Our skin loves a good workout!
When our heart rate goes up, more blood flows to our muscles. Our capillaries expand to carry needed oxygen throughout our body. Our blood vessels dilate to carry more blood near the skin’s surface, feeding the skin with good things.
But it’s important for us to support the skin against excessive water loss and excessive inflammation. Always make sure to prep your workout using a soothing foaming or lathering cleanser. Nothing too harsh or abrasive.
I have my patients use my soothing “Modern Cleanser” to help prep their skin. It contains licorice root, a potent ingredient that reduces redness and inflammation. Harsh exfoliants or cleansers will only exacerbate extra inflammation.
Since sweating causes a lot of moisture to evaporate, it’s important to keep up the pH of the skin while sweating by using a balancing toner. My favorite is Luzern’s Alpine o2 Glacial Toner. A lower pH balance results in redness and breakouts while higher results in dryness and sensitivity.
Sweating also causes a lot of moisture to evaporate, so be sure to apply a hyaluronic serum. Even if some of the serum sweats off, your skin will still get some protection. Sweating can be a great way to detoxify your skin, but touching machines and equipment can spread bacteria to your skin.
If you have long hair, put it up in a ponytail our use a headband so you do not have to touch your face and hair. When I go to yoga class I bring a washcloth that I soak in witch hazel and distilled water. I use it on top of my mat and yoga towel for extra protection from bacteria.
It’s always important to support your skin from the inside too! My favorite juice alchemist Kiel Pollitt, the founder and owner of L.A Juice has created my two favorite workout drinks. “Green Juice” is always great for your skin with its chlorophyll content to create more oxygen in the blood. It’s lighter and works great for sipping throughout your workout. Celery, cucumber, cilantro, spinach, lemon ginger and green apple is always a great mix! If you’re not a fan of flavor while you workout, I recommend sipping electrolyte water to rehydrate. His “Moon Smoothie” is delicious. It has homemade almond milk, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, red cabbage and bee pollen. It’s super fresh, has lots of protein, and makes for a nice breakfast before an early workout or an ideal post-workout shake.
After your workout, make sure to wash with a gentle cleanser using cool water to take down inflammation. Stay away from harsh scrubs! Your skin is a bit more vulnerable. My go-to post workout serum is Luzern’s Rehydrate. It’s filled with hyaluronic and b5 to support and replenish the water balance in the skin. It also has lipids and ceramides that restore our vital moisture barrier. Your face will absorb things faster right after a workout so hold off a bit on strong retinols, or AHAs.
If you can relax after, this is a great time to apply your hydrating and soothing sheet masks. Your skin will drink it up!
Working out does the mind, body and soul good. Just remember to give some extra love and support to your skin!
In the name of beauty, Mia Belle seeks to elevate the future of skin care.
Mia Belle is a well-traveled paramedical aesthetician with nearly two decades of experience in the fields of skin care and preventative aging. Her passion to be a part of the rapid advancements in health care and her continued training on a global level, allows her to develop the best treatments and products possible. She has trained in Montreal, Paris, London, Norway, Iceland, New York, and San Francisco with some of the most internationally renowned chemists, engineers, physicians and alternative health practitioners.
Mia Belle is a published skin care expert who has been featured on Oprah, EXTRA, “E” Entertainment, Access Hollywood and KTLA.
