Do You Wash Your Face Before Working Out or After?

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Do You Wash Your Face Before Working Out or After?

May 31, 2007

Working out can do a number on clear skin. A lot of people wash their face prior to hitting the treadmill, but some people wait and wash their face after. I am personally terrified of breaking out, so I like to carry wipes with me and clean my face quickly first, but do the deep clean immediately after the workout. I am curious which you do?

24 Comments

Hope 5 years 51 weeks

I wash My face before and after!

aras8218 5 years 51 weeks

Depends on what i've been doing, if i have makeup on before and after.If i've been w/o makeup all day i just wash after.

pandacn 5 years 51 weeks

I wash both before and after. I've been breaking out more since keeping up with a workout routine though. I wonder if that's because I'm stripping my face too much by washing it so much. I've begun to try just rinsing before, then washing it with a cleanser/exfoliator after. And I find it nearly impossible to not touch my face when I workout because the sweat will drip in my eyes/mouth and that is not pleasant.

brookrene 5 years 51 weeks

Both for me! I have a tendency to break out so I've got to wash twice.

EcannDallas 5 years 51 weeks

i am very sensitive to acne so i was my face before AND after. if i dont i breakout terribly. but good advice on not touching your face during the workout....im going to start trying that.

leeluvfashion 5 years 51 weeks

Both. However sometimes I forget to wash before but I always wash my face afterwards; I can't stand the feel of the sweat drying. yuk,lol.

nikkipez 5 years 51 weeks

usually do it after..I thought sweating and working out helps open your pores and clean them out...just have to be sure to not let the sweat sit there too long after...i was told this once, not sure how accurate it is

tigra 5 years 51 weeks

i wash my face after but my workouts are in the early morning before i go to work. if i exercised after work i would probably wash my face before to get the make-up off and then again afterwards in the shower.

mollipop 5 years 51 weeks

I wash my face after workouts. I think if I wore makeup I'd probably wash before and after though.

AMP 5 years 51 weeks

Both for sure! Need to get all that makeup off beforehand so it doesn't seep in when my pores open up to breathe, not to mention run all over my face. And definitely again after to get all the sweat and salt off.

JBlondie 5 years 51 weeks

I have skin that tends to break out very easily. For me, it seems to work better if I wash my face before I work out. I have always thought it as bad to over wash your face, so that's why I never wash mine afterwards. Any suggestions on washing before and after??? I just feel gross getting all sweaty with make-up on!

smarler 5 years 51 weeks

Both. Before the workout to wash off the makeup and grime and then when I hit the showers immediately following my workout, I wash again. I have extremely acne prone skin, though, so extra care is necessary.

sweetheart_450 5 years 51 weeks

Both, followed by a shower when I've finished working out.

ALSW 5 years 51 weeks

After! I can't stand the feel of it after and I break out incredibly easily, so I like to ensure that my face feels cleaner.

ALSW 5 years 51 weeks

After! I can't stand the feel of it after and I break out incredibly easily, so I like to ensure that my face feels cleaner.

melda 5 years 51 weeks

i wash my face befor i start my morning exercise and till i finish it its almost lunch time then i wash my face again but since i have an evening exercise i wait till night to take shower

Katiefrog 5 years 51 weeks

It's terrible but neither for me most of the time. I go to the gym on my lunch break at work and I have exactly 1 hour and I have to come back dressed and ready to go to work again. I usually don't wear makeup in the morning though before the gym and put it on after the workout but then I just rinse my face. I just don't have the time! Luckily it hasn't been causing me problems but now that's it getting so hot outside I fear that will make the situation worsen.

pinupsweetheart 5 years 51 weeks

I wash my face after I am done working out since I go to the gym straight after work and I have to rush to get a spot. But I usually go home ASAP and take a shower.

smartypantssugar 5 years 51 weeks

I should wash my face before. I usually go straight from work and still have makeup on. I feel so bad for the housekeeping staff trying to get makeup out of the white towels they provide. But I can't be the only one getting makeup and mascara on the towels, right?

KrisSugar 5 years 51 weeks

yeah, i do it after. i usually have makeup on when i go.

bpjedi 5 years 51 weeks

Yeah, that advice does sound good; thanks for the tip, nikolem2. I'll keep it in mind. I also don't wear makeup, but am a bit of a product fiend and rather particular about the ingredients of moisturizers and such.

lady-T 5 years 51 weeks

thanks for the advice nikolem2...ill try it...next time im at he gym :)

nikolem2 5 years 51 weeks

Here's the best advice I can give, which came from my dermatologist, and it works for me. When working out, simply don't touch your face. Rubbing or dabbing it with your hands or even a towel will clog pores more than just letting your sweat drip/evaporate. I never touch my face, workout for a couple hours a day (and shower soon after, but sometimes get delayed for a few hours there!), and have super clear skin. This advice really works! However, I've never worn makeup and that might be another reason for my clear skin.

DesignRchic 5 years 51 weeks

After. I should do it both times because I go straight from work and still have some make-up on. :OOPS:

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