Working out and staying active is essential to your overall health and wellness. According to the CDC, adults should be active for at least 2 and a half hours every week. This can help reduce your risk of heart disease and even cancer. Whether you work out in the morning or evening, taking care of your skin post workout is also extremely important. Your skin is your largest organ and how you treat it can affect your health. Your skin is constantly protecting your internal organs from harmful pollutants and UV rays from the sun! Taking care of your skin now can help strengthen your immune system and keep you healthy. Here are some ways to take care of your skin after working out.
Wash Your Face ASAP
You just got in a great work out so chances are, you broke a sweat. Sweating helps to regulate your body heat through your pores. Your body cools down when the sweat evaporates off your skin. When you sweat, all of the toxins are pushed out of your skin which is why you would want to wash your face immediately after working out to get rid of the extra oils and dirt. Waiting to wash the sweat off your skin can cause acne and clogged pores. Consider bringing a gentle cleanser or face wipes with you in your gym bag so you’re able to cleanse your face after your workout. If you forgot your skincare products, rinsing your face off with water is a great step in the right direction!
Moisturize
Cleansing always removes the natural oils of your skin barrier so the next step is to moisturize. You want to replace the moisture and oils you lost through sweating and cleansing your face. To prevent drying, moisturize as soon as you finish washing your face. By applying your moisturizer immediately after cleansing, you will lock in the moisture to replace the natural oils in the skin barrier. If you’re concerned about breakouts that sweating can cause, you can find creams online specifically for treating acne. After moisturizing, always apply a sunscreen to help protect your skin. Another option is to find a moisturizer with SPF so you can save some time and money! UV rays can damage your skin cells further and lead to wrinkles.
Drink Water
After any workout, you need to drink an immense amount of water. You should drink water after every workout, even if you think you didn’t sweat very much. Your yoga class may have focused on stretching and breathing, but that doesn’t mean that you didn’t sweat or lose some of your body’s moisture. Keeping a water bottle handy will help your body replace any water that was lost from sweating and will ultimately prevent dehydration. On top of replenishing your body, water plays a huge role in keeping your skin radiant and hydrated. If your skin isn’t getting enough water or moisture it can become dry and flaky making your skin more prone to wrinkling.
Change Out Of Your Workout Clothes
Just like your skin, your body’s pores can get clogged by sweat and the restrictive fabric of fitness clothing. If you can, bring a change of clothes and shower after your workouts. Just rinsing off the sweat and changing into clean clothes can help your skin. If you’re worried about breakouts on your body then this is especially important! Another critical note, wash your workout clothes or wear new clothes every time you go to the gym. All the dirt and toxins from sweating are now living on your clothing and reintroducing them to your pores is just asking for a breakout.
Minimal Makeup
Keeping your makeup minimal after your workout is a great way to keep your skin clear and happy. Sweating will cause your pores to open and wash away the natural oils from your skin barrier. The last thing you will want is an excessive amount of makeup clogging your pores. Focusing mostly on the health of your skin can improve how your makeup looks. If you love to wear foundation, look for a CC cream. A CC cream has ingredients that help combat redness and SPF while also providing a light coverage like a more traditional foundation!
Fuel Your Body Correctly
There are some myths about how your diet can affect your skin like how eating chocolate and pizza can cause acne. Although there is no direct proof, everything you do to your body contributes to your skin’s radiance and health including your diet! Creating a post-workout meal plan will help keep you and your skin healthy. Nutrient-rich foods like leafy greens, vegetables, and fruits are great for you. Consider trying greek yogurt with fruit like bananas and berries, this is a great go-to snack after hitting the gym.
