At RFA Skincare, we understand and value all aspects of being healthy from the inside out. Working out is not only great for your physical and mental health, but it has great benefits for your skin, too! Truly, the two complement each other very well. Working out helps maintain youthful skin by bringing oxygen to the skin, which in turn helps improve skin elasticity.
While fitness is a non-negotiable for many, so should taking care of your skin! If you’re working out regularly, it’s inevitable you’re exposed to sweat, germs, and bacteria, which all can greatly impact your skin health, leading to extreme dryness or breakouts.
Must-Have RFA Products for Pre + Post Workout
- RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser
- Mandelic 5% Pads and/or Clear & Calm Serum
- HA Peptide Serum
- RFA Tinted Protect or RFA Sheer Protect
Embrace your gym or workout routine, while preserving your skin’s complexion and health through RFA Skincare and these impactful tips:
Skip the makeup when possible
It is always best to workout with a clean face when at all possible. When your body heats up during a workout your pores open and you don’t want makeup settling back into those pores. When you workout, we want your skin to be able to breathe! If you are working out midday or on your lunch break, it is optimal if you can do a quick cleanse and remove makeup with a gentle cleanser before you workout. Toss RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser in your gym bag. You do not need to apply any other products at this time. We suggest cleanse, workout, and then apply skincare and makeup if applicable afterwards.
If you are someone who is not comfortable going to the gym with a completely bare face, try applying a non- comedogenic makeup or our favorite, Tinted Protect. It is a great universal tinted SPF with moisturizing properties. If you are an outdoor workout person, make sure you never forget your SPF!
Regardless of whether or not you wore makeup during your workout, one thing is for sure and this brings us to our next tip….
ALWAYS cleanse your skin POST workout
It is so important to gently cleanse your skin after a workout. Your skin acquires sweat residue and bacteria during a workout, so whether or not you wear makeup during your workout you need to cleanse your skin clean afterwards. A nice gentle cleanse with RFA Gentle Foaming Cleanser and cool water will also help to cool the skin and reduce heat and redness post workout.
RFA Mandelic 5% Pads are the perfect post workout product to always have in your gym bag. You would use this after your gentle cleanse. The powerful synergy of Mandelic Acid, Lactic Acid, Antioxidants and Niacinamide work together to deliver anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. From treating acne, regulating oil production, improving skin texture and brightening your complexion, they are a show stopper. Because of the unique blend of key ingredients, these pads are gentle enough for daily use.
If you are able to wash your face immediately, then you would cleanse first and then use the wipe. If you don’t have access to wash your face until you get home or for at least 30 mins to an hour, then use a Mandelic Pad immediately post workout. Be sure to use the pad over your entire face, neck and chest. You can even have someone help rub the pad on your back if you're someone that struggles with “backne”
Topping your skin with our RFA HA Peptides is a great option to maintain hydrated skin, after a sweaty workout or hot yoga! Hydration is vital to our skin health. HA Peptide is going to give your skin that big drink of water it needs post workout! And of course, don’t forget to drink your water.
Bring your own gym towel
There is such a thing as the perfect gym towel. If you sweat a lot, this one is a must. Yes, some gyms do provide towels but we can’t be sure they are clean or that your skin won’t react to the type of detergent they use. A super fluffy type towel tends to hold on to bacteria more easily. Instead,try a medium thickness towel without a ton of nooks and crannies that can hold bacteria. And, don’t forget to use a clean towel for each workout session.
Do not touch or pick at your face
This one is very important! This applies to everyday skincare, but especially when we are talking about gym and fitness. The gym is full of sweat, debris, and bacteria. If you are touching a workout machine or weights and then touching your face, you are spreading bacteria to your skin. Try your best to create a habit of not touching your face during a workout. Once you finish, immediately wash your hands, and then cleanse your skin and/or apply your Clear & Calm Serum to clean your skin.
Calm Inflamed, Red Skin
If you are someone who gets extremely red or flushed post workout try this trick, suck on an ice cube post workout! The nerve endings in the hard palate (the upper part of your mouth) directly affect the blood vessels in your face – the cold from the ice cube sends a message through the nerve endings that the vessels in your face need to constrict, thus decreasing the redness. Another great RFA Product to keep in your gym bag is Clear & Calm Serum. This is a powerful serum featuring medical-grade botanicals like Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, Willowbark Extract, and Green Tea. The properties of these ingredients clears inflammation, irritation and breakouts.
Now, go get your sweat on and keep these fitness focused skin care tips in mind!