If you’re breaking out every time you break a sweat, we’ve got you covered with our guide to maintaining that post-workout glow.

Before You Work Out

If you exercise in the morning, don’t feel like you need to do your full skincare routine before getting started. You’re going to sweat off all your serums and toners anyway so just don’t bother. Rinsing with tepid water will be enough to get the sleepies out of your eyes and put your game face on. 

If you work out in the afternoon or evening, it’s a good idea to use a wipe or microfiber cloth to remove any makeup you may have on. Sweating causes your pores to open wide, so you don’t want makeup to slide in and cause clogging. 

Exercising outside? Swipe on a thin coat of sunscreen to all exposed areas before you do, your undamaged skin will thank you. 

While Working Out

Whether you’re touching weights, yoga mats, or doing pull ups at the jungle gym, your hands come into contact with a lot of bacteria during workouts. Because of this, it’s a good idea not to touch your face while you exercise. Wick sweat away with a clean towel or (in dire times) your workout shirt rather than using your hands. 

After Working Out

Because you sweat so much, your instinct might be to really slough all that off your skin with harsh exfoliants. This is a no-no because your skin is actually really delicate after you’ve been exerting yourself. Use a gentle cleanser post-workout so you get the gunk off without being too rough. Try to do this immediately after you’re done breaking a sweat because the longer perspiration sits on your skin the more likely it is to seep into your pores and cause acne-building blockage. 

If you workout in the morning, it’s a good idea to follow this cleanse with the toner and moisturizer part of your usual regimen. You might want to even add a redness reducing serum to offset some of the ruddiness an hour of cardio can bring. 

Finally, it’s important to remember that skincare doesn’t stop at the face. Reduce acne and blockage all over your body by changing out of sweaty, tight, exercise clothes right away. When taking your shower, use a gentle scrub to get all the sweat completely off of you. Be gentle when toweling off too, between the physical exertion and the sweat your skin has been through a lot and can be super vulnerable. 

Need more guidance on at-home skincare? Schedule an appointment with one of our skincare pros today.