Breakouts and blemishes shouldn’t be embarrassing; they happen to all of us….yet they are embarrassing!!! When I get either, they completely take over my mind, and come summer, for someone like myself with pale, sensitive skin who loves working out (and often does so outdoors with the added effects of outdoor pollutants and no AC), they seem inevitable. While extra precautions must be taken in the summer – and I’ll get to those shortly – I’ve learned that it’s important to remember two things year-round: always wash your face BEFORE working out so that when you sweat your skin is clean (the last thing you want is sweat mixing with dirt, oil, etc.); the second is to always dab your towel, rather than wipe. The reason these are so important is that it’s not actual sweat that causes breakouts– it’s sweat mixed with oil, dirt, and bacteria on the skin surface. Once summer arrives, though, these two methods alone aren’t enough for most of us. I’ve found two products to be critical additions.
First, right after any workout, I spray my whole body with Murad’s body spray (at Sephora for $40). It’s formulated with salicylic acid to fight and prevent breakouts, and with it, you can reach all parts of your body (don’t forget to spray in and around your sports bra). Then I’ll wipe my face with a pad that combines glycolic and salicylic acids (if I’m near a bathroom, I’ll wash my face with water first, but that’s not always the case). The glycolic is key because it works to exfoliate. I exfoliate every day in the summer and have no problem as long as I use a gentle one. I love the MirSkin 5/2 pads (on MirSkin for $70). They’re dermatologist-developed and don’t sting my skin like many other pads I’ve tried. These two products are lifesavers; if I don’t use facial pads and a body spray right after my workout, I will have blemishes – and unfortunately, because I’m friends with my trainer and we often go to a café after our session, I sometimes do wait too long and inevitably break out. Make time to use these quick fixes post-workout, and you’ll be good to go!
