Our Go-To Gym Skin Tips

Whether you’re new to working out or you’ve got your weekly regime down perfectly, there’s so many benefits for your mind, body (and skin).

Not only does exercise help keep you physically healthy, but the endorphins boost you get after each class will work wonders for your mood.

And your skin? Well, getting your heart rate up boosts your circulation. The increased blood flow gives you instant radiance and promotes healthier skin overall. So, that’s even more motivation not to cancel your next class.

Whilst you might always remember to pack your shower gel and towel, something you could be missing in your gym bag right now is some great skincare.

Here we’ll be covering why it’s important to look after your skin when you’re working out, what some of the best products to use are and a couple of our top tips.

Why does skincare matter when you’re working out?

If you're exercising regularly but not looking after your skin, it can mean that sweat mixes with dirt, makeup and more that’s built up on the skin during the day. This can be a pore clogging combination that leads to breakouts.

In fact, if you have sensitive skin, you could find that sweat triggers your skin to be more reactive in general. You can read up more on that here.

The right skincare for working out will help you prevent this and keep your skin feeling fresh, soothed and hydrated. 

 

Should I wash my face before or after the gym?

Much like exercise, it’s all about what works best for you. Washing your face depends a little on what kind of workout you’ll be doing, your skin type and what you’re up to before and after.

It seems obvious, but if you’re rushing straight into a class, whipping out the face wash is likely the last thing on your mind. If you find you’re getting spots from sweating it out in spin class, however, the solution might be as much to do with your pre-gym as your after-gym skincare.

Generally, it’s a good idea to at least either go bare-faced that day or remove your makeup just before so that your skin can breathe. Our range of wipes and biodegradable Kind to Skin™ Eye Makeup Remover Pads are great for removing your mascara and more on the go – so no panda eyes when you get back to the changing room.

You could always give your skin a quick freshen up before you start and then cleanse properly later on.

How do you take care of your skin at the gym?

The main thing you can do is to clear daily dirt and grime from your face before and after exercise. So, just like you wipe down your equipment after using it, our handy (and biodegradable) face wipes are a quick and easy way to give your skin a speedy refresh as part of your pre workout skincare routine and once you’re done.

It’s also worth using hand sanitiser occasionally during your sessions to avoid any bacteria from your hands ending up on your skin.

Does sweat ruin skincare?

Sweat can potentially cause skincare products to rub off a little. So, if you’re going to be working out it’s not the time to do your usual full routine. But cleansing and using a hyaluronic acid serum or light moisturiser will help keep your skin clean and hydrated throughout your class. 

 

Our top gym skin tips

Now we’ve got to work on some of your most-asked questions about skincare for sports let’s get into some of our favourite (and surprising) tips to step up your gym skin....

1. Keep your cool

If a red face is something you experience during exercise, you’re not alone because we do, too.

It’s a totally normal response to our core temperature rising and increased blood flow, which means your face turns flushed.

This is thought to be a way of preventing the body from overheating by pushing heat to the skin’s surface.

You can reduce post workout redness by using a cool, damp cloth and using a fresh yet replenishing moisturiser to soothe inflammation, like our Soothing Water Cream

Top tip: keep your moisturiser in the fridge for next-level cooling that reduces facial redness in no time.

2. Take time to tone

Toners like our bestselling Kind to Skin™ Soothing Facial Toner are amazing after a long workout. Not only does it feel super refreshing, but it also helps to rebalance your skin’s PH level and remove any lingering traces of dirt. Plus, it helps prep the skin for your serum to sink in better, helping replenish even more effectively.

3. Hydration is everything

You already know that water is super important when you exercise but you might not have considered its impact on your skin.

When we sweat, we lose more moisture through the skin as part of a natural process called transepidermal water loss. This helps cool our body temperature down but can also leave us feeling dehydrated if we don’t replenish that lost water.

Dehydrated skin can look dull, feel itchy and tight, cause fine lines and wrinkles to be more visible and more. So, make sure you keep that water bottle topped up between your sets.

Using a light (and super conveniently sized) moisturiser like our Kind to Skin™ Hydrating Light Moisturiser helps keep hydration locked in. This blend is enriched with Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, Glycerin and Borage Seed Oil to keep skin nourished for 12 hours.

 

4. Deep clean in the evenings

Your evening post workout skincare routine is the perfect time to focus on purifying ingredients, exfoliating and replenishing with moisture.

Along with cleansing thoroughly with a gentle face wash, regularly use an exfoliator like our Daily Skin Detox™ Clear Pore Scrub. It’s blended with Thyme, Zinc and Witch Hazel and cleanses deep down to help eliminate pore-clogging sweat, dirt, oil and make-up to leave skin purified. While added bamboo exfoliators gently buff away dead skin cells.

A detoxifying mask like our Charcoal Purifying Sheet Mask is also the perfect way to give your skin a weekly reset.

5. Give your skin a workout

You might already have your body workouts nailed... but what about your skin?

Face yoga and other facial exercises have become super popular in recent years. If you haven’t heard the term before, it's essentially all about targeting specific facial muscles in the face by holding specific positions – just like yoga for your mind and body.

It’s thought to help relieve tension and promote lymphatic drainage, which in turn makes you feel more relaxed and gives your skin a healthy glow.

Take a look online for tutorials or to find your nearest facialist who can show you the techniques in real life.

6. Use SPF for outdoor workouts

If you’re taking your usual gym routine al fresco, remember to help protect your skin by applying moisturiser with SPF like our Protect ‘N’ Glow™ Triple Protect Moisturiser SPF 30,  which comes in a handy pouch that’s perfect for carrying with you in your kit. Plus, if you’re exercising in the morning, you can use it after you’re done to help defend against UV rays during the day.

Looking for more skin care advice?

We hope you enjoyed reading about our favourite gym skin tips and tricks. We can’t wait to hear if you try them out. Let us know how you get on over on our social channels.

Want more expert advice? You’re in luck, we've got lots more articles for you to check out right here on our blog.