The Best Post Workout Skincare Routine

Not surprisingly, sobriety has changed me in so many ways. The benefits are truly endless, but one of the biggest ones has been the time I now have to work out. Thanks to my incredible Future fitness app trainer, Lauren, I now work out 4-5 days per week. 

With more workouts comes more sweating—an occurrence that can sometimes wreak havoc on my skin. That’s why my post-workout skincare routine is so important. 

I notice that my back acne is in full force during the fall and winter months, when my back is sweating profusely underneath heavy sweaters and jackets. It’s the same when I work out the sweat more often and feel damp underneath my workout outfits. Additionally, if I don’t at least rinse my face off after a workout, I’m bound to get red irritation (usually a mild case of dermatitis) somewhere on my face. 

Below, I’m sharing a pre and post-workout skincare routine that keeps my face and body clear, calm, and glowing.  

Post-Workout Skincare Routine

Step 1 – Avoid wearing makeup

First of all, you want to avoid working out with makeup on as much as possible. If you are wearing makeup during a workout, make sure it’s mineral-based, lightweight makeup. I love the Alima Pure Matte Foundation Loose Powder because it sits on the skin beautifully and won’t clog pores. 

Alima Pure Matte Foundation Loose Powder, $32, amazon.com

If you do have makeup on, consider removing it before you start the sweat sesh. You can either remove it with a makeup wipe, or get a reusable cotton round and micellar water and wipe away the makeup. I love the La Roche-Posay Micellar Water and any reusable cotton rounds I have on hand. 

La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water, $17, amazon.com

Step 2 – Post-workout, cleanse your skin ASAP

There’s probably nothing more important than cleansing your skin after your workout, regardless of your skin type. While it’s good for your body to sweat, when sweat mixes with oil, it can also clog your pores if not removed immediately after working out. If I’m working out at the gym or at a fitness studio, I like to bring a makeup wipe with me. I like the Neutrogena wipes. I’ll usually wipe my face after the workout with the wipes. Then I’ll splash my skin with water to get the residue from the wipe off my skin. 

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Face Wipes, $10, amazon.com

If you’re working out at home, I recommend to wash your face with a cleanser while in the shower. I like to use a gentle cleanser, like the Vanicream cleanser. Considering I’ve probably already washed my skin in the morning, I don’t want to wash my face with a harsh cleanser again. 

Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser, $13, amazon.com

Step 3 – Use body wash 

Another super important step when it comes to a post-workout skincare routine is to wash your body after your workout. Take your sweaty clothes off as soon as you can and throw them in the hamper. Then hop into the shower and rinse your body clean. I like to focus on my back and chest area, when I tend to break out from excessive sweating. 

Skinfix Acne+ 2% BHA + Azelaic Acid + Niacinamide + AHA Cleanser, $35, sephora.com

Recently, I’ve loved the Skinfix acne cleanser to promote skin cell turnover and wash away sweat, oil, and grime after a workout. It contains a bunch of calming yet acne-fighting ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, niacinamide, and azelaic acid, to name a few.  

Goodwipes Really Big Body Wipes, $12, amazon.com

If you don’t have access to a shower right away, I recommend using a body wipe to wipe away all the sweat and oil from your skin after your workout. I like the Goodwipes for on-the-go use. 

Step 4 – Treat your body acne

Once you’ve stepped out of the shower, you want to make sure you are preventing and treating any body acne you currently have. Especially if you are acne-prone. There are a few products I like to use for this, but my favorites are Paula’s Choice CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray and the First Aid Beauty Acne Treatment Pads.

Paula’s Choice CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray, $28, amazon.com

First Aid Beauty FAB Pharma White Clay Acne Treatment Pads 2% Salicylic Acid, $30, amazon.com

Step 5 – Mist your face

Sometimes, I like to mist my post-workout skin to help calm down the redness that inevitably showed face after my workout. My favorite calming face mist is Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water. It’s basic, effective, and gets the job done easy peasy. I’ll spray this on my skin and wait a minute or two for it to sink in before applying my serums and moisturizers afterward. 

Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water, $17, amazon.com

You can also find this spring water in mini sizes—ideal for traveling or packing in my gym bag. 

Step 6 – Apply a serum for redness

I also love to apply a serum to calm down redness after a workout. A great calming serum I’ve been loving lately is the Marie Veronique Soothing B3 Serum. It’s a lightweight gel formula that contains 10% niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid) to reduce redness and strengthen the skin barrier. 

Marie Veronique Soothing B3 Serum, $95, credobeauty.com

Step 7 – Apply a moisturizer

Once you’ve applied your soothing serum and calmed your skin a bit, it’s time to apply your moisturizer. I like to use either a plain moisturizer or tinted moisturizer for this step. I love the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream, Doctor Rogers Natural Restore Face Cream, or the Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion for a plain moisturizer. For tinted moisturizers, try the ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation or the Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 Sunscreen. 

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Face Cream, $52, sephora.com

Doctor Rogers Natural Restore Face Cream, $72, amazon.com 

Vanicream Moisturizing Lotion, $13, amazon.com 

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 Foundation, $48, sephora.com 

Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer SPF 35 Sunscreen, $35, sephora.com

Step 8 – Apply your sunscreen

Lastly, but most importantly, make sure to apply your sunscreen! There are so many great sunscreens on the market, but there are three I’ve been really loving recently. If you don’t opt for a tinted moisturizer in Step 7, consider trying the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50. If you are looking for a plain sunscreen that won’t lead to breakouts, try one from Proactiv. And finally, you really can’t go wrong with anything Paula’s Choice, in my opinion. I think the Paula’s Choice CALM SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sun Protection is a great option to calm red skin after a sweaty workout. 

La Roche-Posay Anthelios Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50, $35, amazon.com

Proactiv Clear Skin Face Sunscreen Moisturizer With SPF 30, $30, amazon.com

Paula’s Choice CALM SPF 30 Mineral Moisturizer Broad Spectrum Sun Protection, $33, amazon.com

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