To survive modern times of unavoidable junk food and endless hours of sitting in front of the computer, we can’t skip working out, lest we quickly gain weight from the sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise. It is good that we stick to a regular gym routine, wherever our schedule allows us, in order to keep in shape. But working out makes you sweat, and while it may make you a happy gym goer, you have to take care of your skin at the same time.
Certain skin problems may result from exercise, and the best way to avoid them is to take preventive measures before they have the chance to act up. But if you follow a simple but disciplined daily skin care routine, you won’t have to worry about the adverse effects that working out may have on your delicate skin. What’s more, by following this daily skin care routine, you can even reap the benefits that working out can have on your skin, improving your skin by leaps and bounds.
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Your daily skin care routine depends on the location of your workout, which determines the effect that working out will have on your skin. Here are the 5 basic skin care routines that you must include in your schedule every day before working out:
1. Remove makeup
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The first thing to do if you are about to start working out is to remove all the excessive makeup from your face. Makeup tends to clog the pores in your skin, and this subsequently leads to blackheads and breakouts on your face. You can carry disposable makeup remover wipes to clean your face before working out, as they do the job pretty well. However, if you have oily skin that is acne-prone, then we suggest that you get yourself something that is stronger than makeup remover wipes, like a cleansing brush. This could just as well be a part of your daily skin routine at home.
2. Carry the essentials
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First, you must have some cotton balls that have been soaked well in facial toner. Put these in a zipper bag and use them whenever you feel the need to dry your face off. Along the same lines, you should avoid wiping sweat with your workout gloves or even your own hands.
Second, it is also medically advisable to carry a bunch of anti-bacterial wipes so that you can wipe off equipment in the gym before beginning to use them. Microbes in sweat that gets carried from person to person are the greatest cause of acne, and anti-bacterial wipes are the best solution to prevent this.
3. Stay hydrated
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A workout can never really be complete without a full-fledged cardio session, and it is important that you drink lots of water before starting cardio. More often than not, your body gets dehydrated during exercise because of the excessive sweating, and it is only by drinking water that you can prevent that from happening.
4. Sunscreen for outdoor workouts
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If you are going to work out somewhere under the sun, then it is strongly advisable that you apply a generous amount of sunscreen on the areas of your skin that will stay exposed. This is not something you can ignore under any circumstances, as sunscreen protects you from UV rays, which cause skin cancer and premature aging. Choose a broad-spectrum lotion that will have an SPF of 30, which will be good enough to prevent the harmful effects of constant UV exposure. It should also contain zinc, which has anti-inflammatory properties and helps prevent hyperpigmentation. Moreover, make sure that your sunscreen lotion is not too heavy, as a lighter lotion absorbs faster and does not clog the pores of your skin as you sweat.
Suggested read: 10 MUST-know winter skin care tips to keep your skin glowing
5. Moisturize before swimming
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If you have chosen to swim, then you have to be extra careful as the chlorine and chemicals in the water tend to harm your skin and can even worsen your skin tone. To avoid this, apply a very good face moisturizer before diving in. This way, there will be less chances of moisture loss while you are in the pool.
The skin care routine following your workout session is doubly essential to successfully eliminate all possibilities of acne and dull skin. Such a routine doesn’t involve hectic tasks and can be followed by sticking to these simple, easy steps, in the following order:
6. Drink fluids
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This is ignored by most, but is critical for your health. During strenuous exercise, you are bound to lose lots of essential fluids from your body, and this can be replaced only by taking in water and low-sugar fluids. These fluids also help in moisturizing your skin from inside. In addition, after a cardio session, you must make it a point to drink a low-sugar beverage that replaces electrolytes in your body.
7. Cleanse your face
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While it sometimes becomes a hassle to shower in the gym, the least you can do is carry your face wash and thoroughly clean your face after working out. During your workout, you build up lots of grime and sweat on your face, and it is only with proper cleansing that such filth can be washed off. Besides, this helps in clearing up all the pores of your skin.
Keep in mind that your face wash has a pH of 5.0 to 6.0 and does not contain harsh detergents that take away the natural moisture from your face. If face wash isn’t available, then rinse your face thoroughly with water until you can cleanse your face properly at home. Shampoos and face washes are often available at gyms, but you should not at any cost use them on your face. If you do, you will invariably have blemishes and even be exposed to skin diseases, and this will also disturb the chemistry of your delicate skin.
8. Make use of steam rooms
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If you can go to the steam room after working out, you must stay in for a few minutes. Steam helps remove impurities and also cleanses your pores beautifully. It also hydrates your hair as well as your skin. One last added benefit of stepping into a steam room is that it has a very relaxing effect on your aching muscles.
9. Shower
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The one thing that you should do as soon as possible after you have finished your workout is take a long shower. This will release all the heat that your body has accumulated during exercise, and relieves redness and puffiness.
Suggested read: 6 homemade face masks to keep your skin glowing
10. Moisturize
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You need to moisturize your skin at the proper time and with the proper procedure. When metabolism is increased, oil glands secrete a lot of oil, and thus you have to wait until your skin has re-equilibrated itself before you apply moisturizer. If you rush into moisturizing your skin, you might be blocking your pores instead. Wait a while until you moisturize and apply make up on your face.
Happy working out!
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