Hello, gorgeous! Are you wondering if you should do skincare before or after a workout? At SkinSpirit, we recommend skincare before most of your workouts, but if you work out in the mornings, post-workout skincare is OK.
Whether you exercise at the same time consistently each day, or recent changes to your schedule have left you suddenly working out mid-day, we’re here to break down the best practices for you.
We recently sat down with the head of our aesthetics department, Karen Fernandez, to talk exercise and skincare and get the skinny on when and what we should be doing with our home care routine when we’re working out. Here’s what she had to say.
Your AM Workout Skincare Routine
Generally speaking, if you work out first thing in the morning, you can plan to do your full skincare regimen afterward.
“As long as you’re going to bed with clean skin, which means you’re waking up with fairly clean skin, going to work out without washing your face is the most advisable,” says Karen. While you sleep, your skin goes through its natural process of repair.
The one exception may be if you’re swimming or running outside, in which case we recommend putting SPF on before you start your workout to keep your skin protected.
Your Mid-Day Workout Skincare Routine
If you’re exercising mid-day, we recommend completing your full routine in the morning, minus the makeup — use a tinted SPF, like the Colorescience brush, instead, if you can. This will allow your skin to be mostly clean when you work out and not compound pore-clogging oils.
Then, when you’re done, quickly rinse off and cleanse your skin gently — even with just water for those who are not acne-prone. If you don’t have time or access to a shower or you are acne-prone, Karen suggests using wipes with salicylic acid to remove sweat and oils. Ideally, you’d also have a friend help with your back if that has been a problem! Save your deeper clean for nighttime.
Re-apply your SPF and/or makeup and feel your best getting back to work!
Your PM Workout Skincare Routine
Can you work out after a facial if you exercise in the evenings after work? Yes, just wash your face or use wipes — we recommend Obagi wipes — to quickly clean your skin before you start your workout. This is especially important if you wear makeup or are oil/acne prone. If you only wear a healthy physical SPF and are not prone to breakouts, go ahead and skip the pre-cleanse!
Because over-the-counter wipes can contain irritating ingredients, we recommend medical-grade wipes like Obagi, particularly for those with sensitive skin.
Then when you get home, it's important to cleanse your face right away. Make sure to follow up with all your favorite evening products — exfoliants, Retinol, moisturizers etc. It's best to exfoliate at night before you go to bed since it encourages skin repair while you sleep.
Is It Good to Exfoliate Every Day?
You shouldn't exfoliate every day. Instead, consider doing this treatment up to three times a week. When done on occasion, exfoliating can bring new healthy, new glowing cells to the surface. Exfoliants remove dead skin cells, which allow new cells to surface. Speak to one of our team members to find out what would work best for your skin — all skin is unique, just like you.
This step in your skincare routine gives you an instant glow and boost. There are two types of exfoliants — physical and chemical. Both types of exfoliants do the same job, which is to remove surface dead skin build up.
Tips for Any Time of Day
There are some tips Karen recommends you follow, no matter what time of day you exercise. This can help to keep skin clean and hydrated while also preventing acne. These tips include:
- Wear clean workout gear.
- Clean your equipment before each use.
- Avoid touching your face.
- Drink plenty of water — all day, every day!
- Have mostly clean skin when exercising.
- Shower or rinse off after you work out, and make sure to wash your face.
- Use your own mat if you have one. If you don’t and you’re sharing with others or exercising in a common space, make sure to bring a towel to put over your mat.
- Have regular facials, when you can, including back facials. We recommend scheduling your facials one month apart if you’re in corrective mode, or every 6-8 weeks if your skin is in good shape and you’re just maintaining that. While you’re at home, we suggest trying an at-home facial and masking weekly. Masks address uneven tones and hydrate your skin.
Our Facial Treatments
Our facials are a combination of deep cleaning, steaming, exfoliation, extraction and hydration to make your skin glow. We also offer various add-ons such as microdermabrasion if we feel you need a medical-grade exfoliation treatment that also helps reduce scarring, acne and signs of aging.
Choose from our award-winning facial treatments, either Express, Signature or Deluxe, for your monthly facials. If you're unsure which one to choose, we'll help you find your perfect facial.
Our DiamondGlow® facial is a noninvasive next-level skin resurfacing treatment designed to improve the overall appearance of skin with a three-in-one approach — exfoliation, extraction and infusion of nourishing serums. We use a diamond-tipped wand that gently removes the outer layer of dead skin cells while simultaneously delivering customizable serums deep into the skin for enhanced hydration and rejuvenation.
Keep Your Skin Healthy at SkinSpirit
At SkinSpirit med spa, we offer high-quality medical-grade skincare products that can help you keep your skin clean, hydrated, and acne-free when you’re working out. Shop all your favorites online here! We stock Alastin, Colorescience, GLOWBIOTICS, iS Clinical, Revision, SkinBetter, SkinCeuticals and so much more.
Questions? Email us at info@skinspirit.com or book a free consultation today.
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