Treating Your Skin After the Gym

If you’re trying to meet your health and fitness goals, the last thing you want is problem skin sabotaging your good intentions! Here’s how to care for your complexion, whilst you work on your body.

EXERCISE: BIKRAM YOGA
SKIN PROBLEM: REDNESS
The trend towards practicing yoga in extreme heat can be great for your body, but leave you with flushed skin that’s hard to budge. Refrigerating a face mask that contains cucumber or Aloe Vera can be a great antidote to redness. Simply pop it on after your session to cool redness. But, if you’re prone to rosacea, eczema or have sensitive skin, consider yoga at a cooler temperature. Unfortunately, hot yoga is likely to aggravate your condition.

You’ll love: Love Nature Gel Mask Aloe Vera

EXERCISE: SWIMMING
SKIN PROBLEM: DRY SKIN
Chlorine is notorious for robbing the skin of its natural oils, resulting in dryness. If you usually wash your face with a foaming cleanser, try switching to a cleansing milk. They tend to have a creamier consistency and are formulated to nourish skin, whilst removing impurities. You’ll also want to hydrate from the inside out, by drinking lots of water pre- and post-swim.

You’ll love: EcoBeauty Cleansing Milk

EXERCISE: HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING
SKIN PROBLEM: BREAKOUTS
Pesky sweat-induced breakouts can come as a result of oil, bacteria and dead skin cells mixing with sweat and clogging pores. The good news is these spots are easy to treat! A simple preventative measure is to remove all makeup prior to exercising and to choose workout gear constructed from breathable fabrics. Whilst at the gym, use your own towel to pat away sweat, and – of course – always shower after workouts, cleansing your face and areas prone to breakouts.

You’ll love: Love Nature Cleansing Wipes Tee Trea

EXERCISE: BOOTCAMP
SKIN PROBLEM: PHOTODAMAGE
If you’re planning to exercise outdoors, you’ll need to wear SPF. If your sunscreen is too rich for rigorous outdoor activities, and the SPF in your day cream is too low to adequately protect your skin, consider wearing a specialised product on workout days. NovAge offers a grease-free moisturiser that’s far lighter than traditional sun care products, and is formulated with SPF 20 for protection from the elements.

You’ll love: NovAge Bright Sublime Advance Brightening Day Cream SPF20


Words by: Photographs by: Getty Images