Get the Glow: Beautiful skin through sport

If you want to feel good from head to toe, exercise is a must. But without sweat there is no gain. And it has a direct effect on your complexion. Getting your body going has many benefits for your skin. But there are also a few things to consider. Which care before and after training is ideal? Come on, we'll get your skin fit for the workout!

Fitness for the skin

Apart from building muscle and being in better shape, sport evokes a whole host of other reactions in your body. The blood circulates better, you sweat and several hormones are released at the same time. All of this affects your skin, too.

Better blood flow

After training, the skin looks nice and rosy. The stimulated blood circulation boosts the supply of oxygen, minerals and antioxidants. Your skin needs it for cell renewal and to ward off free radicals. Regular exercise ensures that your skin always receives a proper nutrient boost. This encourages their regeneration. And skin that regenerates diligently ages less quickly.

Sweating flushes the pores

Profuse sweating might not feel that tingly right now, but just think of all the positive effects! Sweating is our natural air conditioner and garbage disposal all rolled into one. It flushes all the impurities and waste products of cellular metabolism out of the pores. This is how your skin cleans itself from the inside. The only important thing here is that you don't put anything in her way - keyword cosmetics, but more on that below.

Exercise reduces stress

Stress promotes the formation of free radicals, which, among other things, attack healthy skin cells. Therefore, it is good to find a stress balance. Moderate exercise is ideal. The cocktail of hormones that your body mixes carries you straight into the emotional happy hour.

• • Endorphins: Their name is derived from morphine (endo= inside + morphine = morphine from inside). They are actually an endogenous pain reliever, but like the drug they also have a slightly euphoric effect. So they lull us contentedly, even when our muscles burn.
  • Serotonin: The happy hormone has a brightening effect on the mood. So if you're wondering why it's so easy to smile after a workout, it's serotonin. It rewards you for your effort.
  • Stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol also come into play, but only for a short time. This is how the body learns to relax again after training. So he practices a healthy stress response during workouts. Important: Don't overdo it, otherwise the effect will reverse.

Extreme sport means stress for the skin

If you do very long or extreme training without practice, the positive effects are reversed. This also applies to competitive sports with extreme loads such as marathons or triathlons. Sweating for hours, perhaps still in the wind and sun, not only pushes the skin's defenses to their limits.

In addition to physical exertion, there is also pressure to perform. As a result, the body releases significantly more and longer stress hormones. More free radicals are created and the blood vessels narrow, which reduces the transport of nutrients.As a result, the skin cannot counteract oxidative stress enough

☝️ Frequently asked: What is athlete's acne? This form of acne mainly affects competitive athletes and those who help with pumping with remedies. It is true that we release more testosterone during high-intensity training, which stimulates the skin's production of fat and can lead to impurities. However, athlete's acne usually occurs in connection with hormone preparations. As a hobby runner, you don't have to worry.

Find the right balance while training

Your skin loves gentle endurance sports such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming. Staying in fat-burning mode or low-end cardio is ideal. Depending on your age, that's around a heart rate of 135 beats per minute.

💡 heart rate zones are a good guide to training intensity. They are calculated based on your age. Training heart rate calculators are available online, for example from Bergfreunde.

Of course you have your own training goals or certain workouts that you enjoy. So if you really want to work out, you don't have to do without it. For your skin's sake, find a good balance of short intensive and longer moderate workouts. Or complement your sports routine with a relaxing yoga session that gives your body a clear message: now you can slow down again.

The right skin care for sports

What can you do to optimally support your skin during sport? Proper care, of course. And this is how it works!

Before exercise 💁‍♀️

• • Ideally, you remove your make-up. However, if you want to look particularly good in the studio and don't want to do without make-up entirely, use mineral make-up. It doesn't clog pores and doesn't run when you sweat.
  • When you exercise outdoors, your skin needs protection from the elements. When the sun is out, sunscreen is a must. In winter you keep your skin from drying out with a waterless balm (because water freezes!).

During sports 🤸‍♀️

• • Hygiene is an issue above all where you share sports equipment with others. Disinfect mats, fitness equipment etc. beforehand and do not touch your face during training. Better take an extra towel for your face for the workout or the sauna afterwards.
  • Also make sure to drink enough! Moisture is eventually replenished from within as well.

After sport 🧖‍♀️

The skin is well supplied with blood, the pores are open: the skin now absorbs care products particularly well, but is also more susceptible to drying substances.

• • Shower therefore lukewarm, not too long and with mild surfactants. Now at the latest it is time to remove your make-up gently but thoroughly.
  • If you exercise in the evening, now is a good time for peeling. It supports regeneration and optimally prepares the skin for care.
  • Pamper your skin with a nourishing moisturizing serum. Sweating often continues for a while after exercise. That's why a light serum is now more comfortable than oil-heavy cosmetics.

Conclusion: With the right care, you can also keep your skin in top shape during sport and it wants to be kept 😉, so it's important to keep at it. Exercise moderately rather than irregularly. It is well known that the ultimate motivation is to meet up to work out. So grab your girls and let's sweat!
Your Anna