Is working out a regular part of your day? Do you have questions about how to take care of your skin before and after workouts? Perhaps you want to keep breakouts to a minimum, lessen redness, or just ensure that your skin is nourished and healthy. No matter how frequently you exercise or what kind of workout you do, below are our top pre- and post-workout skincare suggestions to keep your skin calm, clear, and protected.
Pre-Workout Skincare Tips
Take Off Heavy Makeup
Since sweat, bacteria, and oil will have built up on your skin throughout your workout, washing your face after is more crucial than washing it before. I advise cleansing your face before working out, though, if you frequently use heavy makeup or a foundation with full coverage. Use a mild cleanser that won’t dry out your skin, like Sea Botanical Purifying Cleanser. Then use an alcohol-free toner and a mild, oil-free moisturizer immediately after cleansing.
Generally, eye makeup and lipstick are acceptable to wear while working out. The same is true for light facial makeup. If you’re using a tinted moisturizer, light foundation, or mineral powder, you might get away with only washing it after you’ve finished working out.
Use a Light Moisturizer
If your skin becomes red when working out, you should reconsider the moisturizer you use. Occlusive substances, such as oil, butter, and silicone, are frequently found in heavy moisturizers. They work to seal in moisture, but they can also trap heat, resulting in increased post-workout redness. The simplest solution is to replace your heavy moisturizer with something lighter. Skin Guardian™ SPF 25 Daily Moisturizer is an excellent choice.
Wear Sunscreen
Many people work outdoors, whether bicycling, hiking, or running. Even if you don’t work out outside, you’ll probably be exposed to light at some point. Sunscreen application is crucial before you go into that circumstances. Skin Guardian™ SPF 25 Daily Moisturizer will protect your skin from damaging UV rays and provide moisture to your skin to give it a glowing, healthier and smoother appearance. Apply it on your face and neck daily, at least 15 minutes before working out or going outdoors.
Mid-Workout Skincare Tips
Avoid Touching Your Face
This is basic yet essential advice. When working out, avoid touching your face, especially while using cardio or weightlifting equipment. These machines spread bacteria. When you touch them and subsequently touch your face, you may unwittingly spread bacteria and cause outbreaks. Try to keep this in mind when working out. After your workout, make sure to wash your hands.
Post-Workout Skincare Tips
Wash Your Face
After your workout, use a light facial cleanser to effectively remove oil, sweat, and bacteria from your face. For this purpose, I simply adore the Marine Guardian™ Balancing – One Step Cleanser, an all-in-one facial cleanser from Sea Active Skincare. This balancing cleanser also has anti-inflammatory properties to breakouts at bay. It’s free from sulfate, ethanolamine, perfume, paraben, and formaldehyde, like all products from Sea Active.
Avoid using a cleanser containing sodium or ammonium lauryl sulfate whenever you wash your face. These substances draw water from the skin’s cells, dehydrating it. Skin cells, like fish, require water to survive. You don’t want to dehydrate them.
Exfoliate
If you have time, exfoliate your skin before you moisturize to keep your skin looking fresh and radiant. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin that makes your skin look dull and dry. After working out at night is a great time to exfoliate your skin because it helps your skin to relax and rejuvenate. Use a gentle exfoliant like Illuminaire™ Enzyme Exfoliant-Mask to gently exfoliate your skin after cleansing your face and before applying your moisturizer.
Soothe Your Skin
If you’re prone to redness, it’s not uncommon to notice a lot of it in your skin after you work out. If this matches you, look for serums and moisturizers that contain calming components like seaweed, hyaluronic acid, and plant stem cells (as found in the BioGeniSeaTM Fucoidan Serum). These compounds will help relax the skin, reducing unsightly redness.
Moisturize and Protect Your Skin
After your skin has been calmed down and cleaned, give it moisture and UV protection. Always use a moisturizer designed for your particular skin type (if you’re unsure what kind you are, try a skin type test). Choose a moisturizer containing sunscreen if it’s still daylight and your skin will be exposed to the sun, like Skin Guardian™ SPF 25 Daily Moisturizer.
Pre and Post-Workout Skincare FAQs
Should I spritz face mist on my face after working out?
Make sure to use a moisturizer on top of any water-based spray you use on your skin after working out so the moisturizing components are locked in. Your skin will get tight and dry if you don’t use a moisturizer to replenish the moisture that has evaporated.
Should I skip the moisturizer if I cleanse my face before working out?
I never recommend keeping the skin naked after cleansing because it leads to dehydration. Apply a mild moisturizer to your skin to help it retain moisture. Use a mild moisturizer with sunscreen if you’re exercising outside.
Should I put on a headband, bandana, or helmet to keep my face from becoming wet?
If you are prone to breakouts, you should not wear hats, headbands, and bandanas. This is because they could result in a “backlog” of sweat and oil in the pores, which causes bumps and breakouts. Wear a hat, headband, or bandana farther back in your hairline rather than straight across your forehead if you must wear one.
Should I drink a lot of water when exercising to keep my skin hydrated?
Because sweating causes you to lose so much water, you must replenish it by drinking enough fluids before, during, and after a workout. However, research has found that drinking water is the least practical approach to keeping the skin hydrated. Skin hydration is influenced far more by what you apply topically than by what you consume within.
Takeaway
When you take a few proactive steps toward caring for your skin, workout time—whether you’re running on a treadmill or even just walking around—can be an opportunity to improve your appearance. Your skin will become stronger, and you’ll be better able to protect against unintentional blemishes caused by sweat and sunlight exposure. Exercise is also important for long-term health, so you’ll get double the benefits—and looking good while exercising is always a bonus!
For the best skincare products to help your skin stay healthy when working out, visit Sea Active Skincare’s website today!