Sweat proof: The best pre- and post-workout skincare
Add these essentials to your gym bag so keep skin prepped and primed for breaking a sweat
All products are chosen independently by our editors. Luxury London may earn commission on items purchased.
While it’s all well and good to push your body to the limits on a run, in the gym or in a fitness class, excessive sweating and adrenaline can have adverse effects on your complexion and skin barrier. Facing the gym product-free is a good place to start, but cleansing pre- and post-workout is essential for unclogging pores and maintaining a healthy skin barrier, while specially formulated moisturisers, serums and SPFs can help look after your skin without feeling greasy. We’re not ones to gatekeep: here are the essentials Team LL packs for the gym to help us feel our best before and after exercise.
Pre-workout skincare routine
Cleanse: Wildsmith Skin Active Repair Cleansing Balm
Indulge in a buttery morning cleanse that leaves skin soft and supple with Wildsmith Skin’s Active Repair Cleansing Balm. Apply two spoons to your skin to effortlessly melt away makeup, SPF, impurities, dirt and grime, and unclog pores before you sweat without stripping your skin barrier. Enriched with oils of sweet almond argan, meadowfoam seed, calendula flower and spearmint, nothing will get you out of bed and into the gym quite like this morning facial.
Moisturise: Dr Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Water Cream
While you may be sweating it out, you don’t want your skin to be deprived of hydration. We recommend opting for a water-based cream as your pre-workout moisturiser. Ultra-lightweight and gel-based, Dr Jart+’s formulated with hyaluronic acid to help skin lock in moisture, and SJC GG – a unique complex with glyceryl glucoside and glycerin – to boost water channels. It’s also free from drying alcohol and mineral oils, so acts as the perfect base for the rest of your skincare routine.
SPF: Skin Wrkout Max Out Mineral SPF30 with Tint
One of the only skincare brands solely focused on fitness, Skin Wrkout offers a plethora of pre- and post-workout products, ranging from toners to eye creams. We love the gender-neutral SPF tint which simultaneously protects against UVA and UVB rays and is enriched with omega-rich sea buckthorn and hyaluronic acid, known for their anti-inflammatory, healing and cell regeneration properties. Perfect for those who prefer a light coverage to help balance out redness while they’re in the gym or on a run, we can guarantee this will make you look and feel radiant (with or without sweat).
Post-workout skincare routine
Cleanse: Elemis Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser
Cleansing after every workout is essential to remove the dried sweat, oil, and debris that can accumulate on the skin barrier and aggravate breakouts or lead to clogged pores. British beauty brand Elemis recommends a gentle, sulphate-free formulation, such as the Pro-Collagen Energising Marine Cleanser, to remove the nasties while preserving natural oils. Sweep across the face and neck with your fingers to create a rich lather and wash off with a warm cloth to feel instantly refreshed.
Serum: Dr Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum
While your skin may be flushed from burning calories, incorporating a brightening vitamin C into your post-workout routine imparts more than just a healthy glow. Clinically proven to offer antioxidant protection, aid skin repair, promote collagen synthesis, and help reduce inflammation and redness post-exercise, opt for Dr Barbara Sturm’s The Good C Vitamin C Serum. Infused with aloe vera and hyaluronic acid, it is gentle, hydrating and effective.
SPF: Ultra Violette SPF 50 Active Facial SKINSCREEN
Nothing says refreshed quite like Ultra Violette’s new Active Facial Skinscreen. Popular purveyor in the SPF space, its latest formula is water-resistant and offers a cooling, comfortable gel texture that quickly absorbs for a lightweight, invisible satin skin finish. No sticky residue but plenty of SPF 50. Use on its own or as a layer before your daily makeup routine.
Read more: The Beauty Edit: The best new makeup and skincare to buy now
