7 Post-Workout Skin Care Mistakes You Shouldn't Make

Post-workout skincare can be just as important as your morning and evening routine. And while you may already be following a post-workout skincare regimen, you may — unknowingly — make serious mistakes in post-workout skin care. From skipping your cleanser to keeping sweaty activewear on and exfoliating sensitive skin after a workout, here we share seven tips you should never do after a workout.

#1: DON'T USE CLEANSER

As with morning and evening skincare, one of the most important steps in post-workout skincare is cleansing your skin. Cleansing is essential to wash away sweat and any pore-clogging dirt and debris your skin may have come into contact with between squats and burpees. We recommend keeping a mini-bottle of micellar water and cotton pads in your gym bag to ensure a quick but effective cleansing of sweaty skin, even if there is no room for a sink in a crowded locker room. Don't forget to apply a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer!

#2: USE PRODUCTS WITH SMELLS OR OTHER IRRITANTS

Another post-gym, no no? Applying aromatic products to the skin. After a workout, your skin may feel more sensitive than usual, which in turn can make it more sensitive to scented skin care products. When packing your skin care products into your gym bag, try to choose ones that are fragrance-free or designed for sensitive skin.

#3: APPLY THE PRODUCTS IF YOU GET FAT

After a particularly intense workout, you can often end up sweating long after you've completed your last rep. To get the most out of your skin care products, give your body a chance to cool down before completing your post-workout skin care routine. That way, you won't find yourself wiping your sweaty face with a dirty gym towel and you won't have to repeat your routine over and over again. Need to freshen up while you wait? Apply a soothing facial spray to your skin. Many of them contain ingredients such as aloe vera and rose water, and can be refreshed when applied to the skin.

#4: SAVE YOUR SWEET CLOTHES

If you want to quickly go down the path to body pimples - we hope not - leave your sweaty gym clothes behind. If not, bring a change of clothes to change into. Better yet, wash yourself off in the shower and put on a fresh change of clothes before you even leave the gym. Sweat and grime that you may have washed off your face after a workout can linger on your sweaty workout clothes, waiting to wreak havoc on your body's skin.

#5: DOWN YOUR HAIR

If you've just finished a sweaty workout, the last thing you need to do is let your hair down. Sweat, dirt, oils, and products from your hair can come into contact with your hairline or complexion and lead to unnecessary breakouts. If you don't plan on rinsing your hair in the locker room shower, you better keep it tied up in a ponytail, braid, headband - you get the idea.

#6: TOUCH YOUR FACE

After a workout at the gym, the last thing you want to do is touch your face before you wash it off. Whether you've been running on a treadmill, lifting weights, or doing yoga at the gym, chances are you've been in contact with other people's germs, sweat, sebum, and debris. And those germs, sweat, grease and debris can wreak havoc on your complexion! So, do yourself and your skin a favor and try to maintain good hygiene.

#7: FORGET TO DRINK WATER

This is a kind of concession. For health and skin reasons, it's always a good idea to drink water throughout the day...especially after you've sweated some of your body's moisture at the gym. So, before you have a sports drink, protein shake, or whatever you like to fuel up after an intense workout, drink some water! Your body (and skin) will thank you in the long run.