Skin Care Meets Fitness: How To Care For Skin During Your Workouts

Sweat it out safely with our expert tips.

Jul 8, 2021

We all know this: Exercise is good for you. It keeps your weight in check, strengthens the body, and stimulates the release of endorphins, a.k.a. your happy hormones. But while it’s also good for your skin in the long run—because a healthy body radiates a healthy glow—a sweat fest can potentially wreck havoc on your complexion, too. That said, you can keep your complexion clear and safe with these skin care practices to complement your fitness routine. Read on!

Tip #1. It’s best to skip the makeup.

It’s normal to want to look presentable when you’re working out with other people (even if it’s via Zoom), but read this before you slap on all that makeup: Your body heats up as you move, which causes your pores to open up. When this happens, your products—even your heavy moisturizer—can settle into your pores and clog them up.
To prevent this, it’s best to let your skin breathe especially when you know you’re going to sweat. If you must have coverage, opt for a lightweight formula like a tinted moisturizer or just apply a few dabs of concealer on problem areas. The same goes with your skin care: Swap thick creams for a gel moisturizer or ultra light sunscreen. Don’t forget to look for the word “non-comedogenic” on the label, too, as these are formulas designed not to block pores.

Tizo 3, P1,980
This lightly tinted sunscreen with SPF 40 is a great alternative for your makeup base, leaving skin with a flawless matte finish. (It disappears into any skin color!)

Frezyderm Sunscreen Color Velvet Face Cream SPF 50, P2,450
This melts into skin with its “Second Skin Technology” and provides high UV protection while unifying the skin tone.

Heliocare 360 Color Gel Oil-free, P1,750
Prefer gel? Get sun and blue light protection from this tinted formula with a light, dry touch texture.

Biologique Recherche Serum De Teint
This skin care and makeup hybrid provides sheer coverage while hydrating skin and protecting from external aggressors.

Heliocare Gel SPF 90, P2,450
Perfect for outdoor workouts, this clear sunscreen boasts of a fresh gel texture that’s ideal for oily and acne-prone skin types.

Tip #2: Exercising outdoors? Stay protected.

Sunscreen is a given when you’re keen on soaking up the sun as you exercise. But UV protection isn’t the only thing you should be thinking about. Aside from slathering on a product with at least SPF 30, it’s important to shield skin against damage from pollutants with skin care products that are packed with antioxidants, such as vitamin C and vitamin E. These shield your complexion from oxidative stress caused by external aggressors and also aid with skin repair.

Also good protectors? Moisturizing face mists. Aside from keeping skin from getting dehydrated, they also provide soothing benefits against the sun’s heat and other elements.

Biologique Recherche Creme VIP O2
This anti-pollution cream boosts skin health with its combination of regenerating agents and a unique oxygenating complex.

Biologique Recherche Fluide VIP O2
This moisturizing formula protects the skin from urban aggressions by trapping oxygen at the surface of the skin to aid in skin repair.

Heliocare Ultra Capsules, P2,930
Beef up your topical sunscreen’s benefits with this oral supplement that provides UVA/UVB photoprotection and has natural antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress.

Biologique Recherche L’Eauxygenante
This moisturizing, antioxidant, and oxygenating mist envelopes skin in a protective veil while also stimulating skin healing.

Ivatherm Eau Thermale Herculane (Thermal Spring Water), P750 to P900
Made with nutrient-rich and pure water from the Herculane saline springs, this hydrates, decongests, and soothes skin.

Tip #3: Minimize friction on skin.

“Exercise may cause friction in the folds of our skin, and this may lead to intertrigo,” says Dr. Maximin Navarro, Bella Pelle Philippines’ resident dermatologist and a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) fellow. Fast facts: Intertrigo is a rash in the flexures, such as behind the ears, on the folds of the neck, under the arms, under a protruding abdomen, in the groin, between the buttocks, on the finger webs, or in the toe spaces. “Although intertrigo can affect only one skin fold, intertrigo commonly involves multiple sites.”

One factor that contributes to intertrigo? Wearing too tight workout clothes made with the wrong fabric or material—the kind that traps in moisture instead of letting it evaporate. Dr. Navarro advises going for clothes made of breathable, lightweight fabrics such as cotton, nylon, and polyester, and to keep skin cool and dry. You can also apply soothing creams to treat rashes and manage discomfort.

Froika Froicalm Cream, P1,850
This provides immediate relief from itching and irritation due to intertrigo and other skin conditions like eczema and allergies.

Froika Baby Cream, P1,750
Not just a diaper cream, this all-around skin saver helps protect skin from irritants by providing an invisible barrier, thanks to zinc oxide. (And yes, even adults can use it, too!)

Tip #4: Keep your hair out of your face.

Keeping your hair tied in a ponytail isn’t just a style statement; it’s a way to protect your skin, too. This prevents the oil and dirt from your strands from making their way to your face and clogging up your pores, which can lead to breakouts. This tip is also particularly helpful in preventing body acne as well, specifically bacne.

Tip #5: Always wash your face post-workout.

Whether or not you’re wearing makeup during your workouts, here’s a cardinal rule of skin care: Always wash your face with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and sweat build-up after your session. Even better: Hop into the shower to cool off skin and refresh your body, then seal in moisture with a light lotion or moisturizer.

Kamedis Sebo Skin T-Zone Cleanser, P1,400
This botanical cleansing gel cleanses oil-prone skin while also relieving redness and irritation without a drying effect.

Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2
This anti-pollution cleanser washes away impurities, calms the skin, and brightens and unifies the complexion.

Aknicare Cleanser, P1,680
Here’s a good option for those prone to breakouts on the face, chest, and back: It has Triclosan, Pyruvic acid and Triethyl citrate to soothe skin and keep irritation at bay.

Bonus tip: Keep oil control or toner pads handy for quick degreasing—even when you’re on the go.

ZO Oil Control Pads, P4,450
These easy-to-use pads contain 2% salicylic acid to exfoliate skin, remove oil, keep pores clean, and refresh skin instantly.

Tip #6: Add anti-acne products to your routine.

When it comes to pimples, prevention is definitely better than cure. That said, it’s best to incorporate anti-acne ingredients to your skin care routine even before you even start a new exercise regimen—especially if you have oily or blemish-prone skin. Aside from keeping your pores clear, ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), and retinol stimulate skin cell turnover, helping you score fresher and younger-looking skin in the long run.

Aknicare Body Spray (Chest & Back), P2,150
This spray-on product is specifically formulated to minimize the symptoms of inflamed acne and skin irritation on the chest and back.

Biretix Oral, P1,350
This anti-blemish oral food supplement has RetinSphere technology to provide the benefits of retinoids—for acne control—without the sensitivity.

Tip #7: Stay hydrated.

As you sweat, you lose body fluid, which then dehydrates your body—and your skin. To avoid the risk of heat stress and maintain normal body functions, make sure you load up on H20 before, during, and after your workouts. Moreover, staying hydrated helps rejuvenate your skin by helping flush out toxins faster, improving elasticity, keeping oil production in check, and enhancing skin’s overall radiance.

For customized skin care recommendations, you can book a virtual dermatological consultation with Dr. Maximin Navarro, Bella Pelle Philippines’ resident dermatologist and a Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) fellow, here.