As the expression goes, summer bodies are made in the winter. But winter can also be brutal on your skin. Proper skincare is vital for anyone who spends a lot of time in the gym. If you are willing to spend so much time in the gym improving your body, take a few seconds to make sure your skincare regime is up to snuff as well.
Here are our top 10 tips for any gym rat who wants better skin.
1. To be honest, I often wondered about the use of disposable body wipes until I started hitting the gym hard. They are great at helping to remove excess oil from your skin. You can find great ones via Jack Black – they cleanse, hydrate, and deodorize without any drying alcohol.
2. Always carry a small towel with you to wipe the excess sweat. And make sure you bring your own towel. If you opt for a gym washroom for a shower, be careful of the towels and cleansing products you use. Do not use towels already used by someone. The sweat of other people can cause acne on your skin. Cleaning your skin should be hygienic.
3. This should seem obvious but avoid touching your face with bare hands to keep bacterial infections and acne at bay.
4. Wear gloves when working out. In addition to protecting hands from rough calluses, gloves also prevent the transmission of bacteria and viruses like warts and staphylococcus bacteria; which can cause impetigo. Impetigo is a common skin infection that can be easily transmitted at the gym and result in blisters and sores. Further, always disinfect your equipment with a wipe or spray before and after you use it.
5. Drink water. This is not only beneficial to replenish your the liquids you have sweated out. But being well hydrated isn’t just good for your overall health, but also for your skin’s health. Drinking lots of water helps your skin stay hydrated and ward on early signs of aging.
6. Skip the tanning bed. This should be completely obvious to everyone but no matter how good your skincare regime is, tanning will start to pre-age your skin. If you wanted a ‘sun-glow’, opt for a self-tanning lotion or simply working out outdoors with SPF will give you a natural glow.
7. Skip the hot water. Sure, your muscles are sore, and you’re in the mood for a hot shower after a workout. Hot water strips skin of vital oils, leaving you with dry, itchy, dull skin, so opt for a cool shower. And make sure you don’t skip using a proper face wash on your mug. Moreover, bring your own that is best suited for your skin. Don’t default to what your gym might provide, it might do more harm than good. Cleansing your face immediately after your workout will remove any dirt and sweat that has built up during your workout. If you find your skin is extra oily post work out, consider a pre-cleanser product that helps get rid of extra oil on your skin before you even cleanse. If you skip the face wash step of your workout skin care routine, you run the risk of breakouts and dull skin.
8. Rehydrate your skin. After enduring a good workout and cleanse, it’s critical to re-establish the natural moisture and oils that have been removed from your skin. When it comes to your face, you really should invest in a high quality, fast-absorbing, nutrient-rich product that includes vitamins A and E. If you’ve been exercising outdoors, a moisturizer with anti-oxidant ingredients is important to help repair damage caused by UV exposure and other environmental factors.
9. Consider a beard oil. Underneath your beard, there’s skin that’s more easily stripped of moisture. The sebaceous glands down there already have the tough job of keeping your face and beard hair moisturized. After a tough workout and multiple face washes, it’s important to make sure you rejuvenate your beard and this area of your skin with beard oil products. UK Skincare brand Bulldog has just entered the Canadian market and has a great beard oil. It is fast-absorbing and contains aloe vera, camelina oil and green tea. It has been specially formulated to soften, tame and condition your beard and the skin underneath.
10. Wear fresh clothes after showering. This may seem obvious but we have all been guilty of doing so when we haven’t packed our bag properly. Putting back on those gyms clothes with counteract everything you just did to help your skin. Gym clothes will be sweaty and grimy; they may cause acne and other skin related problems.
