Beauty

|24 Feb 2023|3 mins

How To Take Care Of Your Skin Post-Workout

Don’t sweat it! Up your exercise game with soothing serums and magic mushrooms.

We get it, you’ve just finished a hot yoga class, run 10km or wrapped a Saturday morning volleyball sesh, and the next thing you want to do is flop onto the couch with a latte and açai bowl, stat. But before you do that, make cleansing, hydrating and calming the final stage of your workout.

No matter how you’ve built up a sweat, follow these steps to take care of your skin post-workout.

Step 1:

Cleanse and cleanse again

Building up a sweat is the aim of the game, and now your workout is done, it’s time to wash it all away. As well as the buildup of sweat, your skin can collect dirt (hello, bootcampers), dust (we’re talking to you, Park Runners) and unwanted bacteria from gym equipment or yoga mats. Cleansing your skin with an oil cleanser followed by a gentle foaming cleanser will remove all of the above, along with any makeup or SPF you may have been sporting that could lead to clogged pores.

Try Urban Jungle Melt Me Softly Cleansing Balm to remove impurities without drying out your skin. Then follow with a gentle foaming cleanser applied with lukewarm water. Using a skin-friendly pH cleanser, such as Kora Organics Turmeric Glow Foaming Cleanser will restore your skin to its natural state as it cleanses away dirt, oil, and other impurities you’ve picked up along with your improved deadlift or headstand.

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Step 2:

Hydrate and soothe

We know exercise is good for our mind and body, but did you know it’s great for your skin, too? This is because being active increases blood flow and circulation to your skin as well as boosts collagen production. Even after stretching, cooling down or the dreamiest shavasana, your pores are still more open than usual, so any products you apply will be better absorbed.

Start with moisturising powerhouse hyaluronic acid, applied to freshly washed skin, then let it soak in before applying a soothing serum containing rose hip seed oil. The OGs of celeb skinspo Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr swear by this all-natural oil for its calming, hydrating and restorative powers. Turn your workout flush into a post-workout glow with The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil or Antipodes Divine Face Oil Rosehip & Avocado Oil. Hyaluronic acid is also the secret weapon in Coco & Eve’s Sweet Repair Repairing & Restoring Hair Mask. Slather it on and put your feet up as it works its magic in just 5 minutes. A must-have for swimmers, surfers and divers to repair the drying effects of chlorine and salt water.

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Step 3:

Recovery

Whether you are embarking on a serious sweat sesh or simply being an armchair athlete, pep up your water bottle with collagen. Forget quinoa, wheatgrass and ashwagandha, this is the superfood for your post-workout routine.

While you may be counting down the minutes on your next Crossfit WOD, supporting joint and gut health, as well as healthy hair, skin, and nails is as easy as adding a scoop of Vida Glow Natural Marine Collagen to your water. This one is a winner as it has been activated to boost absorption (meaning your body can actually put it to use). It sounds gory, but exercise tears and breaks down muscles, so feeding them protein after your workout helps them repair (and grow and contour!). Shake up a clean protein powder such as Naked Harvest Thrive Protein within the first hour after finishing a workout for best results. This plant-based protein is made from pea and rice protein and contains no hidden nasties or artificial ingredients. Flavours include Mango Cheesecake, Chocolate Swirl, Vanilla Pancake Batter, Banana Split and Strawberries and Cream, so skipping your shake is just not an option.

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Step 4:

Rest

The wonderful news about working out is that rest is an essential part of the process as it allows your tissues to heal and grow – and that includes your skin as well as your muscles. Magnesium is an MVP for rest and recovery offering pain relief and muscle relaxation. Spritz weary limbs with a magnesium-enriched oil such as Endota Rest & Restore Magnesium Mist Spray and massage in circular motions to work it into the muscles and encourage blood flow to sore spots.

With all those endorphins and adrenaline coursing through your body, calming the mind is the final leg of your workout so you can slip into restful, restorative sleep and wake up fresh. It’s believed medicinal mushrooms and adaptogens can help on this front, so mix a spoonful of Superfeast Reishi into a smoothie or hot drink and sip before bed to bring on a blissful sense of calm, knowing your workout is now complete… until the alarm goes off at 5:30 am tomorrow.

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Shannon Harley

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