You put in the work at the gym. Your muscles are pumped, your endorphins are firing and you’re feeling confident. We know that regular exercise is incredibly rewarding for both our physical and mental health—the best habit to improve your quality of life and longevity. But while exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body, it can also be surprisingly tough on your skin. Sweat, grime and even the supplements you take pre-workout all play a role in how your skin looks and feels.
At its core, exercise is actually good for your complexion. Increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to your skin, giving you that temporary post-workout glow. But it’s not all upside. Sweat itself isn’t the enemy—it’s mostly water and salt. The problem is that it mixes with oil (and lingering grooming products), along with bacteria and dead skin cells sitting on your skin. That cocktail, if left to linger, clogs pores and leads to breakouts or rashes. Add in tight workout clothes or a dirty towel, and you’re basically trapping that gunk against your skin.
And we get it. If you give your all in the gym, you’re exhausted afterwards. But if you skip the right aftercare, you run the risk of breakouts, irritation and a dull complexion. You want to treat your skin as well as you treat your muscles. You’ll recover faster, look fresher and get more of that hard-earned glow to stick around. Here’s what’s really happening to your skin when you train, and how to keep it clear and healthy after every workout.
