Skincare for Runners: Insights from the Pros

Skincare for runners is often overlooked. However, as the weather continues to warm up, we naturally start spending more time outside. Today we will talk about how to protect and repair your skin when exercising outdoors, as well as some common skin issues related to prolonged sun exposure.

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Before we start, we just want to say BRAVO to all of you who are moving your bodies! That’s an essential way to help reduce stress (which soothes inflammation) and improve your overall health, which in turn helps your skin!

Pre-Run Skincare for Runners

We love the sunshine and all the benefits we reap from being out in it. However, if we don’t protect our skin against the sun, it can cause severe damage. If you’re a runner, sweat, chafing, sunburns, and dry skin can become problematic and wreak havoc on your complexion. Here are our top tips for skincare for runners to help you enjoy those outdoor workouts without ruining your lovely skin:

Cleanse + Moisturize

Always cleanse before you run or work out. First, wash with a gentle and moisturizing facial cleanser and follow up with a non-comedogenic moisturizer with a broad-spectrum SPF. We love using Vivant’s Cleansing Milk because it doesn’t dry out your skin but is powerful in removing dirt and residue. For a moisturizer with SPF, we recommend Paula’s Choice Daily Hydrating Fluid, which includes a broad spectrum SPF of 50 and is loaded with antioxidants (which help prevent sun damage).

SPF

UVB rays are intense and can cause significant sunburn and skin damage. Therefore, we recommend diligently applying an SPF all over your body during outdoor workouts. Not just before you leave the house, but ideally every hour. Look for a Broad Spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF that is water-resistant, oil-free, and fragrance-free if your skin is extra sensitive. Benzene free is also critical, as it is a cancer-causing agent.

Pro-tip: Don’t just wear sunscreen in the summer during those runs on long, sunny days... Wearing it all year long is vital to preserving your skin’s youthful appearance.

Coola and Supergoop have an array of powerful, dermatologist-approved, non-comedogenic SPF formulas that contain ingredients that are great for your skin.

We suggest buying large bottles for home and a small one to throw in your pack for easy reapplication during your workout.

Lip Care

While protecting your face and body while running, remember your beautiful lips! They are often overlooked but can also become sun-damaged, dry, and cracked... and nobody likes that!

Sun Bum and Aquaphor make hydrating, soothing lip balms with SPF for $10 or less.

Anti-Chafing Tips

Unlike a runner’s high, chafing is something that, if you have experienced it once, you never want to again. Raw, painful, broken skin is created by friction when your skin rubs together or against your clothing. The best ways to prevent chafing are with the proper clothing and an anti-chafe balm or cream. Wear properly fitting clothing designed for runners. Avoid cotton as it stays wet when you sweat, and if your thighs tend to rub together, longer-length compression shorts work wonders.

Apply an anti-chafe balm to the inner thighs, lower back, nipples, and undersides of your arms before you get dressed, after applying sunscreen.

Body Glide Original, Mega Babe Thigh Rescue, and Run Guard Anti-Chafe are all products runners love.

Grab a Hat!

Last but certainly not least, wear a properly fitting hat with a visor. This will protect your scalp and help keep sweat out of your eyes. The scalp is a commonly overlooked area but is one of the most susceptible areas of the body to sun damage and skin cancer.

Throw on some sunglasses, too, to keep you from squinting, which will cause fine lines around your eyes and between your brows over time.

Post-Run Care

As crucial as pre-running protection is, your post-run skincare is equally as important. You want to prevent sweat and grime from clogging your pores, which later will cause congestion, pimples, and dull skin. You also want to keep everything hydrated, remove build-up and increase cellular turnover.

Shower Time!

We suggest immediately removing your sweaty clothes after returning home and jumping in the shower. While showering, we recommend doing a thorough double facial cleanse.

First, cleanse with a pre-cleanse oil like Beauty Shaman’s Cleansing Beauty Oil. It removes makeup and surface dirt, allowing your regular cleanser to work more effectively:

Then follow up with a gentle and moisturizing cleanser or something mildly exfoliating if you are prone to build-up or acne. We love both Vivant’s Green Tea Antioxidant Cleanser and Mandelic 3-in-1 Wash .

Cleanse Your Body

Don’t forget to thoroughly wash (and maybe exfoliate) your body. Areas like the chest, arms, shoulders, and back are hotspots for those pesky sweat pimples. Neglecting those sweat pimples can lead to unwanted acne breakouts, as they will mix with dead skin cells and bacteria. We love using Vivant’s Clear Body Therapy for a deep, exfoliating body cleanse.

Add a Serum

Serums are a great way to give your skincare a boost. They are lightweight, deliver nutrients, and help address multiple issues. Instead, opt for something gentle that moisturizes and pumps collagen for a more youthful complexion. Try Vivant’s Derm-A-Renew to reveal a more luminous, youthful appearance.

Moisturize

Finish off with a hydrating moisturizer suitable for your skin type and concerns. A hydrating moisturizer is essential, as it seals in all that skincare you just did, helps protect your skin from outside elements, and replenishes your dry skin after you’ve sweated out all that moisture.

We love Vivant’s Allantoin Sedating + Hydrating Lotion. This is good for nighttime repair and if you aren’t going back outside.

Skincare for runners takes some thought and preparation but will be well worth your skin’s health in the long run. If you want to book some skin TLC at Sacred Skincare in NYC, use promo code RUNSTREET for 15% off your first service. Use the discount code RUNSTREET in the “appointment notes” when you book.

Sacred Skincare is a woman-owned business and results-driven med spa in New York City that uses holistic approaches, clinical modalities, and expert estheticians to achieve healthy and glowing skin for our clients. Our collective goal is to cultivate a safe space for you to explore your skin’s true potential while offering you expert knowledge, tips, and guidance for your specific needs along the way.

Skincare for Runners: Everything You Need to Know