ÁMEZING NEWS #16: SPRING FORWARD

WORKOUT SKINCARE, DIY SKINCARE, DRUNK SKINCARE!

Mar 15, 2024

SWEATY SKIN ESSENTIALS

Hi! First thing’s first, a question from one of you lovely readers:

I’M CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT SKINCARE TO USE WHILE WORKING OUT. WHAT DO YOU DO?

I’ve been going to hot yoga a lot more consistently, so I love this question. Let me break it down into BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER.

BEFORE

If I'm going to workout in the morning, I just rinse my face with just water, spray a bit of toner, and head out the door. I’ll typically wear a hat too. If I'm going to be outside, I’ll also add a sheer layer of SPF. But in general, less is more. It’s best to let the skin breathe during any kind of physical activity. Think DETOX mode. SWEAT IT OUT!!

DURING

I’m going to a group class, I try to bring my own towel. Of course it’s hygienic, but it’s also because my skin can be a bit reactive. Sometimes fitness centers and gyms will use harsh detergents that irritate me.

If your skin is sensitive to detergents, or just sensitive in general, I suggest you do the same. Bringing your own equipment is never a bad idea in general!

I focus on skincare a lot of the time, obviously, so I love having time to stop thinking, let go, and prioritize movement. I literally just sweat everything out.

AFTER

Ok, this is the part where I am a lot more specific. The minute I’m done working out, I immediately head to the bathroom and do a cold water rinse on my face. JUST WATER! That is all you need for your face.

Now body is a different thing.

If you’re on the go, I suggest bringing an extra outfit. Something easy like a slip-on dress or loose flow-y pants. If you can’t really shower, make due with some wet paper towels or an actual towel and swipe your body to remove sweat. I love to bring baby wipes or face wipes too, using a few on my body to cleanse my chest, neck, underarms, and bum. Wherever on my back I can reach.

In general, I suggest not postponing a shower longer than an hour after physical activity, especially if you are prone to back-ne or butt-ne (we say those dirty words here!) It’s a big no from me to sit in your own sweat for a long time, especially if you want to avoid angry blemishes, rashes, flare ups, and discomfort.

There’s also a few special products that can be fun to incorporate into post-exercise, especially if you have to postpone your shower longer than recommended. My friend Emmie Danza, an instructor at Silver Springs Melrose, introduced me to Magic Molecule. It’s a hypochlorus acid based toning mist that is a healing agent for skin conditions, burns, scrapes…even bug bites. I started experimenting with this after a hot yoga class and it is an absolutely ámezing product for anyone who is an active person. When I’m on the go, I only use magic molecule after my water splash and my face is totally happy for a few hours. A few mists of this along the face or chest will help avoid breakouts or flare-ups. The instructors at Silver Springs back it too so it's a BIG yes. A similar product is the S.O.S Spray by Tower 28, which is also hypochlours acid based. Both these products are anti-inflammatory and antibacterial powerhouses.

When you do shower, make sure you exfoliate frequently with an acid-based body wash. Using a body glove mitt is also great. I’m also a huge fan of the Soft Services Buffing Bar (and their latest product Software Update, a performance retinol serum designed specifically for the body, too!)

Check out “body care” on ShopMy to browse these products and more!

IS HOT YOGA FOR ALL SKIN TYPES?

Just like you might wear a red light mask to support your skin, being in a warm space for exercise provides you a lot of benefits beyond whatever physical activity you’re doing. The infrared panels in hot yoga classes are not only are great for our skin, but amazing for joint and muscle recovery, detoxification, circulation and overall lymph flow. There are so many HEALTH benefits.

However, if you have rosacea or an inflammatory condition, you will most likely leave class looking like a tomato. A bright bright tomato. Try a class and see how your skin adjusts accordingly. Keep in mind that redness post class should go away by the end of the day. If you have severe rosacea, inflammation, and active breakouts, I would consult your derm or the designated health practitioner you trust the most (I turn to acupuncturists always) to see if this type of exercise is a good fit for you. Sometimes you won’t know until you try it!

No matter your skin type, if you’re inspired to try a hot class, it’s important to take baby steps. If you need to step out and take a break, do it. Always listen to your body.

SO MANY VIRAL DIY FACE MASKS, SO LITTLE TIME

Social media is constantly showing me face masks and other beauty potions to whip up at home, usually with ingredients you’re likely to already have at home. But how effective are any of these recommendations? And are they really worth making? Let’s weigh in…

GREEK YOGURT MASK

The idea is to slather (unflavored) Greek yogurt all over your face, avoiding the eye area. This is an oldie but a goodie, full of probiotics. Applying it to the skin provides a cooling effect, making it great for calming or cooling the skin. Especially since your yogurt should be chilled from the fridge anyway. My verdict is that this is effective. HOWEVER, I don’t like the smell of yogurt in general, so this is not my kind of mask. If you want to try, use about a tablespoon and apply directly onto the face. I would let the mask sit for about 20 mins, rinse off, and then apply your normal skin care.

MANUKA HONEY MASK

Often, you’ll hear people recommend slathering manuka honey on your face. This is because manuka honey has a very special compound called Methylglyoxal, an active antibacterial that boosts immune health. It gives manuka honey more healing properties. The Methylglyoxal in manuka is also its grading system, and you will find the number of mgo typically listed on the label. You can try this with other honeys and it shouldn’t hurt, but it might not help as much.

Manuka honey masks are effective, especially for those with inflammation or rosacea-prone skin. I would also suggest applying and leaving on skin for about 20 mins. You could even try mixing greek yogurt with the honey and see how your skin responds.

I also like the brand Activist. When I trained with Activist in 2017, their hero product was an actual bottle of ingestible manuka honey. Now, they also offer a manuka honey face mask. According to their website, “ACTIVIST Mānuka Honey Mask is extremely hydrating, promotes skin regeneration, repairs cellular damage, calms inflammation and lessens the appearance of scars.”

RICE WATER TONER / MASK

Ok, I have not tried this myself, but the truth is RICE WATER is a huge yes. Rice and rice bran are huge in the Asian beauty market. You will often find this ingredient in toners, essences and enzyme powders. One that comes to mind is Tatcha’s rice polish and the rice cleanser. Rice-based skincare has been on the menu for centuries and not going anywhere! I love this video for reference!

The videos I’ve seen recommend washing rice a couple of times like you would before cooking it, but then saving the rice water from the third wash. Add four cups of fresh water, mix, and then use that rice water as a toner or hair rinse. Some creators recommend fermenting the rice water by storing it on your counter for a few days before use. Others suggest mixing a couple of table spoons of rice flour with an equal amount of milk or water to create a paste that you leave on.

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COOKED OATMEAL OR RAW OATS IN HONEY MASK

This one is a no brainer. Historically, oats have been used in skin formulations for eczema-prone skin, irritation, and flare-ups like dermatitis. You can think of oat as a calming agent (usually seen as colloidal oatmeal). Think of alllll of those Aveeno products! You will find this in lots of baby care, like diaper rash ointments.

Adding some oats to a manuka face mask could be interesting. I suggest soaking the oats a bit before mixing into the honey.

TURMERIC MASK

I tried this years ago and I definitely stained my towels and clothes. Ha! But practice makes perfect! Wear a shirt you don’t care about and have paper towels or clean rags around. This is one of the oldest recipes that dates thousands of years in Ayurvedic practices. Mix a teaspoon or two of turmeric into honey or yogurt to create a paste. You can combine turmeric powder, honey and yogurt all together too, as demonstrated in the video below.

@just.jully Cant believe i used to say no to my mom in middle school when I had acne because once i started using it in college, my skin thanked me #indianbeautysecrets #turmericmask #turmericfacemask

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SUGAR LIP SCRUB

The best and easiest! A lot of brands make lip scrubs, but most of them are just sugar in a carrying oil anyway. At least, a lot of them are! I like to use thicker sugar, so brown sugar in any carrier oil. Use a tablespoon mixed into any carrier oil (olive, jojoba, coconut oil). Perfect for weekly lip exfoliation, especially for those who are frequent lip liner and lipstick wearers.

ALOE VERA GEL / MASK

Aloe vera is literally nature's best created gel product in my opinion. My grandma always had an aloe plant and that was always an immediate skin care and body care source. Hydrating, calming, anti-inflammatory, etc. I always think of my grandma when buying aloe gel from a store, because I know she would tell me to just have my own plant ready to go at home.

Of course for many Latin cultures, aloe vera and prickly pear (the fruit found on cactus) have always been a part of our conversations about beauty. I remember eating a lot of nopales and drinking jamaica (cold hibiscus drink) because they were natural remedies that internally and externally provide lots of hydration. To this day, I recommend clients drink hibiscus tea for its skin benefits.

WOULD YOU REALLY DO THESE THINGS AT HOME?

Yes! I think it’s an interesting exercise in resourcefulness and leaning into the power of whole ingredients. There is something experiential about DIY anything; it’s so tactile. And it can be empowering to meet your needs in resourceful ways with what you have on hand, as well as budget-friendly. It can also be a fun communal activity to do with loved ones and friends. Making something together is always special. DIY beauty is about the process of making it as much as the product you make.

@arwaakhu you are now one of my ELITE employees 😭🩷 #darkcircles #skincare #eyebags #koreanskincare #kbeauty

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DO YOU RECOMMEND DIY REMEDIES TO ALL SKIN TYPES?

This really depends on the client's skin. For someone with reactive skin or acneic skin (especially grade 3 or 4), my advice is to proceed with caution. Even though some of these DIY remedies are great for reactive and sensitive skin types.

Turmeric, yogurt, and honey masks are pretty great for all skin types. For my acne prone people, I would incorporate DIY products once the severity of your breakouts starts to decrease, just to play it safe. However, I would say don’t be afraid to give any of these recipes a shot. Also, remember the quality of your raw materials matter. Since these formulations are so wildly simple, you want to source good-quality ingredients.

DRUNK FLASH ROUTINE

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This is a lovely skin routine for when you’re planning to enjoy lots of libations. A guide for keeping your skin in check when you’re boozing and schmoozing. Steps for your drunk self to follow to keep your skin thriving.

You get it!

Even if you abstain from alcohol, keep these tips in mind for times when you might just be super exhausted. (Social interaction hangovers are real, even when not alcohol-induced…) Let’s return to the BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER format once more…