I’m an Esthetician, and This Is Exactly When To Wash Your Face Depending on What Time of Day You Work Out

The best way to set your skin up for success in any workout routine is to head into it with a fresh, clean face. When we sweat, our pores open to control our body temperature, which makes it easy for any dirt that’s sitting on the surface to sink into the skin (hello, breakouts). Post-workout, as our bodies begin to cool down, our skin naturally re-absorbs all of the sweat, dirt, and debris—which can lead to inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, dehydration, and even milia.

But thanks to the fact that many people are experiencing more flexibility in their workdays, hitting the gym can happen at pretty much any time. And while this is great news for your fitness regimen, it can be admittedly confusing for your complexion. For example, imagine you decide to boost your endorphins with an afternoon sweat session between meetings, but you have to head back to the office shortly thereafter. This creates a beauty conundrum: Should you wash your face before your workout to rid your skin of makeup, wait until afterward to whisk away sweat and create a clean canvas to re-apply your makeup to, or both? And once your face is clean, what else are you supposed to do to it?

To help you maintain balanced skin while staying active, I chatted with Marisa Garshick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City. With her background as a skin doc and mine as a master esthetician, we put our expert heads together and created easy-to-follow templates on howwww you should approach your pre- and post-workout skin care routines at any time of day.

1) Early Risers

If you’re starting your day with an a.m. workout, Dr. Garshick recommends simply “rinsing skin with water or cleansing with gentle hydrating cleanser.” If you’re properly cleansing your skin before bed, there shouldn’t much grime on your face to wash off in the morning, so a rinse should be enough to flush your pores a bit and break up any oil or minor debris without disrupting your acid mantle or microbiome (it’s what I do, and it’s changed my skin for the better). Follow up with a moisturizer and a water-resistant SPF 30. Dr. Garshick likes ELTA MD UV Sport, which is great for standing up to sweat. Note: Your full routine should wait until after your workout, as whatever you put on beforehand will likely come off with sweat or in the shower

2) Midday Lovers

If you’re planning to work out during the day, you should always remove your makeup before you start to sweat. “Always remove makeup before exercising as “It’s key for preventing the clogged pores and buildup that can occur with exercise and sweating,” says Dr. Garshick. An amazing way to remove makeup while also preventing skin dryness is to use micellar water, which is very gentle, or a cleansing balm. Depending on your skin type, you may not need to apply moisturizer after you cleanse, but if your complexion feels stripped or tight, consider layering on a light lotion.

3) Night Owls

“Use a cleanser, makeup remover, and/or toner to ensure all of the makeup and residue from the day is off before starting a workout,” says Dr. Garshick. This is important for all skin types, but should be considered a non-negotiable if you wear makeup, sweat a lot, or are prone to acne and excess oil.  says Garshick.