Did you know that working out can do wonders for your skin? And we're not talking about the glow you get from running five miles or the way your muscles pop after an intensive beauty workout.
No, we're talking about how your skin feels after a good session in the gym: soft, smooth, and glowing with health. As an active person, you know that working out can be as much about your mental health as your physical health.
But what happens when you hit the gym or yoga studio and then leave? How do you make sure that all of your hard work doesn't go to waste?
Well, there's a good chance that your routine includes some form of post-workout skin care maintenance (and let's be honest, who doesn't?).
We all want to look as good as possible when we walk out of our workouts.
And when you look good and feel great, it's natural you’ll:
- Have the confidence to take on the world
- Feel younger and healthier
- Have more energy to keep up with your workout regimen
- Feel better about yourself and be more confident overall
So, if you're looking for a quick way to improve your fitness routine while also improving the health of your skin, try this 4-step process after every workout.
Table of Contents
- Step 1 - Clean Up and Change Your Clothes
- Step 2 - Rehydrate Your Body
- Step 3 - Moisturize Your Skin
- Step 4 - Soothe Your Skin
- Step up Your Skincare Game With KOYA Skin
Step 1 - Clean Up and Change Your Clothes
Taking a shower after a workout is essential for the health of your skin.
When you're working out, your sweat glands work overtime to keep you cool and hydrated.
As a result, your body produces sweat that contains salt and oil that can get trapped in your clothing or skin and clog skin pores. Sweat also contains waste products such as urea.
But it's not just sweat that needs to be washed off the skin; it's also dead skin cells and bacteria from the gym equipment.
If you don't clean up after your workout, that bacteria can stick to your clothes, putting you at the risk of skin infections. On the other hand, if you clean up post-workout, it can help:
- Prevent skin breakouts, pimples, and acne
- Keep your skin soft and smooth
- Prevent your skin from getting irritated or itchy
- Keep your skin looking fresh, clear, and youthful
- Reduce the risk of developing skin infections, such as rashes or irritation caused by bacteria
In short, be sure to clean up and change out of your gym clothes after working out, so your body doesn't retain any built-up sweat, makeup residue, or dirt from the gym equipment.
Step 2 - Rehydrate Your Body
Your body needs water to function properly, and so does your skin.
After a workout, your body works hard to repair muscle damage. For this reason, your body not only needs fluids to replenish what’s lost through sweat, but also foods rich in proteins and carbs to aid muscle recovery.
Water specifically helps to rehydrate your body and moisturize the skin faster, keeping it fresh and glowing. It also helps keep your muscles hydrated so they can recover fast, leading to less soreness and skin bruising post-workout.
In other words, rehydrating is all about making sure that you’re replenishing your body with enough water. After a strenuous workout, your body can lose up to three liters of its total water supply in sweat alone!
Therefore, ensure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and minimize the risk of getting cracking or flaking skin.
Pro Tip: We recommend that you drink at least eight glasses of water each day, as it helps keep your body hydrated and functioning properly. If you're working out intensively, regularly, or during hotter days, then this number should be higher.
Step 3 - Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturizing at least once daily is crucial for keeping your skin soft and supple, especially post-workout since sweating can strip away natural oils from the skin, leaving it dry and irritated.
Moisturizing is essential for keeping your skin looking its best and feeling healthy.
Here are some considerations for moisturizing the skin after your workout:
- Soak in lukewarm rather than hot water, which can wash off your skin's natural oils. Cleaning with warm water also helps soften and soothe the skin after exercise.
- Moisturize with a lightweight body lotion that absorbs quickly into the skin. You don't want something heavy or greasy, but a product that will lock in moisture so that your skin stays hydrated even after sweating all day.
- Apply your moisturizer right after you get out of the shower so that it can absorb into your pores while they're still open from the warm water. This will help it penetrate deeper into the damp skin.
- Make sure to use a Sun Protector Factor (SPF) product when going outdoors for extended periods of time (even if it's just overcast outside), as UV rays can damage your skin even on cloudy days.
As you can see, applying good moisturizing lotions is an excellent way to rehydrate your body, nourish, and moisturize the skin.
Step 4 - Soothe Your Skin
You've just finished your workout and feel good about your progress. But you might notice that your skin isn't as happy, probably due to blemishes or itchiness. What gives?
When you work out, your body temperature rises and causes blood vessels to dilate;which can lead to redness, swelling, and irritation.
If you want to avoid this, the best thing you can do is cool down with an ice bath or a cold compress (like a cold towel) on the skin. This can help reduce inflammation and give your sensitive skin some relief.
Body wipes and pre-moistened towelettes also work well to deodorize, cleanse, and soothe your skin; especially if you can't take a bath or shower immediately after every workout session.
If you have sensitive skin or just want to make sure your skin stays healthy, try using an oil-free body lotion such as KOYA Sensitiv+e. This gentle formula is purposely designed for soothing sensitive post-workout skin. It's also got botanical extracts, such as vitamin C, to help replenish any nutrients your skin might have lost during your workout.
“...As someone who has highly sensitive skin and dances, KOYA did not irritate and left my skin feeling soothed, with no blocking of pores. I would highly recommend this product!!”
- Shae Acevski
And even if your skin doesn't feel irritated after working out, we recommend using a residue-free body lotion to nourish and leave your skin feeling supple and moisturized.
Step up Your Skincare Game With KOYA Skin
You've worked hard at the gym, and you deserve a reward.
Your skin is the first thing people see when they look at you. If it looks good, then you look and feel good, too.
KOYA Skin is a skincare line of residue-free body lotions specially designed for the needs of athletes, dancers, and other active lifestylers who invest large amounts of time in training.
Our products are formulated with natural ingredients and organic extracts that allow them to absorb into the skin quickly and effectively. This means you won't have to worry about any sticky residue left behind after applying these products.
Remember, your skin is an organ just like any other in your body. It needs nourishment to stay healthy and glowy. What better way to give it what it needs than by maintaining its vitality with products designed specifically for active lifestyles?
Check out the table below for more information about our top workout beauty products perfect for your post-workout skin care needs.
| Product | Features |
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KOYA Sensitiv+E
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KOYA Green Tea & Arnica Blend
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KOYA Australian Lemon Myrtle
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