Workouts may work wonders for your body by flushing out toxins and increasing blood flow to your cells. But if proper post workout skin care isn’t followed, you might end up with clogged pores, inflammation and a plethora of other skin conditions, including breakouts. “Post workout skin care??” you find yourself asking? Yes – and we’ll show you just how to do it to attain a healthy and radiant complexion.
Say no to exfoliation
Let’s get this out of the way early, shall we? NO aggression. This means avoiding using abrasive or itchy materials to wipe your skin, especially your face, and skipping exfoliation at all costs. Your skin is quite sensitive during the phase immediately following a workout. So care must be taken to not over-scrub it, so as to prevent further dehydration. In short, be as gentle as possible.
Proper cleansing
This is the most important step of your post workout skin regimen. Ideally, you should cleanse your skin within an hour of finishing your workout. Try to avoid using makeup altogether before hitting the gym. But if you must, then go for double cleansing afterword, using micellar water or makeup removing wipes, followed by a gentle cleanser.
By taking the double cleansing route, you’re ensuring that every last bit of makeup, sweat, dirt and sebum is extracted. For men and women prone to acne, this step is absolutely critical, so that the condition doesn’t exacerbate.
Hydration boost
Workouts can leech away a LOT of moisture from your skin, which is why it’s essential to give yourself a moisture kick. After cleansing, slather on an oil free moisturizer to nourish and replenish your skin and kiss that early onset of wrinkles goodbye. Don’t forget your eyes, either!
Follow up with a hydrating eye lift cream to prevent puffiness and brighten the eye area.
The redness-fix
If you suffer from excessive redness after your workout, a quick fix is to rub a small ice cube over it. To further calm your skin and add a touch of that oh-so-ethereal glow, opt for a soothing serum, rich in antioxidants and active epidermal growth ingredients.
Post workout smoothie
It’s no mystery that proper diet and supplements are important in maintaining a healthy body and skin. Post workout smoothie, anyone? Just add some collagen peptide supplements to your drink and drink up. Now, you can keep your muscles firm, and your skin plump – a perfect combo, if you ask us!
Water it up
Yes, yes, we know it’s a cliché, but it wouldn’t have been stressed if it wasn’t an indispensable part of the post workout glow. Drink lots of water intermittently, to cool down your body and replace all the moisture loss you suffer during the heavy lifting.
Remember, that healthy skin is as important as a healthy body, and that includes areas other than just your face! Always follow up with a quick hair and body wash, post gym, so that you can cleanse every pore on your body. Goodbye double B’s (bacteria and buildup), hello Zen mode!
