If you work out regularly and prioritize taking care of your body, it’s likely that you’re also interested in taking proper care of your skin — it is your largest organ after all.

In fact, using a proper skincare routine is kind of like giving your face a good workout. Top-notch skincare ingredients like Retinol, Vitamin C, and Peptides can help to firm and strengthen your skin — helping to ward off wrinkles — while others will help to prevent breakouts, baggy eyes, and, worst of all, skin cancer. And, like working out, skincare is a preventive measure to ensure that you look and feel your best years down the line.

What is a good skincare routine?

A good skincare routine is one that’s tailored to your concerns, skin type, and — above all — fits into your daily schedule. If your skincare routine becomes an inconvenience it will fall by the wayside and you won’t reap the rewards.

So, what’s a good skincare routine for workout days? Here, the skincare experts at Bottlecode break down the best pre- and post-workout skincare tips to help keep your skin in shape.

When should I do my skincare routine on days that I work out?

Before we get into our pre- and post-workout skincare tips, let’s tackle one of the most commonly asked questions: when should I do my skincare routine on days that I workout?

If you workout in the morning:

Working out in the morning is a great way to kick off your day on the right foot. If you like to get your workout in early, don’t waste your time and money doing a full skincare routine beforehand since it’ll all be washed off in about an hour. That said, if you workout outside, it’s important that you apply SPF moisturizer before your workout to protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays.

Basic Post-workout AM Skincare Routine Example:

Step 1: Cleanse
Step 2: Eye Cream
Step 3: SPF Moisturizer


If you workout in the afternoon:

Having the flexibility to work out in the afternoon is great, but doing so will require a little more work when it comes to skincare. On afternoon workout days, you’ll want to apply your AM skincare routine at the beginning of the day and then again after your workout to ensure that your skin is well-nourished and protected throughout the entire day.

If you workout in the evening:

Many of us choose to work out in the evening as a way to destress and mentally prepare for the day ahead. If you work out in the evening, go ahead and apply your evening skincare routine immediately after your post-workout shower. This way, you’ll get it out of the way before you get too tired.

Basic Post-workout PM Skincare Routine Example:

Step 1: Cleanse
Step 2: Serum
Step 3: Night Cream

Now let’s get into some pro skincare tips for before, after, and during your workout.

Before your workout

Don’t do your hair before a workout

We get it, you’re trying to look your best at the gym, but that hair gel won’t do your skin any favors. As you sweat, your hair product will drip down your face, clog your pores, and lead to breakouts.

Apply SPF moisturizer

As we mentioned above, if you work out in the morning, you don’t need to go through your whole skincare routine before your workout since it will all be washed off in about an hour. That said, your skin should always be protected from the elements, especially if you work out outside.

The sun’s UV rays damage the collagen in your skin and are responsible for 90% of wrinkles and, worse yet, may lead to skin cancer. Applying a lightweight SPF moisturizer before your workout will help to keep your skin protected.

During your workout

Use a clean towel

You might be tempted to wipe the sweat off your forehead with your hands or that dirty towel you just used to wipe down the equipment. Both are full of bacteria. Be sure to keep an additional clean towel on hand exclusively for your face.

Drink plenty of water

Drinking water before, during, and after your workout can help to cool your body and reduce sweating. It will also help to prevent dehydration, a leading cause of baggy eyes, dull skin, and — believe it or not — oiliness.

After your workout

Keep your shower cool

Lukewarm showers are best for your skin because hot water can compromise your pH balance and weaken your skin’s natural protective skin barrier, allowing unwanted bacteria to penetrate into your pores and cause issues. Keeping your showers cool will also help to prevent that everlasting sweat throughout the day, especially during the warmer months. 

Keep cleansing towels or toner pads in your gym bag

We all have those days when we need to jet out the door or run errands immediately after a workout. If that’s the case, be sure to keep cleansing towels or toner pads in your gym bag to get the dirty sweat off your face before it leads to breakouts.

About Bottlecode

Bottlecode is the self-care shop for men. Our highly curated selection of skincare, haircare, and body care products are ruthlessly vetted and approved by our team of experts so that you don’t have to waste valuable time sorting through endless options.
Shop our site or book a free consultation to have one of our experts send personalized recommendations straight to your inbox.

Paceline recently teamed up with Bottlecode to create the Active Skincare Kit, an expertly curated skincare kit perfectly suited for your gym bag.