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Last Updated on December 22, 2020 by Aimee Stock
Your post-workout skin care routine: Sweating is a great way to detoxify your skin, but touching the same machines as a days/weeks worth of other gym-goers is a great way to spread bacteria. Yuck!
Don’t Touch!
If you can avoid touching your face during or after a workout, that’s your best bet. It is said that the average person touches their face between 2,000 – 3,000 times a day!
Don’t forget that towel. Setting on a machine (or the floor) and then wiping your face with it is a sure way to spread bacteria.
Put your hair up!
Keep your hair up off of your face as well, as hair care products get onto your skin as you sweat causing clogged pores and even breakouts.
Be Gentle
The biggest mistake people make, reports SHAPE magazine, is to go home after a workout and scrub their skin. This is the time to be gentle with your skin, so skip the exfoliation. Instead, experts recommend a gentle cleanser like Cetaphil. *affiliate link
Keep the water tepid
Also be sure the warm is not too hot. Pat your skin dry, don’t wipe. In fact, moist skin is best just before applying your favorite moisturizer.
Moisturize!
If you shower at the gym, be sure to use a deep cleansing body wash and don’t skimp on moisturizer. After you’ve cleansed (either face or body), you need to replenish moisture and if yours contains an added SPF, that’s a bonus! All skin exposed to the sun needs SPF.
Hydrate
Water is essential post-workout and not only helps your muscles recover, but your skin as well. Be sure to read our related article: Quench Your Thirst: The Importance Of Water.
Wash your hands
Wash your hands immediately after working out and keep some toning pads or facial cleansing wipes in your gym bag. I keep it simple with these Neutrogena Towelettes. *affiliate link
Tell us what you think!
Tell us in the comments below, what is Your Post-Workout Skin Care Routine?