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After a long and tiring sweat session, you may wonder if it is a good idea to wash your face and body. While it may sound trivial to some, it is good to know whether you should perform any skin care on post-workout skin. This article will detail whether it is advisable wash face after working out.

Your Skin Before, During, and After Exercising

Before working out, you should remove any makeup and bacteria from your epidermis through a regular cleanse. Removing your makeup helps prevent breakouts since there won’t be any makeup residue to mix with your sweat and clog your pores.

When it comes to your workout, high-intensity activities such as hot yoga, singles tennis, and running can cause you to sweat more to cool you down. While sweat is mostly water, it can contain traces of ammonia and metabolic waste called urea. Lastly, as your body heats up and you finish exercising, you may experience post-workout redness.

Should I Wash My Face After Working Out?

The short answer is yes. It is a good idea to wash your face after working out, particularly if you have more oily skin. The longer sweat remains after you exercise, the more chances it will mix with the oil, urea, and ammonia on your skin and give off an unpleasant odor.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Your Post-Workout Face Wash

There are multiple ways in which you can better clean and care for your epidermis, and this section will give you tips to clean your face after breaking a sweat.

Step 1: Head to the shower

Exercising in a gym means you likely have access to showers, so after working out, take advantage and head straight to the shower for a quick rinse. Make sure to thoroughly remove all the sweat from your entire body, paying close attention to your face. 

A shower will help to keep your skin clean after intense activity. For those who experience body acne, it is often advisable to shower after exercise rather than just cleaning your face.

Step 2: Clean your hands

You can skip steps 2 and 3 if you have had the opportunity perform them in the shower. Otherwise, start with cleaning your hands. One of the biggest face-washing mistakes people make is not washing their hands before performing their skincare routine, which can do more harm to your skin, causing pimples, larger pores, and irritation.

Step 3: Cleanse your face

After cleaning your hands, use a gentle or mild cleanser with active ingredients and cool water to remove bacteria, prevent acne, and leave your skin feeling clean. Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, Associate Clinical Professor at George Washington University, mentions that hot water can have an aging effect on the skin, so using slightly colder water is more advantageous.

The best way to see your pores open is to use a cleanser. Cleansing can keep you looking more healthy and prevent breakouts. It can also be more hydrating, giving your skin a softer appearance.

Step 4: Exfoliate

It is best to perform this step after every other exercise session to give you a healthy glow. You should skip this step if you exercise at least 4+ times weekly. Exfoliating too much can result in redness, dry and flaky skin, and a burning sensation. Many professionals advise that you exfoliate your face twice or thrice per week. 

Step 5: Moisturizer and serums

Applying moisturizer and serums is vital to prevent dry skin and help you retain your youthful looks. Many of these products enable your epidermis to hold water and act as barriers to external elements that can result in dryness.

Step 6: Sunscreen

The last part of your skincare should involve applying sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Sunscreen is essential as it can help you avoid sunburn, prevent skin discoloration, and minimize the possibility of skin conditions due to sun exposure.

Quality Skincare Products in Your Beauty Routine

Dr. Morgan Erica Rabach, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology at The Icahn School of Medicine, can provide professional acne treatment and treatments for other skin problems. However, there are also different ways to take care of your skin using essential skincare products you can use post-workout or in your usual beauty routine.

Gentle Cleanser

To wash your face correctly, you must have a suitable cleanser at hand. If you wear makeup, remove it beforehand to help the water thoroughly clean your skin.

Achieving healthy skin requires plenty of care and research into what products agree with your body. According to Dr. Farah Moustafa, a Board-Certified Dermatologist, a salicylic acid cleanser can prevent inflammatory acne and tone down your body’s oil production. 

Dr. Moustafa also implies that cleansers with Benzoyl peroxide can clean your pores and eliminate the type of bacteria that can cause acne.

Tinted Moisturizer

After using a gentle cleanser containing nourishing ingredients, you can use a hydrating face mist or tinted moisturizer to hydrate and reduce inflammation. After your workout, you should use it all over your body, concentrating mainly on your neck and face.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is essential for those with a more sensitive skin type. Medical professionals often say you should apply sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

If you forget to wear sunscreen, the UV rays can damage collagen, cause you to develop sunburns, or lead to scarring in acne-prone areas. Aloe vera and black tea can be natural remedies for those who already have sunburn. 

No Water? No Problem!

If you want to perform your post-workout skincare routine after heading to the gym but have no access to a shower or sink, you can use facial wipes to wipe away the residual makeup, sweat, dirt, and oil to prevent breakouts.

Although facial wipes can be helpful occasionally, you should not entirely rely on them in the long term. Use a facial wipe after exercise only if you have no other access to clean water to shower or cleanse your face.

Conclusion

Overall, washing your face after exercise is good practice, especially if you tend to break out in sweat a lot during workouts. Cleaning your face can help you feel cleaner and more refreshing. After heading to the gym or performing any sort of intense activity, make sure to clean your face (and ideally body) thoroughly.

FAQs

Should I Wash Sweat off My Face?

Spending a few hours at the gym can result in dirt and other impurities on your skin. If you intend to work out, you must remember to clean the sweat off of your face. It’ll help you feel more hygienic and prevent minor skin problems such as inflammation and pimples.

What Should I Do for My Skin After Exercise?

Washing your face after working out removes the buildup of bacteria from your epidermis. You should also apply serums and sunscreen, especially if you live in a warmer and more humid climate.

Should I Keep My Skin Care Products in My Gym Bag?

Keeping your products in your gym bag is a good idea since you can access all the items you need for your skincare routine after working out. Having them in your gym bag can also help you not forget about washing your face.

Should I Exfoliate to Get Rid of Dead Skin Cells After a Gym Workout?

If you exfoliate too often, it could result in micro-abrasions, so you should exfoliate at least two or three times per week maximum. Try to exfoliate every other day, and it’s all the better if it aligns with your workout day.

Is It a Good Idea to Use Salicylic Acid or Hyaluronic Acid After Working Out?

You can use Salicylic acid as a preventative measure for acne or acne treatment. Hyaluronic acid can relieve dry skin since it helps retain moisture, giving you a softer and more hydrated appearance. You can use both acids after working out, which will work well in combination.

Forehead wrinkles can become quite noticeable as we get older. These horizontal lines are a tell tale sign that we are aging and most of us are looking for a way to avoid that at all costs.

So you may be asking yourself, “What are the causes of forehead wrinkles and is there any way to prevent them?”

This article reveals that there are a number of significant factors that contribute to the formation of these notorious lines on our face.

Forehead Wrinkles Causes

Not Avoiding The Sun

The ultra violet rays of the sun highly contribute to forehead wrinkles, because it diminishes the collagen and elastin in the skin. When this happens, the skin becomes less “plump” and then starts to wrinkle as it loses its fullness.

Fine lines will continue to get deeper over time if not treated quickly and appropriately.

Smoking Cigarettes

As reported in this study, smoking can be a major factor in the appearance of premature aging of the skin.

Similar to over exposure to the sun, the chemicals in cigarettes will greatly decrease the collagen and elastin in the skin. This is why many smokers tend to look older than they actually are.

Not Hydrating The Body

When your body is lacking water, so is your skin. When your skin is dehydrated, the wrinkles start to appear and you can start looking older almost instantly.

How To Stop Forehead Wrinkles

Drink Plenty Of Water

A nutritionist featured in this article, suggests that adults should drink half of their body weight in water to be fully hydrated.

Skin that is hydrated will look smoother and more plump when you have consumed enough water. It also will look brighter and overall more healthy.

Avoid the over use of alcohol. Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body and the skin and will cause a rapid increase in the aging process.

Moisturize The Skin

Not only should we internally hydrate our skin, but we should also topically hydrate it as well.

Apply products that enhance and seal in moisture to the skin. This should be in the form of serums, moisturizers and day and/or night creams

Stop Smoking Cigarettes

Quit smoking as soon as possible to reduce the effects that cigarettes have on the skin and your overall health.

Incorporate Facial Exercises Into Your Routine

Facial exercises can be beneficial to alleviating those pesky fine lines and wrinkles. You can target specific areas of the face, such as the forehead.

This article demonstrates how to easily give your face a workout.

Conclusion

As you can see, all hope is not lost and there are ways to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your forehead. Put the above mentioned tips into practice in your daily routine and you should start to see an improvement in no time!

For further reading, check out: Laugh Lines Diminish With The Help Of These 3 Steps and So, Which Way Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water?

Image: Flickr

Under eye bags sometimes appear out of nowhere. One morning, you just look in the mirror and the area beneath your eyes is puffy and you look like you have aged overnight. This can be very shocking, if you aren’t aware of the reasons behind it.

Under eye bags can be caused by a number of things:

This article suggests that one of the main reasons bags under the eyes are formed, is due to the decrease in fat in that area. As we get older, the skin becomes thinner and any fluid that builds up beneath it, is much more noticeable.

Another reason one may suddenly notice under eye bags, is the onset of allergies or a cold. The excess fluid and congestion will settle around the eye area, causing puffiness. Crying will also leave us with puffy eyes.

Lack of sleep also contributes to under eye bags. Smoking has also been linked to this condition, as well.

If you eat a meal high in sodium, you may also notice water retention in your body as well as in your face, especially around the eye region.

Now, that we know the causes of under eye bags, let’s take a closer look at how to eliminate them:

1. Get Enough Sleep

Lack of sleep, definitely contributes to under eye bags. Adults should aim for a minimum of 7-9 hours of sleep per night, according to Mayo Clinic.

If you don’t sleep enough, it will affect the muscles around your eyes, making them weaker. This will contribute to bags. Once you have caught up on your sleep, they should improve.

2. Adjust Your Sleep Position

When we sleep on our side or stomach, the fluid in our face will tend to settle under the eyes. The best way to stop this from happening, is to sleep on your back and put an extra pillow under your head, to prop it up.

3. Limit High Sodium Foods

If your diet consists of food that is high in salt content, such as potato chips, Chinese food or other salty treats, then you may be retaining fluid. This can build up under the eyes and creates puffiness and bags.

By limiting your intake of salt, you should reduce the appearance of under eye bags.

4. Protect Eyes From The Sun

The ultra violet rays of the sun will destroy the collagen in the skin. Collagen is what keeps the skin plump an youthful looking. As we age, the production of collagen slows down and that is one of the reasons we get sagging and wrinkled skin.

The same thing holds true for sun damage. Always protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses that have UV protection. A large brim hat will also help to shield your face and eyes from further exposure.

5. No More Cigarettes

Smoking cigarettes also contributes to the loss of collagen under the eyes, and other skin on your body. Smokers generally are more prone to under eye bags than non smokers. For your overall health, it is best to completely stop smoking.

Conclusion

By implementing the above tips into your daily lifestyle, you should be able to get control of your uder eye bags.

In addition, be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This will help flush out any toxins in the body, which will also add to puffiness.

Using an under eye serum which contains hyaluronic acid, will also help reduce the appearance of eye puffiness.

For further reading, check out: So, Which Is The Best To Wash Your Face, Hot Or Cold Water? and 5 Skin Care Resolutions You Can Keep This Year.

Image: Flickr

If you read the label for facial cleanser ingredients, you may feel overwhelmed. There is a wide variety and it can be hard to know which ones are the best for your skin.

We all have different skin conditions, such as acne, dryness, fine lines or discoloration. Each ingredient has a specific purpose, targeted for these conditions. Some ingredients benefit the skin in unique ways and others are just fillers or are inactive.

Facial cleansers also come in many forms, such as foaming cleanser, bars, wipes and lotions. For the healthiest skin, use a cleanser that is designated for your skin type.

Let’s take a closer look at the best facial cleanser ingredients and how they can benefit your skin:

Retinol

If you are concerned about fine lines and wrinkles, then a facial cleanser that contains Retinol could be a good choice for you. As stated in this article, Retinol is derived from Vitamin A.

As one of the most popular facial cleanser ingredients, Retinol’s main purpose is to speed up cell turnover. This process helps shed the older skin cells and brings fresh new ones to the surface. It also increases the production of collagen and unclogs pores for clearer skin.

Use caution with products that contain Retinol, if you have sensitive skin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is not only good to eat, but it works wonders on the skin too. It is a natural antioxidant, which helps to fight the free radicals that are found in our daily environment.

As we age, dark spots often appear on the skin. This is also referred to as hyperpigmentation. Using facial cleansers that contain Vitamin C will help lighten these spots and will brighten the entire face, as well.

Salicylic Acid

If you have oily skin or acne prone skin, then facial cleansers that contain salicylic acid are a preferred option.

These cleansers will help to unclog pores from oil and debris. It helps to diminish old skin cells that also contribute to clogged pores. Bacteria is also decreased, which results in fewer or less severe breakouts.

Ceramides

For people with dry and mature skin, facial cleansers that contain ceramides are helpful.

The function of ceramides is to help form a barrier on the skin to prevent loss of moisture. It also hydrates and soothes sensitive and dry skin.

Micelles

Micellar water is an excellent way to remove makeup and other debris on the skin, without any harsh chemicals.

This article reveals that micellar water is composed mainly of “micelles”, which are made up of tiny particles that are attracted to oils and help lift and remove them from the skin.

To use, simply apply micellar water to a cotton pad and pat it gently over the skin.

This cleanser will remove thick makeup and leave your skin clean and fresh, even when there is no water accessible.

Conclusion

In addition to using the appropriate cleanser for your skin, you should also ensure that your other topical products are designated for your skin type as well.

Moisturizers, eye creams and serums should include ingredients that target your specific skin conditions and lifestyle.

To also protect the skin, always wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF. Wear sunglasses to protect the delicate skin around the eyes and prevent crows feet from forming.

Keep your body well hydrated and you will see a difference in your skin. It will be clearer and look more radiant.

For further reading, check out: 5 Skin Care Resolutions You Can Keep This Year and Why You Need To Add A Rose Quartz Face Roller To Your Beauty Routine.

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Using a rose quartz face roller is an excellent addition to your usual skin care routine. They are easy to find in most department stores or online and are also very affordable.

It is simple to use the rose quartz face roller because of it’s design, which resembles a paint roller. Many rollers have a large stone on one end and a smaller one on the other.

The larger portion works well on areas such as the forehead and cheeks. The large roller also works well for the neck area. The small roller is great for the under eye area and around the nose.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits to using a rose quartz face roller:

Stimulates Blood Flow

This article reveals that besides the relaxing feeling you receive when using a roller, you will also stimulate the blood flow to the skin. When blood flow is increased, there is also an increase of collagen, which keeps the skin looking plump and youthful.

Ease Of Use

It is much easier to massage your face with a roller than your hands. Your fingers won’t get tired and the handle makes the motions more comfortable.

Relieves Puffiness

Due to the fact that the roller is made of stone, it will always feel cool to the skin. The cool temperature will help to relieve swelling or puffiness in the face.

The massage will also help to drain the lymphatic system, which also reduces puffiness. The skin will also feel more toned and lifted.

Detoxifies The Skin

This article states, that when the lymphatic system is drained from using the rose quartz face roller, it detoxifies the skin. When this happens, you will notice that you will have less inflammation and acne.

One important thing to remember is that when you first start to detoxify your skin, the impurities will be brought to the surface. You may notice an increase in breakouts at first, but stick with it and your skin will clear up beautifully.

How To Use A Rose Quartz Face Roller

Using a face roller is simple, so there are just a few things to keep in mind:

• Rollers can be used day or night. It is best to apply a serum on the face prior to use, because the roller will help the product penetrate more effectively.

• Always roll in an upward motion. When using a roller or massaging by hand, never drag the skin downward. The purpose is to lift the skin to prevent sagging.

• Start under the chin at the neck. Sweep the roller up from the collar bone in sections across the front of the neck. Repeat five times.

• Moving to the tip of the chin, roll up towards the earlobe five times and repeat on other side. Do this motion five time on both sides.

• Move up to the side of the mouth and roll up towards the middle of the ear, underneath the cheekbone. Repeat five times and do this on both sides of the face.

• Move up to the side of the mouth and roll up towards the middle of the ear, on top of the cheekbone. Repeat five times and do this on both sides of the face.

• Move to the forehead and roll across the eye brow area, then roll across the forehead in an upwards motion. Repeat five times.

• Use the small end to gently roll under the eye from the outer corner towards the inner corner. Be mindful not to tug or pull on the delicate skin in this area.

Conclusion

As you can see, using a rose quartz face roller is an incredible way to keep your skin looking vibrant and youthful. Since they are easy to obtain and simple to use, you will soon be on your way to a fresher looking appearance.

For further reading, check out: Aromatherapy For Your Face – Everything You Need To Know and The Top 4 Foods That Age Your Skin.

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Oils for facial massages are available at the spa or for purchase, but you may be wondering which one is the best for your unique skin type.

We can choose from a wide variety of topical oils, including but not limited to: grapeseed oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, and jojoba oil. Each one provides specific benefits to the skin and is used for different reasons.

Let’s Take A Closer Look at the Different Types Of Oils For Facial Massages:

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is created by pressing the seeds of the sunflower plant. Cold-pressed oil, which is organic, is the recommended type of sunflower oil for the skin.

The use of sunflower oil is very common in the skincare industry. It works exceptionally well to provide quality nutrients to the skin, such as Vitamins A, D, and E, as well as oleic acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and lecithin.

According to this article, sunflower oil aids the skin in retaining moisture, which keeps it plump and hydrated, smoothing out fine lines. It is also non-comedogenic, so pores will remain unclogged. If pores have a buildup of dead skin cells and dirt, this oil will help to release it. Skin will look fresh, clean and free of debris.

Sesame Oil

This popular oil is derived from sesame seeds. This article reveals that it is chock full of fatty acids. It also contains phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, vitamins A, B, and E, and is also rich in fatty acids.

Dry and mature skin will look and feel younger when sesame oil is used on a regular basis.

Grapeseed Oil

One of the most widely used massage oils is grapeseed oil. As explained here, the oil from grapeseeds is expressed during the wine-making process.

This extract is extremely beneficial for the skin, due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. Grapeseed oil contains vitamin E and chain fatty acids in large amounts, which contributes to the improvement of skin when used regularly.

A study on the effects of grapeseed oil on the skin concluded that it is excellent in improving the moisture of the skin as well as the ability to retain elasticity. It has also been shown to improve hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and can prevent the skin from absorbing all of the UV rays of the sun.

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba oil is created from the oil out of the nut from the jojoba plant, which grows in North America.

This article states that jojoba oil has antifungal and antimicrobial properties, which can help kill some bacteria and fungi.

If you suffer from oily skin, jojoba oil is a great choice for use in facial massage. It won’t clog your pores but will help lock in moisture. Jojoba is a preferred oil to use when massaging acne-prone skin.

Conclusion

By incorporating the right oils for facial massages into your skincare routine, you should see an improvement in your skin’s texture and hydration level. Dryness should dramatically decrease and the lines in your face will be less noticeable.

In addition to receiving regular facial massages, there are other things that can help the skin look firmer and more youthful.

One of the most important things is to always protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. To do this, wear a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF and reapply as directed on the label. Wear a wide brim hat and sunglasses to shield the sun and prevent it from damaging the fragile skin around the eyes and on the face.

For further reading, check out: Simple Under Eye Exercises To Reduce Bags and Astringent Vs Toner – Which Is Better For Your Skin.

Image: Flickr