Exercising is great! It does so many wonderful things for our body, including increasing circulation, burning fat, building muscles and releasing endorphins that make us feel good. But you may wonder how do you maintain fitness and stay clear.
We work with so many clients who exercise regularly and who are amazing athletes. We love working with all athletes from crossfit to dance to water polo to beach volleyball. Whether you cycle or do pilates, we’re sure to have some tips for keeping your skin clean and clear even when you’re practicing daily.
Exercise increases blood flow, which means more oxygen and nutrients make their way to skin cells. Increased blood flow helps to flush out waste products including free radicals. One of the ways it flushes out waste is through sweat. Sweat is a good thing. But when things like dirt, oil, or sunscreen are added to the mix, you can get clogged pores and breakouts.
Identifying Triggers
One of the first things we do when working with athletes is to identify the elements that their sport might be triggering breakouts. Tight workout clothing, hats, headbands and helmets can trap dirty sweat against your skin magnifying the issue in areas like your back or forehead. Those items can also cause irritation from friction.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO AVOID THE POST-WORKOUT BREAKOUT
- Remove makeup before you work out. Quick Slick offers one-swipe makeup removal and is perfect for the gym. Now, we also understand that you may not want to remove makeup while working out if your are severely breaking out. It’s okay. Make sure you are using acne-safe makeup and wash your face immediately after working out.
- If swimming is your thing, make sure to apply a light layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor over acne-prone areas to occlude chlorine or salt water from touching the skin.
- Shower immediately after your workout and wash with Beachy Clean Mandelic Cleanser. Mandelic (derived from almonds) is a wonder ingredient in the world of acne, providing cell-regenerating, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. It’s a great way to clear away dead skin cells, oil, dirt, sunscreen, and bacteria after a sweaty workout. You can use over all acne-prone areas—chest, arms, back and the face. If you are generally dry, opt for a less-drying cleanser like Go Gently.
- If you can’t shower right away, make sure to cleanse your face, chest and back with Quick Slick All-in-One Cleansing Solution. Quick Slick does not require any water for use. Simply apply it to a 4×4 Esthetic Wipe (or cotton pad) and wipe away the dirt and grime. Always follow with one of our toners (Skin Dew, Stay Calm, Vita Tonic or AHA Toner). Quick Slick and all of our toners are available in travel size, which make them great for tossing into a gym bag.
- Wash your workout clothes after each use, and don’t forget the baseball caps. Dead skin cells, oils, and bacteria on unwashed clothes may contribute to clogged pores and breakouts.
- Clean any equipment you may wear, including the inside of a helmet.
- Use a non-comedogenic sunscreen for outdoor workouts. You’ll avoid a sunburn which only makes skin matters worse and causes inflammation. For lightweight, non-greasy UV protection that won’t clog pores, Sun Guard is all the muscle you need.
- Use a clean towel to wipe sweat from your skin during workouts.
If you work out first thing in the morning, we recommend completing your morning skincare routine after your workout. If you work out after school or work, we recommend completing your evening skincare routine right after your workout, if you don’t plan to go anywhere the rest of the evening.
The midday workout may have you confused about when to do your routines and what to do following the midday workout. We recommend doing your morning routine when you wake up. We then recommend completing your same morning routine after the midday workout.
Staying fit and clear has never been easier.