Weather you’re an athlete, fitness pro or workout junkie, you likely live your life on-the-go which can leave little time to focus on how to properly care for your skin. While the tips that follow can apply to anyone looking to simplify their routine, we’ve pulled together specific solutions for the folks who spend a big part of their day putting in a good sweat. Plus bonus DIY tips for those who like to take matters in their own hands.
1. Start with Clean Ingredients
As a company who believes what you put on your body is equally as important to what you put in it, it probably goes without saying our first recommendation is to clean up your skin care arsenal by making sure the products you’re using are health friendly. The skin is a living and breathing organ and although a primary function is to keep unwanted nasties out, it is semi-permeable; meaning it does absorb a large percentage of what we put on it. Because of this, we want to make sure that what could potentially end up in our bodies is helpful, not harmful. If you’re unsure of the culprits to be aware of, check out this article by the Kristen Arnett beauty team, exposing the top 10 toxic ingredients lurking in your personal care products.
2. Never Skip a Cleanse
As the saying goes to ‘never skip a workout’, apply this mantra to your cleansing routine! It doesn’t matter if you have the most basic or multi-step regimen, cleansing is the most important thing you can do for your skin, followed by hydration. Before & after working out, you’ll want to remove any surface bacteria, dirt and makeup so it doesn’t get absorbed as your pores open up during your sweat session. Then cleanse again after, so there’s nothing’s sitting on your skin that could clog pores. This is especially important if you are prone to breakouts. If you’re getting chest or back breakouts, make sure to cleanse these areas too before & after working out. Any cleanser will do but an easy solution is (all natural) cleansing cloths for a quick clean swipe, plus you can use them on any area of the body.
DIY Tip: To make all natural cleansing cloths, you can find dry wipes from a medical supply store and make your own! Place the desired amount of dry wipes in a glass bowl and cover with a small amount of distilled water – just enough to wet but not wring out. Next, add 10-20 drops of essential oils such as lavender and rosemary and mix around to cover each cloth. Place the cloths in a large zip lock bag keep in your gym bag or wherever’s convenient for a quick cleansing solution.
3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Hydration is the 2nd most important step and only so because you don’t want to hydrate un-cleansed skin, packing in any surface dirt, bacteria, or sweat. When hydrating before & after your workout, we recommend face and body oils. You’ll supply the skin with nourishing ingredients without the worry of absorbing questionable chemicals. It’s important not to skip this step because working out regularly increases moisture loss through sweat. And if you’re showering more than once a day, you’ll definitely want to replenish moisture after this step.
If training outdoors, you’ll want to consider your climate when putting together your skincare routine. Wind, cold and extreme heat are other big factors that can rob your skin of moisture. When training in colder climates, we recommend using a skin balm before and after your workouts. If training in warmer temps, then using a balm afterwards is sufficient.
DIY Tip: Make your own 2 oz. facial oil. In a glass bowl, combine ½ oz. Rosehip Seed Oil, 1.5 oz. Coconut Oil, 3 drops Vitamin E oil and essential oils of your choosing (we recommend: lavender, chamomile, carrot seed and helichrysum). Mix well, then transfer to a glass bottle with a dropper. If you’re going to wear this oil in the sun, don’t use citrus oils as these can cause photosensitivity.
4. Protect Yourself from the Sun
When training outdoors, one of the best things you can do to protect your skin is using sunscreen. Overexposure to UV rays is the leading cause of pre-mature aging and worse, skin cancer. Regardless of the temperature outside or whether the sun is shining or behind clouds, you’ll want to protect yourself from these harmful rays for long-term skin health. For any skin not covered by clothing, you’ll want to use a minimum 30 SPF thirty minutes before exposure and be sure to re-apply every two hours.
5. Give Your Skin a Boost from the Inside
Although this is not a topical solution, we can’t ignore the fact that a big part of skin health is attributed by how we treat our bodies what we put in it. By staying active, you’re already a step ahead by increasing circulation and promoting the body’s natural detox mechanisms which leads to healthy skin tissue and a glowing complexion. The other part of the equation is staying hydrated by drinking the recommended amount of water daily. The minimum recommendation for adults is eight 8oz. glasses per day but you’ll want to increase this amount based on your workout frequency. Diet is also a big contributor to glowing skin so you’ll want to ensure your diet consists mainly of nutrient dense whole foods, with plenty of vegetables, fruits and healthy fats.
DIY 
Tip: Make your own infused water. In a large glass pitcher add 5 sliced lemons, 5 slices of cucumber and 5-10 mint leaves and let steep overnight. The fun part is you can experiment with any fruit of your choosing. Mix it up with grapefruit, orange, strawberries, raspberries, basil or thyme.
Let us know your own personal skincare tips or questions in the comments below. If you found this article helpful, we'd love if you share with your friends.