Skincare

Home Workout?- Skincare Dos and Don’ts when working out.

Workout Skincare
17
Aug
Trying to stay fit and motivated to exercise in lockdown? It’s well known that working out is beneficial for both our mental and physical health.
But what about your skin? Is working out not working for your skin?
Pre Workout:
  • Always wash your face prior to a workout and sorry, makeup wipes definitely don’t count!
  • Washing your face before a workout is more important than washing your face after a workout, especially if you work out at the end of the day. At the end of the day there’s dirt, oil, bacteria, pollution, skincare and makeup in the mix already, and when you combine that with sweat it increases the risk of getting clogged pores and breakouts.
  • If you’re about to workout, it’s best to do so with a clean, makeup-free face. As your body heats up during a workout, your pores open and you definitely don’t want all the surface grime to settle into your pores.
  • Apply only a light moisturiser or serum prior to a workout, and don’t forget your SPF if you are exercising outside.
During your Workout:
  • Don’t touch your face! That’s not just a Covid rule, its important all the time.
  • Use a clean towel if you need to blot your sweat, definitely don’t use your dirty hands or your sweaty t-shirt
  • Keep your hair off your face. If you have longer hair,  it’s best to keep it pulled back and away from your face during a workout. This helps prevent oils (not to mention any hair products you used that day) from also clogging your pores, which can contribute to breakouts
Post Workout:
  • Try and shower immediately after your work out and change out of your sweaty clothes. Sweat can trigger skin irritation, dehydration and acne
  • It’s very important to clean skin gently following a workout to remove bacteria and sweat residue that accumulated during your workout.
  • It’s also helpful to cool off skin to prevent breaking of blood vessels and return skin temperature to a normal level quicker, even a quick splash of cool water post-workout is good practice
  • Drink plenty of water to make up for the water lost through sweating.
  • Reapply your skincare and don’t forget your sunscreen.

Felicity West, Registered Nurse.