Happy New Year! If you are anything like me,  you put exercise on the top of your resolution list for 2017. As you head off to the gym and create a workout plan that will keep you healthy and in shape, keep in mind that you also need to create a post-workout skincare regime. If you’re using your time in the gym wisely, then excessive sweat is definitely going to happen. Combine that with the pollutants of the gym and the extra stress your skin goes through when you work out, and what you get is a Petri dish of bacteria that can cause acne and irritation. Here’s what you should be doing after a long workout.

Keep your hands off your face

While you’re working out it can be tempting to touch your face. This is a major no-no. You’re constantly touching gym equipment that is being used by other people, which means when you put your hands on your face, you are also putting their sweat and germs on your face. Gross. If you need to wipe away water and sweat, I suggest bringing a gym towel to do so. Learn how to deal with adult acne.

 Be gentle to your skin

When you work your body out, you are also stressing your skin out. Be careful not to scrub your skin too hard after a workout. Your skin tends to be extra sensitive after an hour or more of exercise and can easily get irritated and damaged. Massage your soap or body wash into your skin, instead of using a loofah or cloth to scrub. Use a hand repair lotion and a walnut hand and foot scrub. If you shave, make sure to use shaving cream and a shaving brush for the ultimate shave.

Don’t forget to moisturize

As you exercise your body releases toxins through your sweat which can really dry your skin out. Therefore, it’s important to use generous amounts of moisturizer for men after the gym, especially on your face, which has absorbed the majority of salt and pollutants that leave your skin dry. Charcoal for men's skin is really important! Moisturizer will keep your skin from flaking out and can help prevent any redness or irritation your workout may cause.

Stay hydrated post work out

Water is the key to keeping your skin healthy and happy. As your body absorbs water, your skin is fed the minerals and vitamins that it needs to stay sumptuous and smooth. You may think that the water that you drink at the gym is enough to keep you hydrated, but remember that whatever water you’ve consumed during your work out has also been sweated out. This means you need to drink plenty to replenish the water that you just lost. If you workout with a long beard or cool mustache styles, make sure you use a cedarwood beard conditioner. Be sure to check out some of our other premium grooming products like the best facial cleanser for men.

Use a product with activated charcoal to remove impurities

Look for grooming products that have activated charcoal in their ingredients, like our facial mask. Why use charcoal? Activated charcoal absorbs poisons and dirt from the skin, reducing your chances of a breakout. This powerful ingredient also tightens your pores and leaves behind essential oils that will leave your skin looking fresh and bright. After a long, hard day at the gym you want to treat your skin to something that will make it feel and look clean and vibrant, and activated charcoal is it.