Embracing an active lifestyle comes with its undeniable perks, but let’s face it—while we’re busy breaking a sweat and conquering fitness milestones, our skin and overall appearance often take a toll. No one wants to emerge from a workout looking worn-out, emitting less-than-pleasant odors, or dealing with post-exercise breakouts. Whether you’re striving for personal records, capturing gym selfies, or planning post-workout gatherings with friends, maintaining how you look and feel is essential. In this guide, glean insights and expert advice from a dermatologist and fellow skincare enthusiasts who understand the delicate balance between fitness and beauty. Because, let’s be honest, burpees and bike rides might exhaust us, but when it comes to self-care, there’s always energy to spare.
First—a word on sweat.
Sweat is not the villain. It’s normal to sweat, especially when you’re engaging in vigorous physical activity. In fact, it’s important that we do, as it’s our body’s way of keeping us cool. “Sweating is a regular thermoregulatory mechanism,” reminds Dr. Jocel Buensalido, an active Dermatology consultant at New Sinai MDI Hospital, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and an active Dermatology consultant and Dermatology Department Chairman at St. James Hospital, in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. “It’s not something we should inhibit.”
Sweat itself does not have an odor. It’s when it encounters the bacteria on our skin that it develops a smell. While we have sweat glands all over our body (called eccrine sweat glands) that cool us off, our apocrine sweat glands—located in our armpits, under the breasts, and in the groin area—secrete a thicker, more viscous fluid. It’s this particular sweat that, when interacts with bacteria, creates an unpleasant smell.
If you want to keep feeling and smelling fresh, don’t think about stopping your sweat, but think about curbing and controlling the bacteria, especially your body parts that are less exposed and are likely to cause a build-up of sweat or bacteria. Wear a deodorant under your arms to absorb the sweat before it interacts with the skin bacteria, and if your feet tend to sweat too much as they’re encased in socks and shoes, sprinkle some foot powder before working out.
Jigs Mayuga, a CrossFit coach and a makeup artist, knows what it’s like to go through incredibly high-intensity workouts, so he tries to be proactive and keep himself fresh and clean even before he starts training or even coaching classes. “Whenever I go to the gym, especially when I coach, I make it a point to take a shower before,” he says. “I religiously put on antiperspirant deodorant.”
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Keep your face clean before your workout.
“Generally, the pathology behind having acne is that our pores get clogged,” explains Dr. Buensalido. “When that happens, bacteria (typically, propionibacterium acne) develops in the sebaceous glands. That’s when you develop comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), pus, or cysts.” Once again, sweating is not the main cause of the acne itself, whether it’s on your face or the rest of your body.
However, excessive sweat may contribute to clogging your pores, so if you’re worried about getting acne, it’s best to work out with a clean face. Putting on makeup just increases the chance of acne development. “It’s already given that you will sweat while working out, so it’s better not to add another element that can potentially clog your pores,” Dr. Buensalido explains.
Stick to your normal skin care regimen when you work out. If you’re coming to the gym after work, take a moment to remove your makeup before jumping in. “I double cleanse [with a cleansing oil] to melt the makeup and I wash it off with a foaming cleanser,” shares Mayuga, on days that he has makeup on for shoots or events. Environmentalist and MindNation co-found Cat Triviño, whose active pursuits range from scuba diving to strength training to jiu-jitsu, always manages to look fresh and put together in whatever training she engages in. It starts with the basics: “I always wash my face before working out,” she declares. “I get so much skin concerns like dry skin and even acne so I need to find products that work well with my skin type and routine,” she says.
While some people don’t recommend using makeup wipes because they’re abrasive, it’s a better option than leaving your makeup on, says Dr. Buensalido.
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Minimal makeup is best.
There’s nothing wrong about wanting to look your best during your workouts, so a little makeup can definitely help in making you feel confident at the gym. However, you may want to avoid foundation or other heavy bases on your face. “When we talk about acne, we often see it on the T-zone (forehead and nose), which has more sebaceous glands,” explains Dr. Buensalido. “Your chin and lower cheeks can often get acne as well, especially due to hormonal imbalances.” Try your best to keep these parts of your face makeup-free to let your skin breathe.
Jigs agrees: “If you wear really heavy foundation, and you also have problem skin, you can aggravate the situation. Your pores are going to clog. I’d rather you keep things light, at most, maybe a skin tint? A heavy base during a workout doesn’t make sense.”
Your eyebrow area, undereye area, and even lips aren’t as acne-prone as those areas, so primping those areas is a bit safer. If you’re hoping to put on a little makeup on your face, try an eyebrow product, mascara or lash extensions, some concealer, and lip balm or tints. Keep in mind that you’ll be getting sweaty, so look for products that are waterproof so that they stay on.
Angela Yeo, a mom of three and also a makeup artist, puts on some light makeup when she trains. Her activities range from Lagree, strength training, golf, indoor cycling, and badminton, so she’s put her go-to look through the ringer. “For eyebrows—because, of course, eyebrows are everything!—I use the K-Palette Eyebrow Pen. I also conceal eyebags with NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.” She does add some cream blush on her cheeks (she currently enjoys the Rare Beauty Cream Blush), and attests to her light makeup’s staying power. Keeping it light and simple lessens the chances of your makeup melting away as streams of sweat may pour from your forehead to your face.
After cleansing her face, Cat usually puts on sunblock, vitamin C serum, and moisturizer (some of her go-tos are Garnier Vitamin C Serum, Neutrogena Hydrogel Moisturizer, and Origins Ginzing Refreshing Eye Cream), and likes adding a little bit of blush via Happy Skin’s Lip and Cheek Tint. But for her, there’s absolutely no problem with a little bit more makeup at the gym. Aside from a light-tinted moisturizer and concealer, she looks for waterproof or smudge-proof products for eyes, face, and lips that won’t move or fade even after hours of training. “I currently use Kat Von D Go Big or Go Home Mascara (it’s vegan!) or Tarte’s SEA Surfer Curl Volumizing Mascara, Charlotte Tilbury MI Kiss matte lipstick, or Maybelline Superstay Matte Ink in Amazonian, Maybelline FitMe Concealer, and Happy Skin or Strokes Beauty for my brows,” she reveals.
Of course, some people may be able to work out with more makeup than others, and it really depends on your skin type. Dr. Buensalido agrees, “We all have different skin types. What might trigger your acne doesn’t necessarily trigger everyone else’s,” she says. Workouts can also be different—an intense 45-minute indoor cycling session can be different from an hour of light, restorative yoga. Try to be observant of how makeup and products affect you, and stick to the ones that work best for your workouts. For Cat, her routine changes slightly depending on her sport. “For jiujitsu, where I do rolls, I don’t wear makeup,” she shares. “I usually just cleanse and do toner!”
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Be careful with your sunblock.
Most of us already know the importance of sunscreen when we take our training outdoors. Angela’s default moisturizer is Cerave’s Facial Moisturizing Lotion with SPF. “If I’m going under the sun, like when I play golf or go cycling, I’ll also apply the La Roche Rosay Antihelios Sunscreen.” Whether it’s at the gym or the beach, Cat uses the classic Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry Touch Sun Block. However, for those with acne-prone skin, you may want to rein in your SPF.
We often think “the higher the better” when it comes to SPF, but it’s not always the case. Dr. Buensalido shares that dermatological studies have found SPFs lower than 30 are not as powerful in protecting your skin, while SPFs 30 to 50 have the therapeutic and protective benefits you need. But when you go higher than 50, some people, especially those with acne-prone skin, might find it clogs their skin a lot more and triggers skin problems like acne.
Of course, sunscreen remains absolutely essential, says Dr. Buensalido, to avoid sunburns, signs of aging, melasma, or even skin cancer. “SPF 30 to 50 is enough,” she says. “And then just make sure you re-apply.” When you’re going to be under the sun for a long time, make sure you have sunscreen in your bag so you can re-apply every two hours. Explore other formats, like sunscreen sticks for the face and sun sprays for the body, if those allow you to re-apply easier during the day.
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Dealing with the aftermath.
Remember the importance of controlling bacteria to avoid the “bacteria + sweat = bad smell” equation we talked about earlier? While it’s our apocrine sweat glands that are usually responsible for bad body odor, our eccrine sweat from all over can soak through our gym clothes as we work out, and all that warmth and wetness allows more bacteria to form. This means the longer you sit and stay in your sweaty, post-workout clothes, the happier the bacteria get, potentially creating icky, sticky smells on us and on our clothes and contributing to clogging the pores around our body (hello, backne, or under-the-sports-bra-ne). So once you’re finished training, it’s best to change and wash yourself clean.
Don’t worry about getting “pasmado.” According to Dr. Buensalido, there are no clinical studies that prove that pasma, an ill condition that Filipinos traditionally think we get when we immediately submerge in cold water after getting hot or overworked, is nothing more than an old wives’ tale. “Sweat, heat, bacteria—these are all the elements for bacterial overgrowth,” she says. “The sooner you can wash up, the better.”
If you can’t shower right away, at least try to change out of your sweaty clothes. Angela takes a bath after a long day of golf and cycling, but sometimes, when she has coffee or breakfast sessions after her Lagree or Pilates, she quickly changes out of her sweaty sports bra to keep fresh. When Jigs can’t take a shower right away after a long training session, he keeps fresh with a quick sponge bath “I have a hand or face towel, I dampen it with water and I do a sponge bath when I feel icky,” he says.
“I always make sure I shower or at least wash my face immediately after my workouts,” agrees Cat. She cleans her face with Garnier Micellar Water and Glow Recipe Gentle Cleanser to remove makeup. “When I do jiujitsu at night, I have a lot of adrenaline and energy and wind down with a good nighttime skincare routine and a hot shower,” she shares. She’s started using Dermtropics Raw Coconut + Colloidal Oatmeal Body Wash in the shower after working out (“It’s locally made and made with biodegradable packaging!” she adds).
Consider these tips carefully, and craft your pre- and post-workout beauty regimen that works for you. Don’t let bad body odor and blemishes be the results of your hard work, but your endorphins and your fitness.
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