Whether it’s new pimples and blackheads that develop, taxed expression lines, or discolored patches, skin care woes come with the territory of regular physical activity and sweating out toxins.
“The number of people who don’t recognize the damage they are doing to their skin amazes me,” says Heidi Waldorf, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
So, what’s the trick to ensuring that your workout targets your metabolism, thighs, abs, and biceps, and not that beautiful, natural complexion? Before you hit the gym, take a run around your neighborhood, or squeeze in that 15 minute Jillian Michaels workout, you may want to make sure you follow these simple, yet effective, tips.
Your skin is your largest organ, and it’s easy to take it for granted. Although exercise and acne may go hand-in-hand, it is possible to have a healthy body and face.
Wash off your makeup before working out. Have you ever partied too hard or been too tired to wash off your makeup before bed? Well, if you decide to leave your heavily caked makeup on while working up a sweat, you won’t just look like you’r majorly hungover, you’ll also have some clogged pores. Washing off makeup before working out is always recommended.
Follow this routine post-workout. Using a gentle cleanser, wash all the sweat and dirt off of your face. Any time you experience a significant amount of sweating, it’s highly likely that you’ll end up breakout somewhere, usually along the hairline. Once you sweat out those toxins, it’s important to wash them off — you don’t want to leave them (and the polluted air, dirty surfaces it comes in contact with and hygiene products, such as deodorant or lotion) sitting on your skin.
But make sure not to over do it and dry out your skin, or use a dirty towel.
Take your mother’s advice. Do you ever remember your mother telling you to stop making a particular face or else it would stay like that? Well, she was right. Aren’t they always?
Whenever an instructor during a yoga or spin class advises you to relax, listen to them. If you continue furrowing your brow or grimacing, you’ll start to form wrinkle patterns.
Slip out of your clothes. After you’re finished working out, change your clothes as soon as possible. You may prefer to lounge around in your sweaty tank and pants until they dry, but that’s just a recipe for disaster. The act of sweating may unclog pores, but once the sweat evaporates, it leaves behind salt that can clog them again.
Ideally, you’ll want to wash off your body with a lathering soap to avoid breakouts below the neckline.
Before applying moisturizer, let your face cool down. Waiting at least 30 minutes post-workout to apply moisturizer (or any other products), especially if you are prone to getting tomato faced after a tough workout. Try using a hydrating mist before resorting to a soothing facial moisturizer.
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