Love getting a good workout, but hate
the post-sweat sesh effects on your skin? It doesn’t matter if you are an
Olympic gold medalist or a bench warmer on your school’s lacrosse team—protecting
your skin from sweat, sun and breakouts is equally important! Jasmina Aganovic, founder of
skincare line,
Stages of Beauty,
hit us up with her secret tricks to getting perfect skin after your intense
workout.
1. Wash it off
It may sound simple, but many women forget to wash their face
after a workout. No matter if you are in a rush or simply forgot your cleanser
at home, Jasmina says there is no excuse to leave the gym without freshening up
your face. The first thing you should do post-workout is cleanse!
TIP: Jasmina’s go-to for a quick cleanse is to pack a toner and a
few cotton balls in her gym bag (she swears by Stages of Beauty's Radiance
Toner).
2. Use an SPF (even in the gym!)
There’s a common misconception that we only need to wear an SPF
if we’re going to be outside, but Jasmina warns us that that is 100% false!
Women should be wearing an SPF every day, even if they are working/working out
inside. Harmful rays can reflect off of metal and glass surfaces in the gym and
radiate on your face, causing damage. Jasmina wears an SPF 30 from the moment
she wakes up in the morning to the moment she goes to bed.
TIP: Apply an SPF before your workout and if you plan on working out
outdoors, frequently reapply the SPF to ensure full coverage. Also, make sure
you reapply after washing your face for continuous coverage!
3. Make it steamy
For those with acne-prone skin, if your gym has a steam room,
use it! Hop in for 5 minutes before your shower and use this as a great way to
sweat out some toxins. After you shower, be sure to drink plenty of water and
moisturize before going about your day as usual.
TIP: Jasmina recommends using the steam room 3x a week, especially
if you are doing rigorous exercise on a regular basis. It’s a great way to get
skin back into control and soothe breakouts.
4. Hands off
During your workout, try not to touch your face with your sweaty
hands! When your body heats up and sweats, your pores are even more open and
able to take in elements from the environment. This makes your skin more
susceptible to taking on bacteria and pore-clogging dirt and oil.
TIP: If you’re doing a class at the gym or stretches/exercises on a
mat, make sure they are wiped down before touching your face to them.
5. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
Exfoliation is an important step in an exerciser’s skincare
regimen. Skin can often become dry from frequent sweating and washing and it’s
key to remove dead skin cells on a regular basis (twice a week) in order to
reveal a more radiant, youthful complexion.
TIP: For the busy exerciser, maximum your time in the shower.
Half-way through, apply the exfoliator
to your face and let it seep into your skin as you multi-task and wash your
hair, shave your legs, etc. When you’re about to end your shower, use
your fingers to gently rub the scrub around your face in a circular motion to
further remove all dead skin cells. Jasmina’s go-to scrub is
Radiance Facial Scrub.
6. Go au natural
When working out, avoid wearing makeup or cosmetic products that
are too heavy, anything that keeps moisture in the skin should be avoided. You
want your skin to be able to breathe while you work out and if it can’t, you
may get clogged pores. Ingredients to avoid include silicones (usually found in
primers) and petrochemicals (commonly found in moisturizers).
TIP: If you feel that you need to wear some type of makeup when you
work out, Jasmina suggests opting for waterproof mascara (no smudges!) and
tinted lip balm with SPF.
7. Moisturize much?
Frequent sweating, cleansing and sun exposure can dry out skin
and cause irritation. It’s imperative to moisturize the skin in the evening to
let your treatment cream do its magic on your skin as you sleep.
TIP: Depending on your skin type – sensitive or not sensitive, dry
or normal - you’ll want to choose a moisturizer that calms your skin while
hydrating it! Jasmina is a fan of Stages of Beauty’s Radiance Treatment Cream.
8. Prevent & repair sweat-induced skin irritation
Have you ever experienced those pesky little bumps under your
skin? This build-up is caused by excessive sweating and the bumps are actually
hardened oils produced by the skin. Prevent these by exfoliating your skin on a
regular basis. If you already suffer from these and they don’t go away after
two weeks, the best solution is to see a trained aesthetician for a facial.
This will bring them to the surface of your skin and ease, if not completely
eliminate their appearance on your face.
TIP: Jasmina says that you can amp up the prevention of these bumps
by using a salicylic acid-based toner in the morning and evening.
BY ANA D’AMBROGI ON 7/26/2012 12:00:00 AM
POSTED IN skin problems, get rid of acne, bust breakouts, oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, sweat, fitness, olympics, London 2012, beauty, tips, make-up, skin