Why You Need This Pre-and Post-Workout Skincare Routine

Keep these skincare tips in mind when working out:

• ● Bring makeup remover wipes to clean your skin before your workout. Cleanse off makeup or existing dirt your skin may have built up before you start sweating.  
• ● Avoid touching your face during a workout, especially when using shared workout equipment. Chances are, there is leftover dirt, sweat and germs from people who used the equipment before you on the handlebars, weights, mats, water fountains and other surfaces you touch in the gym. Instead, bring a soft and clean towel to blot your face when necessary.
• ● Apply sunscreen before going outdoors. Too much sun can cause a lot of damage to your skin over time, which can lead to premature aging, wrinkles and more serious problems like skin cancer.
• ● Pull your hair back away from your face. Touching your hair during a workout can actually stimulate the production of oils. If you have any product in your hair, such as hairspray, serums or hair gel, those substances can rub or run along your skin and scalp when you sweat. This product residue can block your pores and lead to breakouts.
• ● Drink lots of water. Staying hydrated retains your skin’s elasticity, which lessens your risk of developing wrinkles and lines.

Implementing these tips for each workout will help to keep your skin clean, refreshed and looking brilliant; however, the order in which you do these things also matters. That’s why we’ve put together an essential step-by-step pre-and post-workout skincare routine to help you maintain clear, healthy-looking skin.

Pre-Workout Skincare Tips

Step 1: Cleanse and Remove Makeup

Because dirt, oil and product on your skin can block your pores, it’s important to always begin a workout with a clean and bare face. Makeup may sound appealing anytime you leave the house, but it won’t do your complexion any long-term favors when you’re sweating at the gym. 

Your pre-workout skincare routine should always start by removing makeup and any other dirt or debris that may have collected on your face since the last time you cleansed it. The Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir  is a water-free avocado and humectant-rich balm, ideal for cleansing without stripping your skin of vital moisture. This formula helps maintain a protective layer of hydration as you remove makeup and impurities from your skin pre-workout. 

Product Spotlight:  Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir 

Step 2: Tone and Freshen Up

Once your skin is clean, it’s time to use a tonic. Face tonics help to remove any remaining impurities from your skin so you don’t sweat or wipe them into your skin during your workout. Tonics also helps to tighten your pores, which can prevent dirt and sweat from getting under your skin.

Apply the Retrouvé Conditioning Tonic with Chamomile  to lightly exfoliate without over- drying the skin due to the Super Hyaluronic Acid. Saturate a clean cotton pad and glide it across your face and neck in gentle, upward strokes, being careful not to get it near your eyes. The product will also help keep your skin soft, as it purifies and conditions your skin as it hydrates. It can also be helpful on the neck and décolletage area.

Product Spotlight: Retrouvé Conditioning Tonic with Chamomile  

Step 3: Apply Sunscreen (If Working Out Under the Sun)

Regardless of whether you’re working out or just lounging outdoors, you should always apply some type of SPF to protect your skin from the sun. This is true even when it’s cloudy, as harmful UV waves from the sun can still poke in through the clouds. Some dermatologists even recommend wearing sunscreen indoors when you’re working out near a sunny window.

Things to consider when choosing and applying sunscreen include: 

• ● Look for sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 or above.
• ● Make sure it covers every exposed part of your body.
• ● Apply it generously to ensure lasting protection.
• ● Reapply often, at least every two hours, as most sunscreens don’t last longer than two hours, regardless of their SPF.
• ● You should also reapply after swimming or intense sweating.

Post-Workout Skincare Routine

Step 1: Shower

Now that you’ve had a great sweat sesh with prepped skin, it’s time to begin your after-workout skincare routine. 

A post-workout shower should always be the first part of your skincare routine after a workout. Showers help clean off all the sweat and grime your body accumulated while exercising, and they can also help cool you off. 

Leaving sweat on your body after a workout is not helpful for your skin, as this residue can build up and can cause breakouts, especially on areas like your back and chest. You also need to remove the free radicals produced during exercise that can actually damage the skin.

Step 2: Cleanse Again

Cleansing is an essential part of both your pre- and post-workout skincare routine. Use a hydrating cleanser to wash any new buildup of dirt from your face and keep pores clear. The Retrouvé Luminous Cleansing Elixir is gentle enough to use both pre- and post-workout. 

Ingredient Spotlight: The mild avocado-based soaping agent in our formula also helps to moisturize, brighten, and soften the skin and is more gentle than alcohols or strong surfactants. 

Step 3: Gently Exfoliate

The next step in your post-workout skincare routine is to exfoliate your skin and to completely remove lingering dirt, sweat and grime from your complexion. 

For bright, even-textured skin, consider using the Retrouvé Conditioning Tonic with Chamomile, an everyday refresh for the skin to reduce the appearance of pores while clarifying and lightly hydrating the skin and preparing it for moisturization.

Product Spotlight:  Conditioning Tonic with Chamomile

Step 4: Serum

Serums offer a little extra hydration and can help to target specific skin concerns. 

Our vitamin-infused Retrouvé Nutrient Face Serum absorbs instantly for a light yet effective hydration. With regular use, this formula improves the texture and appearance of fine lines for a smoother complexion and helps to diminish the appearance of dark spots.

Product Spotlight:  Retrouvé Nutrient Face Serum

Step 5: Moisturize

The final step in your post-workout skincare routine is to seal your skin with a layer of moisturizer. This application helps you to regain the water your skin lost during your workout to avoid skin dehydration. Use the moisturizer most suited for your skin’s individual needs at that time, with a richer moisturizer for drier skin. For balanced skin we recommend our Dynamic Nourishing Face Cream and for dry skin we recommend our Intensive Replenishing Facial Moisturizer.

Having a pre- and post-workout skincare routine gives your skin what it needs to stay clear, healthy and glowing. But, choosing the right skincare products is just as important as using them. Discover Retrouvé’s Face Collection for effective and hydrating skincare products to use before and after a workout.