With the gyms finally reopening, it’s important to remember to take care of your skin.

Skincare before and after your workout is more vital than you may think. We have collated the top skincare tips for pre- and post-workout.

Pre-workout skincare tips

Pre-workout skincare is all about keeping it simple. You’re about to sweat, so you won’t need to use any heavy creams or serums. Cleansing the skin is the first step for pre-workout skincare. Whether you’re wearing makeup or not, washing the face is crucial before working out so that your complexion is clean. Washing off skincare products that include active ingredients such as AHA’s or using an acne cream with benzoyl peroxide is vital. Sweat will mix with these ingredients, causing the skin to become irritated and red. Using a calming cleanser such as the Kate Sommerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser will stop this issue from arising.

Finish by applying to the skin a light moisturiser such as the Ren Clean Skincare Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream. Gentle and irritation-free, this moisturiser will brighten up your complexion so you can feel confident in your skin at the gym.

If you can, try to skip wearing makeup during exercise. Makeup can stop your skin from being able to breathe while exercising and clog up the pores. However, if wearing makeup is a must, keep reading for makeup products that are perfect for working out.

£ 38

REN Glow Daily Vitamin C Gel Cream

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£ 34

Kate Somerville DeliKate Soothing Cleanser

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Post-workout skincare tips

Wash the sweat off after working out to prevent breakouts with a gentle cleanser such as the Elemis Superfood Facial Wash. Gel cleansers are powerful and reduce surface oil which is great post-workout. This cleanser will feel like a green smoothie for your face, leaving your skin feeling fresh. Cleansing the face after a workout is vital whether you have makeup on or not.

Toning is another post-workout skincare step. Toner is a way to thoroughly get rid of excess dirt and oil. If you’re in a rush after the gym and need something quick, try the Pixi Glow Tonic To-Go pads. They are the travel-friendly versions of the acid toner from Pixi and the perfect size for your gym bag. These pads have been pre-soaked in a brightening solution that will quickly eliminate dead skin cells post-workout.

Hydration is crucial post-workout. After exercising, the skin might be a little dehydrated so, it’s important to use hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid. Moisturise the skin with a lighter moisturiser such as the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream. Not only does it contain three different molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid, but it also attracts moisture from the atmosphere, keeping the skin continually hydrated. This level of hydration is just what the skin needs after exercising.

£ 42.95

Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream

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£ 28

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash

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£ 20

Pixi Glow Tonic To-Go pads

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Exercise friendly makeup

Going bare faced to the gym isn’t for everyone. That’s okay! If you wish to wear a full face of makeup, pick lightweight products. A tinted moisturiser is the best choice for a good amount of coverage yet remaining light on the skin. The Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser is a great option for this look. Choose a water-resistant mascara to avoid it smudging around the eyes. The Glossier Lash Slick is light on the eyes and water-resistant.

Try out makeup specifically for exercise, such as CliniqueFIT. Clinique created this sports-friendly makeup line so that the makeup will not block the pores while exercising. The products in the ClinqueFIT line won’t irritate the skin when exercising either. Ensure you wash off the makeup once you have worked out to clear the sweat and dirt that has built up during exercise.

£ 14

Glossier Lash Slick

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£ 30

Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser

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£ 45.60

CliniqueFIT Workout Makeup Broad Spectrum

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Words By Eleanor Coleman

The post The Gyms Are Opening! Skincare Tips For Pre and Post Workout appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Whether you’re on your new year fitness journey or you are an avid gym member you may have realised that the gym routine after sometimes becomes monotonous and then boring. Like everything else in life, you have to keep it interesting. So, in the search of interesting, here are five trendy workouts you need to try.

Soul Cycle

Usually in a dim-lit studio with motivational quotes on the walls, a few rows of high-quality bikes and one leader bike at the front podium. Soul Cycle was most likely the number one fitness workout of 2019. Endorsed by many celebrities like Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow, Beyoncé and Hilary Duff. Soul Cycle is a 45-minute-high intensity, cardio cycling workout to upbeat music. The cult workout is known for the class energy and motivational impact of the classes. The workout is best if you want to improve your cardio and general fitness.

Pole Fitness

Pole fitness is an extension of pole dancing that uses the pole as the only equipment. The workout consists of pole dancing and resistance training by using your body as the resistant weight. The workout is mostly an upper body workout that improves your arm muscle tone, flexibility and core strength. So, for all those trying to bring the sexy back into their workouts pole fitness is a fun option to try.

Barre Fitness

Barre fitness is a hybrid workout that combines classic ballet moves with Pilates, yoga and strength training so like the Nutcracker but with weights and resistance bands. In this class, the plies and grand plies are held down longer while you contract specific muscles until you feel the burn. The low impact exercise is best for strength training for your core and also if you are recovering from an injury. The workout can also an accompanying workout for before or after a high-intensity workout.

CrossFit

Cross fit training which was originally popular with bodybuilders and professional athletes has moved to become a cult workout. The workout, usually done in a warehouse garage or basement consists of high-intensity interval training of everyday activities, for example, pulling, pushing and squatting. The workout is a high impact full body workout but can also be segmented into working on different parts of your body on different days, ever heard of leg day? This workout is best if you are training for an event or if you just need to get in incredible shape.

Yoga

When it comes to yoga, there is always seems to be a new kind of yoga. Hot yoga, aerial yoga, blacklight yoga and animal yoga. Although there seem to be infinite types of yoga, the beauty of it is that you don’t need to be a yogi or try all these classes to reap the benefits all you need is a yoga mat, your favourite pair of lululemons and a basic knowledge of the poses. With yoga, you work out both your body and mind. The workout is best for flexibility training but also helps to calm and centre the mind.

Words by Precious Njoki

Graphics by Katie Janes

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January. Cold, bleak, dull. Not the most inspiring conditions for that ‘new year health kick’ we’ve all been planning since purchasing the first Terry’s chocolate orange of the festive season. What is even less inspiring is when you find yourself in the middle of January, you hop on the scales ready for them to tell you you’ve dropped a stone and the number is two pounds less than it was.

After practically surviving on dust for two weeks, whilst begrudgingly forcing yourself to peel yourself out of your nice cosy bed at stupid-o-clock to awkwardly perch your bum on an uncomfortably hard bicycle seat whilst someone yells at you to ‘PEDAL FASTER, PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN’ under the (quite frankly) irritating flashing lights and overwhelmingly loud pumping music of the spin studio, whilst reassuringly reminding you that ‘WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER’.

After the two weeks of hell you’ve put yourself through…TWO POUNDS!

The novelty of re-inventing yourself as one of those people who gets up at 4am to fit in the time to 1. Exercise and 2. Muster up the motivation to convince yourself you want to exercise has just about worn off by now. Is your body filled with a surge of pure heart-sinking dread when you are rudely awoken by the irritating trill of your alarm named ‘GYM!!! (bicep emoji, bicep emoji)?

Do you find yourself really needing to organise the contents of your fridge in alphabetical order, having to rip your loo roll into individual pieces and realising the importance of organising that pack of cheerios into lights, mediums and darks; all a subconscious effort to justify not going to exercise?

Do you have to physically restrain yourself from leaping off your bicycle seat and punching your spin instructor every time he has the NERVE to shout at you to ‘TURN THAT RESISTANCE UP’?

Then you, my friend, have a bad case of the ‘mid-January slump’ (technical term). And we have the cure. Well, technically we don’t have the cure, YouTube does. The humble YouTube video has helped us through many problems’ life throws at us; from how to do the perfect winged liner to how to twerk. And now it is going to help you get over your case of the ‘January slump’.

YouTube is brimming with thousands of dance-based exercise videos. Everything from Broadway-themed cardio dance routines from Joseph Corella to Leilah Isaac’s Belly dance fitness cardio fat burn. You no longer have to mortify yourself in the sweaty, red-faced dash from the class studio to the changing rooms past the weights section (obvious reasons).

Cancel that fitness membership that is draining your bank account and soul, and exercise in the comfort and privacy of your own home. You need that feeling of dread you now associate with exercise to simply evaporate away to enable you to enjoy it again.

So, if you fancy strutting and sashaying your way off the sofa (whilst burning up to 400 calories every half hour), here are our top three YouTube Channels that will definitely make you sack the slump.

1). The Fitness Marshall

2). MYLEE Dance

3). Hip Shake Fitness

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Araceli Alonso

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