I’ve got a short and sweet post for you all! (A change of pace, I know.) One of the dilemmas I came across during my skincare journey was how to factor in exercise into my daily skincare routine. I’ve developed an approach that works for me, but of course, we all have different beliefs & inclinations!
The #InBetweenRoutine
What is an “In-Between-Routine”, you ask? Well, it’s a phrase coined by the lovely Madalyn from littlehauls on Instagram. It’s used to describe any sort of combination of skincare products you apply to refresh, renew, and give your skin a little pep anywhere between your usual AM and PM routine!
For me, #InBetweenRoutines come into play the most in regards to my pre-gym skincare routine. So allow me to explain how I prep my skin before I work up a sweat.
Your Pre- and Post-Workout Skincare Routine According to Your Schedule
As if putting together the perfect skincare routine isn’t already overwhelming at times, what do you do once you factor in working out on a (somewhat) regular basis? Listen, I got you. Don’t break a sweat. Well, no, you should break a sweat, but while you’re exercising, not worrying about your skincare!
When we think of routines, we think of our morning routine right after we wake up and our nighttime routine before we hit the hay. But what if you like to take a daily jog before class? Or if you hit up a hot yoga class right after work? Should I cleanse before? After? Both?? Ugh, STRESS. If you’ve ever wondered what sort of products you should and shouldn’t have on your face during and after the gym, read on!
The Golden Rule: Work Out with a Fresh Face
We all know regular exercise is great for one’s overall health. But it’s also great for increasing blood circulation, cell renewal and flushing out toxins like free radicals, which can your benefit skin as well. However, there’s also a lot of nasty stuff being thrown into the mix. Once your body temperature rises, you start to produce sweat in order to cool down. Meanwhile, your pores and sweat glands open up, resulting in a mix of oil and perspiration on the skin that creates a perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Did you know that for every 1 degree your skin rises in temperature, oil production increases by approximately 10%? Yikes. You really don’t want to invite any other substances like makeup to this party. It’s essential to exercise base makeup-free in order to allow your skin to breath without blocking your pores and adding further irritation to your skin. If you’re at the point in your life where you feel like you absolutely must have something on your face at the gym, no worries. I would recommend using a skincare/makeup hybrid product that adds a bit of coverage but its main function is to nourish the skin, like the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment (Bonus: It contains SPF 30) or a super light CC cream.
OK, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s move to actually sorting out your routine. So…
If You’re an Early Riser
First off, mad respect. I’m one of those people that can barely drag themselves to the sink in the morning, let alone the gym.
After you wake up, dry and sensitive skin-types can splash their faces with lukewarm water. Oily and combo skin-types can feel free to saturate a cotton pad with cleansing water or toner to gently wipe away whatever oil and residue accumulated over the night. Next, spritz on a layer or two of your favorite hydrating mist. My fave right now is the Atoclassic Real Tonic Soothing Moist Mist. Lastly, apply a generous layer of sunscreen, especially if you’ll be outdoors. Then, you’re out the door! Once you’re finished working out, take a refreshing shower and proceed with your usual AM routine.
If You’re a Night Owl
That’s me! Hehe. Here’s where it can get a little trickier, assuming you’ve applied makeup earlier in the day, for those of us who value our beauty sleep and prefer to hit up the gym after class or work. The dilemma is as follows: You want a clean canvas before exercise but you don’t want to do a full-blown routine only to do it all over again later that night. I’m a firm believer that you should only wash your face when necessary. Over-cleansing the skin can strip your skin of its good oils resulting in a weakened moisture-barrier.
The solution? Give yourself a mini refresher using these steps:
First, make sure to fully remove all base makeup (or as much as possible). A cleansing water will remove most makeup/sunscreen and impurities from your face. I even allow myself to use a cleansing wipe if I’m on the go. I like the Simple Cleansing Wipes. They never burn and remove quite a bit of makeup. If you’re feeling a bit parched afterwards, follow up with a hydrating mist. I’ve been carrying around the Heimish Bulgarian Rose Mist Serum* in my bag, kindly provided by Style Korean. Feel free to top it off with lightweight moisturizer (Stratia Liquid Gold packs a punch of moisture) as well to hold you over until bedtime. Kill it in cycling class or learn some new K-Pop choreo (my personal favorite form of exercise), and then jump into your full PM routine after you hit the showers. Optionally, you can use a purifying cleanser that won’t strip your skin, if you feel like you need an extra deep cleanse post-workout. Voila! Now you (and your skin) can enjoy your workout worry-free.
Bonus: Get #SheetFaced
As someone who sweats a lot and gets easily overheated and beet-red at the gym, I like to allow my skin to cool down post-workout. For me, a sheet mask does the trick perfectly. My favorite affordable option at the moment is the Holika Holika Pure Essence Sheet Masks, and Jayjun Cosmetic Sheet Masks for a more luxe experience (read my Jayjun masks review here).
Do you workout during the week? If so, how do you prep your skin beforehand and pamper it afterward? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
* = Affiliate Link