- The Common Ground
The Best Skincare Routine for Active Women
Updated: Mar 24, 2021
FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO GET THEIR SWEAT ON - THIS POST IS FOR YOU!
We all know that working out is great for our cardiovascular health, tones our muscles and clears our minds, but did you know it can also help to improve the health and appearance of our skin?
Working up a sweat is amazing for your skin but only if you get your pre and post-workout skincare right! If you want to avoid breakouts, congestion, and irritation after hitting the gym, here is our ultimate skincare routine to ensure your skin brings its A-game every time.
Read on and take a look at our top skin care tips to help keep your skin glowing and healthy even after you sweat.
Pre-Workout
Remove your makeup
Rule number one of working out is to remove all your makeup - Just doing this alone is a great way to start ensuring your skin looks better at the end of a workout. Once you start to sweat, any makeup, dirt, and oil that’s already on your face will only get pushed deeper into your pores and stay trapped inside. This will form blackheads, whiteheads and will eventually result in breakouts!
To avoid this, simply wash your face with a gentle cleanser prior to your workouts. You may do a quick wipe with micellar water on a cotton pad or splash your face with a little water. It’s important that your skin is clean, so if you feel like your skin needs it, do a gentle cleanse preferably with a milk or gel cleanser.
Keep Your Hair Pulled Back
Save your skin and keep your hair pulled back, especially if you are prone to having spots on your forehead and around your hairline. Otherwise, any products that you use in your hair can end up on your face, causing irritation. Not to mention trapping sweat, dirt, and oil on your skin.
Actives that work
Just because you’re working out, doesn’t mean your skin shouldn’t receive extra loving care. A lightweight, hydrating and protective formula, like a Vitamin C serum, or an antioxidant-rich gel moisturizer helps to protect our skin from free radicals that attack during workouts. Avoid anything heavy, that makes you feel uncomfortable during that strenuous workout.
Apply a Strong SPF
We can’t emphasize this point enough: Sunscreen is the best anti-aging cream there is. If you love the outdoors, make sure you’re using a strong SPF, rain or shine. While most people assume wrinkles just come with age, they are actually signs of damage from the sun. Not only does sun damage speed up the aging process, but as we all know, it can cause skin cancer.
So to keep your skin young, healthy and fresh, slather on plenty of broad-spectrum SPF and don’t forget a little lip balm to keep your lips moist and soft.
Pack Some Toner Pads
Toning pads are a great way to get rid of excess dirt and oil - they contain active ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid. These toning pads are also great for wiping down the front and back of your neck and chest. If you have highly sensitive skin, it’s always safer to ask a dermatologist for recommendations.
Post-Workout
Cool Down
It’s common for your skin to become flushed and red from the heat post-workout. Right after working out, we recommend splashing your face with cold water to reduce puffiness. A hydrating face spray is also a great way to cool down.
Cleanse
If you’ve washed your skin before your workout, use a gentle water-based cleanser to get rid of excess sweat and bacteria.
Finish cleansing by splashing your face with cool water - this helps to tighten the pores and shrink blood vessels, which will help to reduce redness more quickly.
Time to bring all of that moisture back into your skin.
After cleansing your face, start with a toner that’s soothing and calming - look for ingredients such as chamomile and aloe or opt for milky formulas. That’s not all! You'll still need to slather on some moisturizer to replenish the water your skin lost during your workout. If you're breakout-prone, go for an oil-free moisturizer.
And it’s not just what you put on the outside. Ensure you drink plenty of water after your workout to replace the fluids lost through sweating. Not only will this stop you from feeling lightheaded, but it will also ensure your skin isn’t dehydrated, and dull-looking as a result of post-workout. The best hydration always comes from within!
You don’t ever have to sacrifice great skin for a great workout. It’s time to say goodbye to those post-sweat session breakouts and clogged pores! With these easy pre-and post-workout skin care tips, it can help to ensure that your skin stays healthy, beautiful and glowing even on your hardest gym days.
Article by TERRA
Terra is the leading co-working out space in Singapore.
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