Alright girls – it’s been one month since the New Year, and while some Late Night mozzarella sticks and Papa Gino’s pizzas at the hockey games MIGHT have ruined my whole “I’m gonna eat healthy this year, I swear” spiel, I have to admit that I am very impressed with myself for sticking to my other resolution of getting to the gym every day! Being a gym rat is no easy task, though. The days are so cold I barely want to leave my room, let alone run. Homework and quizzes are starting to increase, the Stairmaster is currently my worst enemy, and I’m getting blemishes on my otherwise clear face from all that sweat! While there seems to be no solution to those first three problems, other than to grin and bear it, I have found some ways that will help keep my skin clearer as my workouts become more intense!
1. Take off the makeup
I don’t know about you, but I am the WORST offender to the “never workout with makeup on” rule. I usually workout right after classes and am too lazy forget to take off my makeup I put on in the morning. However, since I started taking off my makeup before my workouts, my skin has never looked better. Now I always make sure to pack face wipes in my gym bag so I can quickly wipe off any makeup I have left on my face that would otherwise clog my pores!
2. Hit the showers with a GENTLE face wash
After my workouts, I usually hop straight into the shower and wash my face with my regular face wash that is fairly harsh. I unfortunately found out the hard way that washing your face upwards of three times a day can have the opposite effect on your skin, and can actually make you break out even more! So, at least for your post-workout showers, use an extremely gentle cleanser with no microbeads or harsh textures. I personally recommend Cetaphil’s face wash – it even comes in travel sized bottles in case you need to freshen up at the Plex before you head to your classes!
3. Use the sauna
That thing in the back of the locker room you probably never used before can actually be very helpful for opening up your pores after a long workout. Plus, it feels amazing to just sit and stretch in the heat before heading out into the tundra.
4. Moisturize
Forever and always SPF 20 – especially when the weather starts to get warmer and you’re itching for a jog around the Res.
Photo Sources: