If you sweat on the regular, as most gymgoers do, you’re most likely familiar with acne, clogged pores, blackheads, or maybe even painful “blind” pimples. (Ouch!) Consistent sweating can wreak havoc on your skin, but you don’t have to let breakouts set back all your gains.
First, it’s important to take a look at how sport-induced acne breakouts begin in the first place. “Sweat creates a warm environment for acne-causing bacteria to live out their best lives,” explains Sibylle Gorla, founder of Visual Chemistry Skin. “Besides sweat; dirt, oil, makeup, and workout gear trap toxins on the skin that can lead to breakouts on the face, back, shoulders, and other areas.”
The good news is, once you learn how to carefully take care of your skin both in the gym and out, you’ll be able to steer clear of future breakouts and feel more confident about your appearance and health.
You know how it goes, sweat pours down your face, and you need to stop it from getting into your eyes. So, you wipe; sometimes using a towel, and other times using your arms and hands. That very act can be adding fuel to the fire when it comes to breakouts. “People in the gym tend to touch their face more after touching exercise equipment to wipe away sweat, which only continues the spread of bacteria.” Says Gorla.
Although there is nothing wrong with wiping off sweat, using a clean towel and softly dabbing the sweat away versus harshly wiping with a towel (or your un-washed hand) is a better option for pimple-free skin.
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Swap Face Wipes for Cleanser
“To protect your skin, it is important to cleanse immediately after exercising, or as soon as you are done with your workout,” Goria recommends. And it’s not a bad idea, for some, to wash their face pre-sweat session as well. “If you wear a lot of makeup, it would be a good idea to do a preworkout face wash so that sweat and toxins don’t mix in with the product on your face,” she adds. You want clean, uncovered skin heading into exercise.
And if you’re one to grab a wet face wipe from your gym bag as soon as you’re done cooling down, you may need to put that to rest. Unfortunately, face wipes don’t count as post-exercise cleaning. Gorla recommends they be used for emergency use only. “Face wipes don’t count as face cleaning. And while they may have their uses in busy situations, they should never be used as the standard of hygiene. They are emergency only,” she says.
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Courtesy of Great Green Relief Foundation
Choose Clean Skin Care Products
Just like you take care of what you put into your body, you should take care of what you put on your face. “Ensure the products used are free of toxins, artificial dyes, artificial perfume, heavy metals, gluten, silicone, carcinogens, and phthalates,” says Gorla. Sourcing high-quality ingredients are important in maintaining healthy skin.
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Vitamin D Is Golden, but Protection Is Necessary
Some athletes are out in the sun almost daily, getting hammered by the sun’s UV rays- and although vitamin D is known for many amazing bodily benefits such as fighting depression and boosting the immune, too much is harmful. “While it may seem excessive to use sunscreen and wear protective clothing every time you go out, it will save years of aging off your face, and other possible complications” Investing in clean sunscreen and protective clothing will get you one step closer to healthier skin!
Just like your body needs water, your skin needs hydration too. “Make sure you apply a moisturizer at least once a day (preferably twice, morning and night) to help give your skin the nutrients it needs to refresh and regenerate,” says Gorla.
Her favorite:The Resilience Day Cream, Resilience Night Cream, and the Refreshing Pre and Post Workout Spray by Visual Chemistry Skin.
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Unclog Your Pores
Clogged pores go hand-in-hand with living the sweat-life. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Gorla provides step-by-step instructions to minimize clogging. “Cleanse your face daily with an oil cleanser. This will balance your oil production, heal acne and melt away makeup, dead skin cells, and deep-set impurities.”
On recovery, days use a clay mask. Yes, this is for guys, too. Clay has been used since ancient times to help alleviate skin issues. “Clay will help to pull impurities from deep beneath the skin, reduce the size of your pores, and control acne breakouts,” says Gorla. Also, you’re going to feel amazing after it.
Exfoliate once or twice a week. “Exfoliation smooths your skin, increases circulation, gets rid of dead skin cells, and makes your skin look more youthful and brighter.” She says.
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3 Face Serums for Perpetually Radiant Skin
A simple skin-care routine breakdown:
There are 3 different types of cleansers to be aware of and they all serve their different purposes.
Gentle water-based cleansers: Good for daily use and if you don’t wear a lot of makeup.
Oil cleansers: good for everyday use, especially for people who wear makeup or tons of products on their face.
Exfoliators: to be used weekly to help gently remove dead skin cells and clear blackheads and light acne (do not use if you have inflamed/cystic acne).
Skincare is not a female or male thing, it’s a human thing. If you have skin, you should take care of it. Drink lots of water to flush out toxins, be gentle to your skin, clean it properly, and it will thank you!
