Expert Tips to Care for Your Skin Before, During & After a Workout (Routine Included)

Dripping in sweat is a sign of a solid workout. It often leaves you feeling powerful, invigorated, and – thanks to endorphins – happy! Unfortunately, it can also lead to redness, irritation, and breakouts on your skin if left unmanaged.

We want you to feel confident in your skin every step of the way. So if you’re doing something amazing for your health (such as exercising!), you deserve to have the best skin health, too.

That’s why we’ve compiled these expert tips to help keep your skin clean before, during, and after the routine. Plus, read on to find a quick and easy post-workout skincare routine just about anyone can stick to.

5 Must-Try Tips to Keep Your Skin Clean at the Gym

Get your skin in great shape, too, with these easy-to-apply tips next time you go to exercise.

1. Remove Makeup Before Exercising

Before stepping foot onto that mat (or bike or what-have-you), remove any makeup with a Micellar water or a gentle cleanse. Makeup can actually act as a blanket, trapping sweat inside the pores, leading to blackheads and breakouts. So start off on the right foot by letting your skin breathe.

2. Sanitize All Equipment

You know what they say: The best defense is a good offense. Using Dermal Mist, spraying your equipment can help remove bacteria, which is important for preventing irritation and breakouts. Spritz, give it a quick wipe, and you’re ready to begin your sweat sesh.

3. Wash Your Hands

Next up: wash your hands before that workout. This will help ensure you’re rinsing off any leftover bacteria that could transfer to your face or body and cause irritation.

4. Pat – Don’t Rub – Your Face

Mid-workout, you’ll still want to be conscious of your skin. Avoid rubbing with a gym towel which can irritate the skin. Also avoid wiping off sweat with your hands which can transfer bacteria. Instead, just gently pat your skin with a clean towel when needed.

5. Get Out of Your Gym Clothes

Athleisure may be all the rage, but it’s best to get out of those clothes as soon as possible after finishing your workout. That’s because those tight, moisture-wicking materials can trap sweat, oil and dead skin next, which is the perfect recipe for a body breakout.

Ideally, you’ll have a shower before swapping outfits, cleansing off all the head-to-toe sweat. But if that’s not possible right away, just get changed and follow our 3-step regimen below!

3-Step Post-Workout Skincare Regimen

Now that you are armed with some general tips for caring for your skin at the gym, let’s zoom in on a quick and easy post-workout skincare routine.

1. Cleanse

Start with your favorite cleanser to remove all that sweat and bacteria. If you’re prone to post-gym breakouts, you can try cleansers with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to prevent acne.

2. Spray

Your secret weapon to kicking acne to the curb post-workout? Dermal Mist, featuring hypochlorous acid. Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, it can be spritzed throughout the day, on your sports equipment (as mentioned earlier), and for post-workout refreshes.

“This is great after the gym,” says Dr. Shah, MD, about the Dermal Mist. As part of your post-workout skincare regimen, just spray, let it dry, and continue with your routine.

We know how tricky body acne can be – especially after a good sweat sesh. You can also spray this on your shoulders, chest, back, or wherever you typically experience breakouts after exercise, to extend the benefits beyond the face.

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3. Moisturize

Last up, you’ll want to use a lightweight moisturizer to hydrate and replenish your skin. You can also opt for non-comedogenic moisturizer that won’t irritate the skin and lead to clogged pores or breakouts.

Whether you just finished a light bike ride or a 60-minute Pilates class, taking some extra time to prep your skin and complete a quick 3-step routine is an easy way to show your skin the same level of care as the rest of your body.