Doing sport causes a lot of benefits to the human physical and physiological state. Regular exercises not only keep people well-shaped but also make them more stress-resistant, decrease anxiety, and help fight depression. And these are just a few reasons we regularly visit gyms and fitness clubs.
Although sport is beneficial for our mind and body, sweat can cause multiple problems for our skin. It tends to clog pores and result in breakouts, acne, and eczema if proper post-workout skincare is not applied. Thus, it is essential for skin health to take care of cells after a sweaty workout. So, below, we're going to consider how to treat the skin after exhausting workouts to keep it clean and healthy and prolong youthfulness.
The Positive and Negative Effects of Workouts on the Skin
First of all, let's consider how workouts affect your skin. The positive effect of doing sport on the skin includes:
- the blood flow is increased since the heart pumps blood quicker, resulting in better oxygen and nutrients supply to cells;
- the skin renovation and rejuvenation processes are improved, preventing premature skin aging and reducing wrinkling;
- workouts activate the lymphatic system, which causes skin purification due to increased waste disposal (toxins, dead cells, and other pollutants are removed quicker);
- sport also copes with skin puffiness perfectly.
As for drawbacks, sports can influence the skin negatively. The cause is sweat that clogs pores, so people with oily and sensitive skin are the most affected. As a result, inflammation and breakouts may appear.
Still, with proper post-workout skincare, it is possible to minimize these effects and enjoy workouts without nasty consequences. The main thing is to know what and when to do. So, let's get down to the key tips.
How to Treat the Skin before and after Workouts?
Firstly, note that the best skincare practice starts before a workout. Wash your face before doing sport. If you wear makeup, clean it to open pores and remove excess contaminants. In this case, you'll reduce the level of pore-clogging with sweat. Moreover, makeup products contain chemical toxins that can congest pores and cause further redness and inflammation. So, don't do sport with makeup to keep your skin clean and healthy.
As for the post-workout skincare routine, make sure to wash your face ASAP after a workout. Sweat mixes with dirt, oil, and germs during the workout, creating the perfect breed for bacteria growth. Such a favorable environment for microorganisms leads to acne, eczema, and breakouts.
While face washing comes as the first thing to do after the workout, a comprehensible post-workout skincare routine comprises much more steps. So, let's highlight them and list the best products for each stage.
Cleansing
When washing the face, it is advisable to use cleansing foams and liquids to remove dirt and sweat more effectively. Cleansing products act on all sorts of pollutants, open pores, prevent congestion, and prepare the skin for further treatment. The following cleansers are advisable for an effective post-workout skincare routine:
- Osmosis Deep Clean Detox Cleanser is a powerful product for regular use. Its active formula with lemongrass and grapefruit dissolves dirt effectively, removes all sorts of contaminants from the face surface, and opens pores for further nourishment.
- PCA Skin Facial Wash is a super-charged weapon for fighting debris and pollutants. The use of botanical extracts and mild AHAs in the formula helps remove environmental impurities, preserving a protective barrier and avoiding dehydration.
- Endocare Aquafoam Gentle Cleansing Wash is an effective tool to clean the face surface from both environmental and physical impurities. The blend of Mineral Maris Aqua and Mimosa Leaf Extract copes with all pollutants, dissolving them without disrupting the skin barrier.
- Evenswiss Edelweiss Cleanser is a super-working product for deep washing. Edelweiss extract and Dermatopoietin dissolve dirt and grease, unclogging pores and preparing cells for further hydration and nourishment.
Toning
The next step of post-workout skincare implies face toning for the normalization of the acid-base balance of the skin after washing. The next products are suitable for effective skincare after physical exercises:
- Evenswiss Edelweiss Dermal Phytotonic is an effective product that refreshes the skin, prepares cells for absorbing nutrients, and soothes the face surface. The blend of Edelweiss extract, Glycolic and Lactic acids, and Dermatopoietin makes the treatment appropriate for all skin types.
- Osmosis Boost Peptide Activating Mist is a powerful treatment for all skin types. A multi-ingredient blend comprises green tea extract, peptides, essential oils, and hyaluronic acid, which makes the product effective. It hydrates and tones cells to improve nutrient absorption.
- PCA Skin Daily Defense Mist is a super-active product that preserves the hydro-lipid balance, hydrates cells, and protects against environmental influences. Besides, it soothes and calms the face surface. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Marrubium Vulgare Extract penetrate deeply and boost processes.
- PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is a working product for daily treatment. It causes deep hydration while improving antioxidant protection. Its formula contains fruit extracts and oils, which soften the face surface and prepare cells for further treatment.
- Oskia Floral Water Toner is a mild-action product for gentle care. It normalizes the skin’s barrier and clams the face surface. Ingredients penetrate into cells, causing a rejuvenating effect and moisturizing. The skin is softened and looks radiant.
Applying Serum
The next step of post-gym skincare implies using serums. These products are used to reinforce the action of particular elements in targeted zones. Serums are high-concentrated products, in which the percentage of an active component is much higher than in other skincare products. Next options are ideal for skin treatment after the gym:
- Osmosis Rescue Epidermal Repair Serum is a highly active product for boosting cellular processes. The treatment is aimed at neutralizing toxins and calming inflammation. Its formula with Ozonized Ethyl Oleate narrows pores and heals wounded cells.
- PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum penetrates cells deeply and activates renovation processes. A high concentration of hyaluronic acid attracts and locks moisture in cells. Thus, the skin stays hydrated without drying.
- Evenswiss Regenerating Plasma is rich in natural antioxidants that activate the self-regenerating properties of cells. The blend of Panthenol, Dermatopoietin, and Coffee Extract causes a deep action, charging cells with vital elements for skin renovation.
- Endocare C Ferulic Edafence Serum is a powerful product for reinforcing the skin barrier and withstanding a negative environmental impact. It is packed with Ferulic acid, antioxidants, and vitamin C to prevent skin contamination and boost protective properties.
Moisturizing
Now, it’s time to hydrate and nourish your skin. The application of a moisturizer is an obligatory step of a post-gym skincare routine. Creams hydrate the skin deeply and supply essential elements for nutrition. The following products will help keep the face surface fresh and healthy:
- PCA Skin Collagen Hydrator is a super-charged product for deep hydration and nourishment. The blend of Shea butter, olive fruit oil, and natural extracts penetrates cells, boosting skin renovation, normalizing the skin barrier, and making the face surface smooth and firm.
- Endocare Gelcream is an innovative product with a lightweight consistency. Active components are quickly and easily absorbed, improving the ability of cells to withstand external impacts and rejuvenate by synthesizing vital elements.
- Osmosis Quench Nourishing Moisturizer keeps the liquid in balance and reinforces weakened cells by nourishing them with essential nutrients. Due to its light consistency, microelements are quickly absorbed; they boost skin renovation properties and make the skin complexion radiant.
- Calecim Multi-Action Cream is a revitalizing product for all skin types. Its active formula is charged with Tocopherol, Albumin, and Hyaluronic acid to nourish cells and active intracellular processes and boost renovation.
Applying SPF
After applying the moisturizer, do not forget to protect your skin from UV light and radiance. If you're exposed to sunlight or spend a lot of time outdoors, the skin is prone to the negative impact of the environment. Free radicals, sunlight, and pollutants can damage cells. Thus, remember to apply sunscreen during your gym skincare routine. The next products create a reliable shield against sunlight and radiation:
- Heliocare Mineral Tolerance Fluid SPF50+ is an effective product that creates a reliable barrier on the face surface. The treatment withstands the negative influence of all sorts of radiance and free radicals. It protects cells from UV light and sunlight.
- PCA Skin Weightless Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 45 is a powerful treatment that prevents free radicals from penetrating cells and damaging them. It creates a durable shield on the skin surface and does not let UV light cause skin aging.
- Osmosis Protect SPF30 is a working product for protecting skin cells from all sorts of UV light. It creates a reliable layer that holds free radicals and radiation and does not let them penetrate cells. Its innovative formula boosts skin protective properties and supplies essential nutrients.
- Heliocare 360 Water Gel SPF50 reinforces the skin barrier and creates additional protection against radiation, sunlight, and free radicals. Besides, the product hydrates cells, preventing skin dryness. Active ingredients help improve the skin's capability to withstand environmental aggressors.
Lip Balm
Finally, take care of the delicate skin of your lips. Use a lip balm to prevent skin cracking and hydrate lips. The following post-workout skincare products will be the best choice for your lips:
- PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Lip Booster moisturizes and softens delicate skin of lips, nourishing cells and preventing them from pollution and other environmental impacts. Its formula prevents lips from cracking and aching because of dehydration.
- Indeed Labs Hydraluron Volumising Lip Treatment causes antioxidant protection. It is rich in active ingredients that stimulate the synthesis of hyaluronic acid and collagen. The product nourishes cells, improving barrier properties and softening lips.
Do not forget that proper gym skincare implies taking care of not only the face skin but also the entire body. Thus, wash your body and apply a moisturizing oil or cream to the body after taking a shower.
Here's the last note about exfoliation. If you want to use a scrub after the gym, do not use too harsh and aggressive products, since the skin is quite delicate after sweating. Give preference to gentle cleansers.
If properly treated, the skin won't be affected by sweat during and after physical exercises. The choice of proper post-workout skincare products is an essential part of your routine. Fortunately, the modern market offers diverse products for all skin types and purposes. So, you won't face problems with picking appropriate products.
