Natural Skincare for Athletes

With the Summer Olympics right around the corner, let’s talk about natural skincare for athletes. Whether you’re a professional athlete, aspiring hobbyist, or just working out to stay in shape, exercise comes with a host of benefits. It releases endorphins, relaxes tension and stress, and helps take care of your body. Working out and sports activities do a number on your skin, though, so a proper skincare routine is essential.

Keep It Clean

Working out with makeup on is just plain gross. Your skin can’t breathe or sweat underneath a layer of makeup, making it a breeding ground for bacteria and breakouts. Keep a makeup wipe in your bag to cleanse on the go.

After a sweaty session, cleanse your skin with a gentle cleanser as soon as possible. This prevents the sweat from sinking into your skin and clogging your pores. The type of cleanser you use is dependent on your skin type, but natural cleansers will help avoid chemical reactions with your skin.

Spritz It Down

If you’re in a long, hot workout or event, keep a bottle of toner or rosewater with you. The cooling spray will help soothe your face throughout the activity and reduce the amount of sweat that settles into your skin. Make sure to be aware that many people are smell-sensitive, so spritz in a wide-open area or use unscented or lightly scented sprays.

Moisturize

Although you should cleanse your skin right away, wait until your skin has settled to apply a moisturizer. Red, irritated skin can react poorly to too many products. Use a moisturizer fortified with antioxidants or vitamins to nourish your skin and restore the skin’s natural nutrients. Keeping your skin hydrated is especially important for outdoor activities in the sun and wind.

Protect

Before you start a workout session or sports event, protect your skin with a powerful sunscreen. Most skin experts agree skin needs a minimum of 30 SPF to be protected from sun damage. Since sun damage can cause hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of pre-mature aging, sun protection is necessary to keep a youthful look.

Hydrate

Make sure to drink enough water to re-hydrate what you’re sweating out. Hydration is essential to skincare. Water plumps and smooths the skin. Without enough of it, your skin will dry out and flake. Make sure to increase your water consumption based on how much you’re working out.

On the Go

Being an athlete means that you need to be able to take care of your skin on the go. Create a travel skincare kit with smaller sized products that you can take with you wherever you go. Pop your skincare bag into your gym bag and you’re set! Plus, then you don’t have to worry about unpacking and repacking products at home.