Every time I go to my Pilates class, I have these questions: If I’m not going to be exercising outdoors, does it make sense to put on sunscreen? If I’m going in the morning, should I do my cleansing routine before or after my workout? If I’m going in the afternoon, should I do my daily cleansing after I shower or before I go to bed? We’ll answer these and other questions throughout the article.
To begin, we should always have clean skin before exercising . Because when we perspire during exercise, our pores begin to dilate to eliminate toxins. If our skin is not clean and cannot be eliminated, these toxins can clog the ducts, leading to the appearance of microcysts and pimples.
Any physical activity we choose to add to our routine has benefits for our bodies and quality of life. Recent studies show that being physically active can benefit both the body and the mind, in addition to significantly reducing the risk of disease.
Benefits of physical activity on the skin
At the same time, there is scientific evidence of the benefits that physical activity has on the skin. Exercise is known to be anti-aging and anti-glycation, in addition to improving hydration, stimulating healing processes, and balancing skin flora.
Regular physical activity increases blood flow, which allows for efficient cleansing of toxins lodged in the skin, which can cause skin infections. It also contributes to a healthy appearance, which we often refer to as “rosy skin.”
Post-workout skin care
Now, once we find a physical activity we enjoy, include it in our schedule, and practice it, we need to make sure that, once we’re done, our skin is taken into account. So, how do we take care of our skin after a workout?
Precautions before physical activity
The benefits gained from physical activity will be offset by sun damage if we don’t take the necessary precautions when doing so outdoors. UV rays are one of the main causes of skin aging, in addition to contributing to the development of dark spots and skin cancer.
To prevent any of these problems and to ensure clean skin, the first step is to apply sunscreen before going outside. This requirement is essential and should be done daily, regardless of whether we exercise or not, 365 days a year.
Ideally, sunscreen should have an SPF of 50+ , specifically designed for sports due to its greater resistance to perspiration. It’s advisable in these cases to choose a gel or mist product (due to its easy application, ultra-light texture, and rapid absorption), because creamy textures tend to fade more quickly during exercise. Who hasn’t had cream get in their eyes when rubbing against them, making exercise difficult?
Post-physical activity care
It’s visibly noticeable that we sweat when we exercise. When we engage in physical activity, our body seeks to regulate our body temperature again, and it does so through sweat. That is, its evaporation through the skin returns our temperature to its previous state. Another change we observe on our faces is that we become red.
This temporary skin coloration arises as a defense mechanism by the body to intense physical demands. Some people blush more than others, but it’s a general consequence.
So, we finish our chosen activity, sweaty, wet in our workout clothes, and with a more or less flushed face. Without realizing it, we need to hydrate ourselves because of the water we lost during exercise.
As a second step, we’ll cleanse our face. This can be done with a cleanser containing salicylic acid (which helps unclog pores, has anti-inflammatory properties, helps prevent breakouts, etc.), or we can use a cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide (which has antibacterial action, reduces inflammation, controls excess sebum, etc.).
Since your skin is currently red and sensitive, we won’t exfoliate, but we will help it return to its original state. The ideal treatment at this point is to use our Post-Workout Gel Mask, which, with its active ingredients like green tea, niacinamide, and centella asiatica, restores your complexion, making it look firmer, brighter, and clearer than ever.
Last but not least, we shower . It’s important to dry all parts of the body thoroughly, especially where there are folds, so that moisture doesn’t accumulate there, which could cause irritation and fungal growth.
