Your guide to post-exercise skincare
Keeping active is incredibly important for both our physical and mental health. Exercise can also work wonders for our complexion, helping us to fight stress and premature ageing. High intensity workouts have been shown to minimise signs of premature ageing. But we all know that the more you start to sweat, the more important it is to nail your skincare. Not cleansing properly after sport can lead to acne, build up, and dull looking skin. You can cleanse your skin after sport using innovative skincare solutions like these
So how exactly should you be taking care of your skin when exercising regularly?
Avoid touching your face
Touching your face is never a good idea, but after working out it can become even more detrimental to your skin. Touching your skin can spread dirt, oil, and acne causing bacteria. If you are working out at the gym, you will likely be touching a variety of equipment and weights, which can harbour nasty bacteria from other users. This bacteria will be on top of the sweat and dirt likely already on your hands. Many of us get in the habit of constantly touching our face, which could be leading to acne and other skin concerns. Make a principle of washing your hands before touching your face after a workout.
Remove makeup
While it may be tempting to wear makeup to workout, particularly if you are seeing people you know, it can have a negative effect on your skin. When you workout your pores open, and if you are already wearing makeup, the build up and dirt on your face can soak into your pores. By removing makeup and build up from the day before you workout, you can avoid clogging your pores.
Put your hair up
Long hair can hold a lot of natural oils, as well as any styling products that you’ve used. These can transfer to your face. When your pores are opened during a workout they can become clogged by these oils. Tying long hair up can help to avoid skin concerns during working out.
Use a clean towel
If you are often finding you need to wipe sweat away from your face, using an old jumper or your t-shirt can lead to acne and build up of bacteria. Using a clean towel to wipe your face can help to avoid these concerns. Remember to pat gently to avoid causing irritation.
Cleanse properly
One of the simplest ways to avoid skin concerns when working out is to make a principle of cleansing properly when you finish working out. Using a cleanser with salicylic acid can help to properly kill the bacteria that causes acne. Using a skincare device to cleanse can also help to properly remove excess oil and acne-causing bacteria.
Avoid exfoliation
It can be tempting to think about exfoliating after a workout, to help mitigate the build up of dead skin cells and bacteria. Exfoliation can help to reveal a new layer of glowing skin. However, it is important to be careful exfoliating after a workout, where your skin can be more sensitive and likely to become irritated. This is because exercise heats up your body and leaves your pores open, making them vulnerable to irritation. While it is important to cleanse your skin after a workout, exfoliating is something that it is probably best to avoid.
References:
https://www.pandiahealth.com/blog/workout-acne/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-beauty/skin-care-musts-before-after-your-workout/
