Regular sweating and seasonal changes can wreak havoc on the skin causing breakouts, clogged pores, and an imbalance in the skin’s sebum – making it either dry or oily. With that, comes questions of how to care for your skin and what skin care products should be used (or avoided) depending on the season, and how often you’re sweating.
Here, Leah Quinn, owner of Quinn & Co. Hair Studio in Raynham MA, and licensed cosmetologist for over 25 years, and Kim Schneckloth, RN Aesthetic Nurse Injector, Owner of Estheva Med Spa (located inside Quinn & Co. Hair Studio) lay the foundation for achieving beautiful, healthy skin all year round; no matter how much you sweat!
How to Care for Your Skin Before, During, and After the Gym
Quinn and Schneckloth break down their top tips to keep your skin fresh, clean, and breakout-free without missing a single workout.
Always Pack a Face Wash and Moisturizer in Your Gym Bag: Sweating when your hair and scalp are dirty means that dirt is most likely running onto your face. Your scalp is an extension of your face, so be sure to add a dry shampoo onto your scalp before working out as it will help absorb some of the oils and sebum on your scalp.
Use a Clarifying Shampoo When Showering: Once a week, use a clarifying shampoo on your scalp during the harsh winter months. These clarifying shampoos exfoliate the scalp and hairline area of your face that tends to get irritated and flakey during the winter season; especially if you work out.
Remember to Wash Your Face After Sweating: This will help avoid clogged pores. Be sure to use a gentle cleanser and a clean towel.
Use a New, Clean Towel to Wipe Your Face at the Gym: This will help you avoid issues with your skin that can be caused by spreading bacteria from the towel onto your face.
Remove Makeup Before Working Out: Makeup should be removed before working out as it can cause clogged pores. (You can use light skin cream before the gym if needed.)
Try Not to Touch Your Face After Touching Gym Equipment: Make sure to wipe down equipment before which will decrease the amount of bacteria that could possibly get on your hands and towel.
Avoid Makeup Wipes: Most wipes contain a good amount of fragrance and oils to help remove makeup, which is their purpose, however, they don’t remove dirt and oil. Having a gentle face wash handy like ‘Vanicream Gentle Face Wash’ is great for a quick inexpensive gentle wash, especially for sensitive skin or if you are prone to allergies. Quinn always has Vanicream handy at the salon for her guests who come from work or the gym, before a lash service to remove makeup without over-drying. And after use, Quinn recommends following up always with a light moisturizer and SPF.
Seasonal Skin Care Tips from the Pros
As the seasons change, our skin requires different treatments. Here, Quinn and Schneckloth show you how to care for your skin no matter the season.
Spring and Summer:
- Go Light on Your Skin – Use lightweight, oil-free cleanser, and lighter skin cream.
- You Can Exfoliate More Often– Exfoliating can be upped to twice a week if needed.
- Don’t Forget Your SPF– Every season SPF should always be used to protect from sun damage.
Winter:
- Opt for Gentle Products – Wash with gentle hydrating cleansers, and avoid exfoliating excessively.
- Go Thick – Use a thick cream or butter to protect the skin) Quinn recommends Farm House Fresh Products as their product ingredients consist of fresh microgreens grown daily, and explains their cleansers are always gentle enough to use year-round.
- Go Gentle– Opt for a gentle, hydrating cleanser to avoid over-drying which can easily happen in the winter.
- Limit exfoliating – to once a week or less depending on how dry your skin is.
- Reach for Peptides– Along with a thicker skin cream, possibly one with a peptide/ ceramide to protect the skin.
- Exfoliate– Or use a face polish to help rid your skin of dead skin cells
Ingredients When Searching for a Skin Care Line
- Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramides, and Peptides. Always look for products that include SPF.
- All natural, organic, hypoallergenic, oil-free, with hyaluronic acid.
Avoid These Ingredients for the Best Results
“The fewer ingredients the better,” says Quinn, and she’s placed a lineup of how to find the best products, along with her pro tips!)
- Look for products that are paraben-free and silicone-free.
- Always ease into using products with glycolic acid, AHA, or BHA exfoliants, although they have benefits, they can irritate and cause redness, peeling, and dryness.
- Always consult a skin professional before trying new skincare products.
- Opt for lightweight products and oil-free moisturizers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid and sunscreens.
- If your skin is drier due to seasonal changes, Quinn recommends thicker skin creams but cautions to watch for breakouts.
- Avoid heavy oils and silicones to avoid breakouts and clogged pores. “There are a ton of great products out there for gym goers, not every product works for everyone, and sometimes it will be trial and error to get the right combination,” says Quinn.
Final Thoughts:
Contacting a skin care professional will help you learn how to take better care of your skin, in and out of the gym, and all through the seasons. After all, not everyone’s skin handles weather conditions and sweat sessions the same. From hormonal changes to what products are best for your skin, a professional skin expert can change your skin for the better and forever!