How I Take Care of My Skin With a Workout Skincare Routine

Just because you’re going for a run or killing it on SoulCycle doesn’t mean you should skip your skincare. One jiu-jitsu practitioner sticks to the basics with a workout skincare routine to keep her skin healthy while she’s grappling on the mat.

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Exercising is not only good for your body but it’s also good for your skin. Working out increases blood flow to skin cells, providing vital nutrients and oxygen as well flushing out waste like free radicals. However, if you don’t maintain a proper skincare regimen, exercising can trigger breakouts, no matter how light or heavy your workout is. Sweat and dirt can clog pores, leading to pimples and blackheads. Fortunately, a simple and quick workout skincare routine can save your skin, even after an intense day at the gym.  

Every morning I head to the gym and participate in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a martial art that focuses on ground fighting. One thing I learned from this contact sport is that this is not an art to practice if you care too much about your looks. I don’t wear makeup when I work out since sweat can get trapped under foundation, which can clog pores and result in a breakout. And of course, with any contact sport like jiu-jitsu, you don’t want to dirty your training partner’s uniform with foundation stains or lose one of your false eyelashes while rolling around on the mat. If you do plan on wearing eye makeup, like Sistar's Bora and Soyu, stick to waterproof products like Clio Kill Black Waterproof Pen Liner.

So while I’m not someone who heads to the gym with my face fully done, I do focus on a simple yet effective skincare routine to keep my skin healthy and glowing. Here’s how I take care of my skin before and after a workout. 

My pre-workout skincare routine

Step 1: Cleansing

The Innisfree Green Tea Pure Cleansing Foam is mild and leaves my skin feeling fresh, smooth, and soft. This mild cleansing foam contains fresh green tea extracted from Jeju island and is rich in amino acids and minerals that moisturize and brighten your skin.

Step 2: Toner

After cleansing, I prep my skin with a bit of hydration so it can absorb all following skincare treatments better. Klairs Supple Preparation Facial Toner is great for people of all skin types. Not only does it balance the skin’s pH, it deeply hydrates and reduces inflammation with botanical extracts and wheat amino acids.

Step 3: Essence

After the toner, applying essence is necessary for hydrating the skin. Etude House Moistfull Collagen Essence never disappoints me. This luxuriously textured essence is infused with ceramide micro-bubbles and baobab tree extracts, giving me the right amount of moisture and fast absorption.

Step 4: Cream

As I’ve mentioned before, I love Etude House Moistfull Collagen Cream (read my full review here. It leaves your skin feeling soft, refreshed, and hydrated. It’s the perfect moisturizer before going out.

Step 5: Sunscreen

Sunscreen is an important part of any skincare routine. I don’t like a sticky feeling on my skin before working out, which is why I prefer a water-based sunscreen like the Innisfree Perfect UV Protection Essence Water Base. It moisturizes your skin with hyaluronic acid and ceramide, while providing antioxidant protection from UV rays with sunflower oil, Jeju green tea extract, Portulaca oleracea extract, and Centella asiatica extract, which also soothes the skin after sun exposure.

My post-workout skincare routine

After any workout, it’s crucial to cleanse your skin. Sweaty skin is a breeding ground for bacteria, and bacteria can lead to blackheads, irritation, and acne. That’s why I carry a cleanser in my gym bag and use it before I leave the gym. I also make sure to reapply moisturizer and sunscreen, or even better, repeat my skincare routine again.

A useful tip is to carry sample size products in your gym bag. The small samples or testers that you get for free when buying Korean beauty products really come in handy. This way, your skincare products don’t take up much space, and you get to try out different products.

Exercising is good for your body and mind and even your skin; you just have to make sure to care for it before and after your workout. Do you have any special tips for your workout skincare routine? I’d love to know!