“I don’t sweat, I glow”—well, as much as we’d all like to live by this mantra, let’s be honest, working out is all about sweating it out. Running, yoga, weights, cardio, whichever form of workout you choose, you’re bound to break into a sweat on your face and body. And while the long-term skin benefits of this are raved about—better circulation, healthier-looking skin—people don’t quite tap into the short-term impact it can have on your skin, especially if you don’t take care of it.
Yes, having a post-workout routine in place is sacrosanct (for obvious reasons); however, more often than not, people tend to skip the prep required before they hit the gym. After all, why would you want to make all that effort before sweating it all out, anyway, right? Wrong! Breaking into a sweat with dirt, debris, and grime on your skin is equally responsible for those clogged pores and breakouts. Clearly, a no-no. Here’s a detailed pre-workout skincare routine to follow before you hit the gym.
PS: It’s not as extensive as a post-workout routine, but is enough to keep your skin prepped for the heavy lifting that’s yet to come.
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Step #1 - Cleanse away
This applies to both your face and body! While it seems counterintuitive, showering pre-workout can help cleanse away any sort of debris that sits on your skin. You need to start your workout with a clean canvas, just so that the oil, debris, and sweat don’t mix and create a mess within your pores. This can lead to body acne and breakouts.
Start by double cleansing with micellar water or an oil-based cleanser (if you’re wearing makeup), and then use a gentle face cleanser to wash things off. ‘Gentle’ is the key here, as we don’t want to disrupt the skin’s barrier with harsher ingredients. Go for cleansers that contain hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or glycerin, which will help hydrate the skin. Even when it comes to a body wash, look for similar ingredients that hydrate and protect your skin too. Try to opt for fragrance-free formulations, just to avoid irritation if your skin is sensitive.
Tira recommends: Caudalie Vinoclean Micellar Cleansing Water
Step #2 - Hydrate your face & neck
The cardinal rule of skincare? You can never just leave your skin on ‘cleanse’; moisturiser must follow. For your pre-workout skincare routine, make sure to reach out for a lightweight gel-based or water-based formula with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, centella asiatic or even green tea. Avoid anything cream based that’ll be heavy on the skin while you workout. Remember, when you sweat, your skin tends to dry out; therefore, applying a moisturiser prior will prevent that from happening easily.
Tira recommends: Kora Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer, Juice Beauty Green Apple Brightening Emulsion Lightweight Moisturizer
Pro tip: If you feel like your skin needs a little uplift, then spritz on a face mist before you moisturise. Anything with rose water or vetiver (that isn’t heavily scented) will help. You can keep the same face mist handy for when you workout, too—a spritz, whenever you feel overheated will help calm and cool your skin down. Also, if you’re prone to dry, chapped lips the same theory of dehydration applies to your pout, too, top it off with some lip balm as part of your pre-workout skincare routine.
Step #3 - On to body care
Hydrating your body, especially your hands, is important in your pre-workout skincare routine. The excess moisture (when paired with sweat) can, however, hamper things, especially when you’re lifting weights. Not moisturising, on the other hand, can cause the skin on your palms to become dry and calloused.
So, here’s what you can actually do. After a shower, when your body is still wet, apply a lightweight body moisturiser to your skin. Focus on your hands and feet. Immediately, gently pat your skin dry with a towel—this way, your pores remain hydrated without the excess stickiness.
Step #4 - Apply sunscreen
Working out during the daytime? Whether you’re doing it indoors or outdoors, make sure to apply a water-based sunscreen before you start your workout. SPF protection is necessary even when you’re simply walking to your gym too. Use body sunscreen, too, on exposed areas, especially if you’re working out outdoors. Make sure the formula is sweat-proof or water-resistant.
Tira recommends: Thank You Farmer Sun Project Silky Calming Sun Stick SPF 50+ PA++++ , Sunscoop Fluid Sunscreen SPF 60 PA++
#Add-on - Tie your hair up
Lastly, ensure your hair is away from your face before and when you workout. Fun fact: when you touch your hair while you workout, you actually help boost the oil production in your scalp. Plus, if you have any product like a gel or serums, it can trickle down from your scalp onto your forehead when you sweat, resulting in breakouts.
