A proper skin care routine is important, especially for athletes who get sweaty every day.
I know as BJJ ladies we don't mind roughing it up so much. Being sweaty with messy hair and eternally in sports gear or a gi seems to be our default look. But underneath that disheveled exterior I think most of us like to have nice smooth skin. There are two ways that we can maintain good skin, one is from eating the right foods and staying hydrated, and the other is from using good skin care products and having a good skin care routine that ensures our skin is breathing and clean.
Wash your face ASAP!
The number one thing you must do if you train BJJ or workout and get sweaty is to wash/shower as soon as you can right after a training session. There are so many nasties from rolling around on the mat and the more time they have to settle on your skin, the greater the chance of ending up with something like ringworm or staph. The warm moist environment of sweaty skin is a paradise for fungal infections. Infrequent washing also means that your skin is subjected to day to day dirt and germs which get into your pores and can lead to small lumpy inflammations and pimples.
An antimicrobial skin cleaner/soap is a good idea from brands such as Defense Soap for your body, but I don't recommend using this on your face. If you want to wash up the nasties on your face, then something a little kinder to the skin such as tea tree oil soap that Defense Soap also makes would be a better option.
Defense soap, and with tea tree oil which is good for battling the nasties but not so harsh on your skin.
Here is the routine that you should be doing for smooth, vital skin:
Use a cleanser, not a soap bar on your face. I don't recommend that you wash your face with regular soap. The pH balance of most soaps are too harsh and they strip your skin of all the natural oils, leaving your skin dry. Good cleansers will clean off the oil, debris, and makeup, sweat from training.
Follow with a Toner. Toners are meant to be used after cleansing. They help restore skin's pH balance after using a cleanser and they restore and repair the skin's surface after the cleansing.
Moisturize every morning and night. I think it is important to use a day cream and a night cream since they do have their differences. Most day creams tend to be a little lighter and contain an SPF sunscreen. In addition to moisturizing our faces we need to moisturizing our whole bodies. If you experience a lot of chafing from the gi or mat burn etc, this is particularly important since the chafing causes the skin to dry up and harden and can lead to ingrown hairs and clogged pores. Moisturizing after every training session will keep skin supple and soft.
What do I use?
For the past 6 weeks I have been using the product line recommended called Arbonne RE9 and I have seen a noticeable difference in my skin. It's is fuller and more vibrant which is perfect to prevent those fine lines from appearing. I am quite diligent about my routine and this in and of itself has made a difference.
Arbonne RE9, Anti aging line. This is what I use now and I am not looking back.
The package that I have fallen in love with used all natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals and includes a: cleanser, toner, renewal serum, eye cream, a SPF day moisturizer and a hydrating night cream. All this sounds like a lot, but the reality is that if you want nice skin when you are 50, this is what we have to be doing now - washing, cleansing, toning and moisturizing. There is also a men's skin care line which is awesome.
Check out the link and let me know if you are interested in purchasing the package from me and I can get you some details. sophiadrysdalefitness@gmail.com
https://www.arbonne.com/discover/products/re9advanced.shtml