may have built up while you were exercising. To add, let's not forget that you should rehydrate your skin; I mean you did sweat after all. If you don't properly cleanse & replenish your skin, it can lead to dry skin and even premature aging (WHAT?!?). We don't want any of those problems! Therefore, I want to share with you some of the steps and products I use post workout to keep my skin as healthy as possible.
Now, I'm not a makeup girlie so my skincare routine is simple for a girl that has dry, sensitive skin (at least to me). However, you should create a routine that suits your skin type and your schedule. My essentials include:
- Cotton Balls or Pad (optional)
- Micellar Water (optional)
- Face Wash/Cleanser
- Toner
- Serum (optional)
- Moisturizer + SPF
- Lip Balm
- Bar Soap/Body Wash
- Body Lotion
- Baby Oil
- Body Oil for Stretch Marks (optional for my mothers out there)
First things first... let's talk the face. Washing the face every day is a must, but you should definitely do so after every workout. Even though all those toxins are released, sweat and dirt like to buildup in the pores. So, remember that the longer that mix of sweat and bacteria sits on your face, the more likely it is to clog your pores which is why I like to start out by using micellar water to "pre-clean" my skin. Micellar water doesn’t contain alcohol, so it won’t dry out your skin. However, if you have oily skin, it may not work for you.
It's best to choose a gentle cleanser to avoid irritating your face. I recommend CeraVe hydrating cleanser. However, just in case bacteria tries to hide out because I somehow missed a spot, I follow-up with Thayers Witch Hazel Toner as toner removes dirt or bacteria that your cleanser may have left behind. After a deep cleaning, you have to ensure moisturize and nourish your skin. To help with hydration and resilience against pollutants, I use a hyaluronic acid serum. This is optional, but it works for me. It may work for you to so I wanted to mention it.
The time of day you workout does impact your skincare routine. For my moisturizing lotion, I have an morning version and a night version. In the morning/daytime, you want to ensure you are using a moisturizer than includes SPF to protect your skin from the sun. At night, this is unnecessary and you would likely want something more lightweight. For these purposes, I recommend the CeraVe Day & Night Face Lotion Skin Care Set. And, to complete the face, I always end with lip balm, but your lips need love too.
Now let's talk full body. It's normally a good idea to take a cool shower after your workout because the cool water helps reduce inflammation. Soreness after a workout is definitely a love/hate relationship so do what you can to love the relationship more than hate it. You should also consider using a moisturizing body wash. If your skin feels tight after washing with a normal bar of soap or body wash, your skin likely needs more moisture. I personally prefer the Dove sensitive skin bar soap or the Dove Deep Moisture body wash. I've found these products doesn't dry out my skin. This next part is for my mothers out there. I normally put my stretch mark body oil on my belly when I first get out of the shower. I, like many others, have stretch marks due to pregnancy and they are finally fading thanks to Bio-Oil! Now, we can't forget about the rest of our body. For me, I've found that after pregnancy, my skin becomes super dry. To try to ensure it gets properly moisturized, I use both baby oil and moisturizing lotion, but you do you boo. However, you should check out Cetaphil Body Lotion. Once I used this, I never went to anything else! Don't feel like you have to use what I use. Just find what works best for you! Just ensure the following steps are followed in your skincare routine:
- Cleanse
- Moisturize / Hydrate
- Daytime - Apply SPF
Keep Pushing!
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