The post-workout glow is everything — the redness, irritation, and body acne that comes with it, not so great. Agreed? Agreed.
It’s undeniable that the skin benefits of working out are comparable to the effects of a luxurious facial and a consistent skincare routine, but what people tend to forget are the aftereffects of endless sweating in a humid and confined space. Don’t worry, these effects are not permanent! We sat down with Board-Certified Dermatologist and Derm to Door CEO, Dr. Lily Talakoub to get all the details on preventing exercise-related breakouts, redness, and irritation.
Pre-workout
1. Cleanse
Before you start working out, you want to make sure that you’re starting with a clean and fresh slate – regardless of whether you’re wearing makeup or not. One of Dr. Lily’s ultimate favorite ways to cleanse on the go is to use micellar water. Made with micelle technology, micellar water is formulated with highly purified water that deeply but gently cleanses the skin without disrupting the skin’s barrier functions. She specifically uses this micellar water by Bioderma to take off her makeup, even eye makeup.
2. Hydrate
The next step after cleansing is to moisturize and revitalize the skin before going into a sweat-inducing environment. Dr. Lily recommends opting for a lightweight mist like the Avene Thermal Spring Water mist to calm, soothe, soften and comfort skin.
3. Protect
Although optional for some, we believe that sunscreen is necessary wherever you may spend your workout. For maximum protection, Dr. Lily recommends using the Elta MD UV Clear. A cult-favorite among skincare lovers and enthusiasts alike, the UV Clear sunscreen by Elta MD gives you broad-spectrum SPF 46 protection and is lightweight, oil-free, and especially suited for blemish-prone and sensitive skin.
4. Prevent
Although not the sexiest part of your skincare routine, one can’t forget to prevent excessive sweat and especially order during one’s workout. To combat this, we recommend using the highly raved about, Donna Karan Cashmere Mist deodorant. This gentle antiperspirant’s effective formula controls wetness and perspiration while keeping you dry and smelling fresh—without irritation.
Post-workout
1. Cleanse
As soon as you finish your workout, the first thing you should do is wash the sweat off your face. Gently but effectively cleanse your face with the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex loved by the Derm to Door Team and Dr. Lily herself. It deeply cleanses the skin to prevent future breakouts and retextures your skin to give you a smooth, blemish-free complexion.
2. Exfoliate
Once you’ve cleansed your skin, to ensure that there are no signs of any lingering sweat, dirt, or grime, Dr. Lily recommends using one of her holy grail products only available on Derm to Door – the SkinKure Micro-Peel Pads. This gentle yet powerful exfoliating pad is made with glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin cells to reach an optimum glow.
3. Treat
After exfoliating, treat your skin to an added layer of hydration. Dr. Lily recommends using the SkinKure Hyaluronic Acid serum to lock in hydration for a supple and smooth complexion. Great for all skin types, apply 2 to 3 drops of this serum onto your lightly damp face.
4. Moisturize
Finish off your routine by moisturizing using the Peter Thomas Roth Hungarian Thermal Water Moisturizer. This lightweight but deeply moisturizing formula made with nine botanicals and a triple lipid complex nourishes and restores skin’s appearance for a healthier and younger-looking glow.
