Regular exercise is important for your overall health and for looking fit. However, the downside is that, if you’re not careful, you might get a face full of blemishes. To avoid this, here are some tips on what you should do before, during and after a workout.
- Remove any makeup you would normally wear
When you sweat, your pores will open up to allow the skin to breathe. However, makeup will clog those pores and prevent the skin from breathing, causing acne to form. Therefore, the first thing you must do before you go to the gym is remove your makeup. You can use cleansing towelletes for this, as they are easy to carry in a gym bag.
- Forget about hair products
Do you often see acne on your forehead after leaving the gym? This is likely due to the hair product you are using. A lot of these contain oil and when we sweat, this oil drips on our face (especially the forehead) and clogs the pores.
- Wear a light sunscreen when working out outside
This is a must if you’re exercising outdoors, for instance jogging. However, it’s also important to know what type of sunscreen to use in these situations. Some sunscreens are oily and will clog your pores, so use a lighter formula when working out.
- Wash your face right away
If possible, wash your face right after you’ve finished exercising. This will prevent bacteria from building up in the pores and causing acne.
- Wipe down gym equipment before using it
To others, wiping down your equipment before you use it may make you a germophobe, but if you don’t do this, bad things can happen to your face. People at the gym don’t always have a habit of cleaning their equipment once they’re done with it and this allows bacteria to breed. Touch your face just once and it won’t go well for your skin. So, be sure to wipe the equipment before using it.
- Take a shower immediately after getting home
Finally, once you return home from a hard workout, don’t just crash in your sweaty clothes. Allowing sweat to build up on the skin causes pores to clog and the skin won’t be able to breathe. Instead, hop in the shower ASAP.
