Exercising is one of the most important steps to a healthy body and mind. Not only does working out make you feel refreshed, energized, and looking great, but getting your heart pumping on a regular basis can help you make your skin look better than ever.
With that said, though, going to the gym can sometimes feel less than glamorous. I mean, you get sweaty and you’re basically sharing equipment with hundreds of other people every day. These two key aspects of going for a workout can pretty much result in havoc when it comes to your skin.
But, that doesn’t mean that you should avoid the gym altogether. In fact, a good workout has so many more pros than cons, it’s just a matter of following a few key steps and creating good habits in order to feel and look as great as you deserve to after putting in all that effort!
Skincare Tips for Before & After a Workout
Go makeup-free or opt for something light
If possible, avoid wearing makeup altogether when going to the gym. As your body starts to heat up, you’ll pores will open up, and you don’t want all that foundation clogging them up. A makeup-free face is your best friend when at the gym!
That said, I can totally understand that some of you might not feel comfortable going completely bare. Even though I tend to encourage my clients to avoid makeup (my mantra is: healthy skin is better than any foundation!), I know this doesn’t work for everyone. If you absolutely must wear makeup, keep it light and look for products that won’t clog your pores up (non-comedogenic). Moreover, make sure you wash your face thoroughly after your workout. Yep, even if that means washing and then having to re-apply.
Another tip is to use tinted moisturizer or SPF to give your face a little color and make you look gorgeous without using too many products. I find that just a bit of tint can do wonders for everyone without the need to use anything else. If you go this route, Revision’s Intellishade is one of your best bets (plus, it comes with anti-aging benefits!)
Revision Intellishade ®
Award-winning formula that leaves a healthy, natural glow. Anti-aging daily moisturizer intelligently designed to deliver the power of 5 anti-aging products in 1. Helps to correct, protect, conceal, brighten and hydrate skin to deliver clinically-proven results. This 5-in-1 moisturizer features over 20 age-defying ingredients, broad-spectrum SPF45 protection plus a universal tint for an instant glow.
Don’t touch your face
The gym is not exactly the cleanest place to be in. I mean, hundreds of sweaty people use the same machines you’re using on a daily basis, which, simply put, is honestly kinda gross.
Here’s a not-so-fun fact: The average person touches their face around 2000 times a day. Even the machines are cleaned regularly, you’ll want to do two things to keep those germs away from your beautiful skin:
1) Bring disinfecting wipes to clean every machine before you use it (it’s also polite to clean if after you finish your workout)
and
2) Avoid touching your face at all costs
Wear SPF
Yes, yes, yes. Here I am talking about SPF just like I do on every blog post! But seriously, even if your gym is located indoors, chances are UV rays still get in… eek! Since you’ll be sweating, you want your pores to stay clear, so I recommend using a very light SPF like Revision Intellishade to ensure your skin doesn’t get too clogged and result in a breakout.
Use toner pads to clean your face regularly
Speaking of gross gym gems and not touching your face, I totally understand it might be impossible to not do, especially because we tend to touch our face unconsciously. Toner pads are your best friends here. Yes, you should definitely try your hardest not to touch your face at all, but just in case, pack a few toner pads in your gym bag and wipe your face down the second you’re done with your workout.
Post-Gym Skincare
Use chamomile to reduce redness
If you’re prone to redness after working out, use chamomile-infused products after your post-gym shower to reduce that. You don’t need to do it regularly, but it’s a particularly handy tip if you go to the gym in the morning right before work or if you have a dinner date scheduled right after!
Splash your face with cold water
Another great tip to reduce redness immediately is to splash your face with cold water right after your workout. Cold water will tighten your pores and shrink blood vessels, so it’s bound to work pretty much immediately.
Cleanse
Use a gentle cleanser to get rid of sweat and bacteria right after you’re done working out. Revision Papaya enzyme cleanser is a great choice for a post-workout cleaner because it gently removes dead skin cells while nourishing your skin with the right vitamins.
Revision Papaya enzyme cleanser
Papaya Fruit Extract lifts away impurities, gently polishes away dead skin cells, and nourishes skin with vitamins and minerals. Leaves all skin types feeling soft, clean and moisture-balanced. The Papaya Fruit Extract contains Papain, an enzyme that gently exfoliates for naturally vibrant skin.