One of my favorite instructors, loves to say “Leave it on the floor” as we jump, jack, squat, roll, and dive through the workout. I thought she meant leave the stress we carried. Exercise is great for kicking stress to the curb, after all. Nope. After 2 weeks using her program, I’m convinced that’s not what she is referring to. Every day, after I finish a workout, I am actually standing in a pool of my own sweat! I realized soon enough that I needed to figure out some better skin care routines if I was going to work like this.
Gross, I know, but sweating is good for your skin. It opens the pores and helps the body clear toxins. It also helps rid the body of viruses and bacteria, so may prevent you from becoming ill as often. I know that since I started working out, I rarely get colds anymore. All that sweating must be working for me.
However, without proper skin care (and I don’t mean slathering on anti-aging cream), your skin cannot do it’s job properly. After a good workout like that, it’s imperative to immediately take care of your skin. While all that sweating does your skin good, leaving sweat sit on your skin can actually breed bacteria, cause rashes, and aggravate skin conditions. Not to mention, letting sweat sit causes odor.
Proper Skin Care
If you want your skin to keep on doing all the neat things it does, you have to take care of it before, during, and after exercise.
- Skip the glam at the gym. Sorry ladies. I know you hate to go out in public without makeup on, but remember what I said about sweating opening up the pores? All those cosmetics will just get into those newly opened pores and clog them up!
- Sunblock. Wearing SPF 30 or higher not only helps prevent skin cancer, but it may also stave off those dreaded crow’s-feet. Absolutely wear it during outdoor activities, but also consider slathering it on indoors. Windows are not 100% UV blocking.
- Cover Up at the Gym. Your sports bra and shorts probably look cute, but do you really want to lay your bare back on the same spot 20 other people just writhed in their sweat? Yoga mats and weight benches can harbor acne-causing bacteria. Wear a top that covers your body, or put a clean towel beneath your naked skin.
- Drink Lots of Water. All that sweat is water leaving the body. You have to put it back in. It’s good for all the organs – including your body’s biggest organ – the skin. Gulping down 8-10 cups a day doesn’t seem so bad if you realize that water can help stave off dry skin, fight fine lines (by plumping them up), and keep your skin from looking sallow.
- Shower immediately after working out. While sweating can rid the skin of bacteria, sweat becomes a breeding ground for bacteria if you don’t wash it off right away.
What are some of your favorite post-workout skin care tips?
Alicia Taylor
We enjoy hosting parties and my husband and I are both avid gamers. You can find me on PS4 as SunshineFlaGirl. We also play tabletop RPGs and eurogames.
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32 Comments
Nicole Escat
April 8, 2016 - 5:41 amDrinks a lot of water is the best to have a good skin. So glad to know these workout skin care tips.
SHELLEY R ZUREK
April 4, 2016 - 6:37 pmI never really thought about how important it is to get the sweat off your skin. Taking a shower and using a good cleanser would probably be what I would do.
Jeanine
April 3, 2016 - 6:29 pmThis is great to know. I don’t work out much right now while being pregnant (besides lots of walking) but when I go back ,this will be great!
Crystal
April 3, 2016 - 4:44 pmGreat tips. I don’t even want to think about all of the grossness living on the gym surfaces. I definitely try to keep them off my skin & shower afterwards.
vera sweeney
April 2, 2016 - 12:59 pmLove these tips!! I am amazed at the difference in my skin when I drink more water! I have started working out more this year so these are handy.
Alicia Taylor
April 2, 2016 - 6:02 pmYes – my skin goes from sallow to glowing – which says something for a woman in her 40’s
Diane
April 2, 2016 - 9:41 amGreat tips. Sometimes people don’t think of the simplest things.
Scott
April 2, 2016 - 9:17 amI always forget to drink WHILE the working is happening. Sometimes it just slips my mind!
Alicia Taylor
April 2, 2016 - 6:04 pmI can’t forget it. I’m so thirsty while working that I usually drink 64 ounces a day – and 20 oz in a 30 minute workout
Roslyn Tanner Evans
April 2, 2016 - 8:44 amI dont work out but any excess activity I seeat. When I go from outdoors to inside a store I sweat profusely. Trying on clothes does this and not cause Im older, overweight- all my life when young too. Always wished I didnt have this problem. Good tips .
Alicia Taylor
April 2, 2016 - 6:06 pmHave you seen a doctor for it? There are some disorders that can cause this.
Emily S.
April 1, 2016 - 7:30 pmThese are super great tips for keeping skin healthy and glowing after all that sweat (instead of getting breakouts!)
Laura Funk
April 1, 2016 - 10:59 amThese are great tips for sure. Skin care is so important
LIz Mays
March 31, 2016 - 10:04 amMy daughter wears makeup to the gym because she wants to look good. lol I doubt I can convince her not to do it!
Mama to 5 Blessings
March 31, 2016 - 8:59 amI agree with skipping the glam too while working out, it just all gets sweated off anyways! Great tips!
Claudia Krusch
March 31, 2016 - 8:05 amLove your tips! Shower immediately after is a must do for me! I need to remember to remove the make up, though.
Dawn McAlexander
March 31, 2016 - 7:19 amI have been trying to do a lot better about sunblock. It is just so important in preventing sun damage and premature aging.
Alicia Taylor
March 31, 2016 - 10:08 amSkin cancer is a biggie. I have known several people that have had the carcinomas. I try to remember it, too, but I’ll be honest – I forget frequently
Carol Bryant
March 31, 2016 - 12:06 amYou are so spot on. I see women outside who work out while I am power walking with the dog. They have a ton of makeup on. Not me: I am of the get that skin into the atmosphere and let the sweat shine! Great post.
Alicia Taylor
March 31, 2016 - 10:07 amYep – just don’t forget the sunblock.
laura
March 30, 2016 - 11:02 pmyou are right – skip the makeup & shower as soon as you can – both a must for me! And that’s the one thing I hate about gyms – sweaty equipment that doesn’t wiped down before you
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 11:07 pmExactly 🙂
Janeane Davis
March 30, 2016 - 7:56 pmYour skin care tips are good. When we work out it has an impact on our skin and we need to do what we can to protect and keep our skin healthy and well managed.
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 8:05 pmyep – Working out is great for our skin, but that good can be undone without proper maintenance.
Rebecca Bryant
March 30, 2016 - 6:52 pmAwesome workout tips. I lvoe taking morning walks for exercise. I am not much for glam when working out
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 7:39 pmMe either. I don’t wear much anyway, but definitely not when working out.
Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas
March 30, 2016 - 6:48 pmGreat advice! Drinking lots of water and showering right after are two things I always try to do when working out. Definitely skip the “gym glam” – so not worth the effort to just sweat off!
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 7:38 pmYes – and worse than just sweating it off, you can clog your poes.
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy
March 30, 2016 - 4:58 pmThose are all great tips. I could never understand why people want to have make-up on when they work out. Just doesn’t make sense and I see that is #1 on your list….great advice!!
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 5:09 pmI never understood it either – it just gets in your pores – which defeats part of the purpose of sweating to begin with.
Heather lawrence
March 30, 2016 - 4:06 pmI have been trying to squeeze in my workout during nap time so the shower will have to wait but I do up my water intake after to help cool me down. I have seen so many people wear make up at the gym and it always makes me laugh… they just end up looking like a racoon!
Alicia Taylor
March 30, 2016 - 5:10 pmYep – and get acne from clogged pores from wearing makeup while working out. You could try body wipes to help knock off some of the sweat and bacteria instead.