The Best Skincare Habits for Athletes and Active Lifestyles
If you lead an active lifestyle, then your pores are probably working on overtime. This means more breakouts, constant sweating and shine, and distressed or tired-looking skin. (Not to mention drying or chapping if you’re outdoors in cold weather.) Here’s how to keep a good skincare regimen in between the sweat sessions.
When we outlined the basic skincare regimen, we told you that it’s imperative to tend to your skin as soon as you wake up, and just before going to bed. It’s these two times of the day when you need to transition skin into its daytime defenses or its overnight restorative efforts.
But what about all those hours in between? And specifically, what about if your lifestyle puts extra pressure on your skin throughout the day? Athletes and active people come to mind: They get up, wash their face, apply a moisturizer, but then, at some hour between morning and evening, they work up a sweat. Maybe it’s gradual, or maybe it’s an intense cardio session. Either way, it demands a significant alteration to one’s everyday skincare regimen.
Now there’s an extra regimen added in the middle of the day, and one that must center on fighting breakouts, controlling oil and sweat, and helping skin recover from all of this activity (in other words, helping it rebound so it looks firm, bright, and healthy despite all the added activity).
To cover all these concerns, here is a new spin on that basic skincare routine, aimed at athletes and active people.
1. Cleanse (gently) as needed
Like everyone else, you still need to cleanse your skin twice a day—morning and night. That is, twice at a minimum. Chances are, if you get sweaty midday (be it late morning, on lunch break, or after work), you’ll be washing it again in the shower. And that’s obviously expected. But what’s important is the type of cleanser you use: Make sure it’s not over drying, and provides a deep clean while preserving moisture levels in the skin. For all the extra washing you’re going to be doing, it’s imperative not to overstrip the skin of its natural moisture, while also flushing away sweat and toxins. Our Purifying Clay Cleanser was designed with people like you in mind.
Clay pulls out anything that wants to clog the pores, while its mineral-rich base preserves your skin’s moisture levels. We also included cica (aka tiger grass) and cactus extract, which help calm irritation and soothe the skin—something your sweat-dripping mug probably appreciates.
2. Choose a lightweight SPF moisturizer
UV rays don’t take a cheat day. Any time you spend outdoors—even at the height of winter—makes you susceptible to their skin-aging effects. But if you’re exercising outdoors, you don’t exactly want a goopy face sunscreen, since it will wear heavily on the skin and lead to excessive sweating. Instead, pick a lightweight SPF moisturizer, with SPF 30 or higher. Apply it before every outdoor exercise, and before any milder outdoor errands and activities. It will deliver maximum SPF defense for two hours. Cardon’s SPF 30 Moisturizer absorbs on contact and makes for a lightweight, heavy duty shield against the sun—and not against your pores.
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Daily SPF + Moisturizer
$22.00
3. Take mild, short showers
One thing athletes experience is significant changes in their heart rate. This is also often paired with a frequent change of temperatures and environments during and after any workout (be it the cool gym, versus a hot day outside, or going from the gym to a bundled-up coat). All of this can complicate your skincare regimen post-shower, since your body is spending so much time heating up and cooling down. The result issweat, and lots of it, all over the body. One way to mitigate this is to allow your body to cool down after a workout—perhaps showering at home, not at the gym—and then taking a short, mild-temp shower. Do your cleaning up, but then step out and let your body finish cooling down, and for your heart rate to slow. It will make your post-shower application of moisturizer much more effective, and will keep you from accumulating dried-up sweat inside your pores.
4. Budget time to air dry
In tandem with the previous tip, try to fully dry off and cool down before applying any moisturizer. This is easiest if you’re at home, where you can starfish on the bed and just relax while it all dries. Any application of moisturizer or other products immediately after a workout + shower will be met with excessive sweating, potential pore clogging, and successive breakouts. Just let it all calm down before you apply the requisite daytime or nighttime moisturizer.
5. Shave and exfoliate in the evening
Whenever you incorporate shaving and exfoliating into your regimen (and we recommend twice a week for the latter), do so in the evening, after cleansing. Exfoliating helps buff away dead, dry skin cells, in turn letting the healthiest, brightest ones come to surface. It prevents those dead cells from blocking pores, too, which minimizes breakouts. Exfoliating is especially good to do before a shave, since it can lift away any dead skin (to prevent clogging in the pores, and to minimize razor drag), while also helping to lift the whiskers into prime shearing position.
Doing these abrasive things with your bedtime regimen is important because your skin already endures a lot during the day, particularly with all of the sweating it’s doing. (That’s magnified if you’re an outdoor athlete; you’ve probably noticed sweat burns on your face before, when it dries in the sun.) So, since your nighttime regimen focuses on recovery (which we’ll get to soon), your skin is given an immediate runway to rebound from the razor blades or the exfoliation. You should wake up in the morning looking fresh faced—after finishing your nighttime regimen with nourishing hydrators like those two found in our Oily Skincare Set. It might even be worth using a Cactus Soothing Face Mask after the abrasion, to cool and calm the skin before you blanket it in moisturizing creams. Learn more about sheet masks here!
6. Prioritize recovery
This recovery process in #5 is one of the most important parts of your skin’s day. When you rest, your skin does all of its own healing, regenerating, rebounding, and so forth. So, by plumping it full of recovery-focused products (like that face mask, and the nourishing Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer), you give it the tools it needs to work double time on keeping your skin balanced and clear. As an active person, you unknowingly put a lot of stress on your skin, too, through excessive sweating, overwashing, sun exposure, and more. A good night’s sleep, paired with a thorough bedtime skincare regimen, is the recipe you need to keep your skin as healthy as possible. Then, wake up, rinse (with cleanser!) and repeat the above steps. Your skin will be ready.
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Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
$29.00
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Beginners
Essentials Skincare Set
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Everything you need, nothing you don’t—the Essentials Set is your skincare starter pack. Just cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We took the guesswork out of developing a skincare routine. This is all you need for everyday skin health.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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Essentials Skincare Set
good for:
Everything you need, nothing you don’t—the Essentials Set is your skincare starter pack. Just cleanse, moisturize, and protect. We took the guesswork out of developing a skincare routine. This is all you need for everyday skin health.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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From protecting skin all day long to boosting its ability to repair and rebuild overnight, your past, present, and future selves will thank you.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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Anti-Aging Skincare Set
good for:
Life comes at you fast. That’s why we developed our Anti-Aging Skincare Set full of just what you need to tackle fine lines, rough texture, and other signs of aging in the skin.
From protecting skin all day long to boosting its ability to repair and rebuild overnight, your past, present, and future selves will thank you.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 02 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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Hair + Body Shower Set
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*Vital Body Wash – winner of the 2022 GQ Grooming Awards
Includes Steps:
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Hair + Body Shower Set
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! The Hair + Body Shower Set has everything you need for an invigorating showertime routine, going beyond cleansing to strengthen, repair, and soothe your hair and skin. You—and your houseguests—will thank you for ditching the 3-in-1 for this trio.
*Vital Body Wash – winner of the 2022 GQ Grooming Awards
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Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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Dark Circles Skincare Set
good for:
All work and no play makes for dull skin.
The Dark Circles Skincare Set is perfect for those looking to brighten and revive dull and tired looking skin. Cleanses debris and grime from the day, depuffs and treats under eye bags, and rehydrates while soothing the skin in your sleep.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
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Dry Skin Set
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Includes Steps:
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Dry Skin Set
good for:
Skin feeling a bit thirsty? The Dry Skin Set was crafted specifically for those with a dry skin type.
If you deal with flakiness, dull complexion, visible fine lines, red patches, or any combination of the above, this set was made for you. This is all you need to hydrate your skin—and keep it hydrated.
Includes Steps:
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Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or pore-clearing clay mask. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
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Cleanse + Refresh Set
good for:
Hit refresh! The Cleanse + Refresh Set gives you the ultimate cleanse from head to toe with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Strengthening Shampoo boosts hair volume, Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts, and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect set for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or pore-clearing clay mask. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
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It's about time you treated the rest of your body as good as you treat your face.
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Head-to-Toe Set
good for:
We've got you covered head to toe, literally. This set comes with a complete skin and hair care routine.
Includes our invigorating shampoo and conditioner to prevent hair loss, refreshing body wash to treat body acne, clay-infused face wash to deeply cleanse the face from debris, and lightweight gel moisturizer to soothe, rehydrate and repair skin while you sleep.
It's about time you treated the rest of your body as good as you treat your face.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
- 03 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
- 04 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Conditioner
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EDITION
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*Comes gift wrapped and in our signature gift box.
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Limited Edition Gift Set
good for:
This gift set is complete with our bestselling anti-aging products to protect skin all day long, while repairing skin overnight. Targets dark circles, fine lines, and other signs of premature aging.
*Comes gift wrapped and in our signature gift box.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
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- 03 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Moisturizer
"There is no better present to give an older brother than the gift of perfect skin care. I don't know who will like it more him or his wife. And, of course, I bought more for myself." - David N. | Age: 45-54
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Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit
good for:
NEW! Limited Edition Jet Set Travel Kit with Dopp Kit.
With our new Jet Set Travel Kit, you can ditch the hotel samples for an on-the-go routine built with your skin in mind. These five simple steps cover all the bases– from cleansing your face to hydrating your lips– and they're all you need to pack before you hit the road. And, yes, it’s TSA-approved.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Daily SPF + Moisturizer
- 02 Dark Circle Eye Rescue
- 03 Clay Cleanser Sample, 15ml
- 04 Hydro Boost Gel Sample, 15ml
- 05 Matte Lip Balm
"I am a 55 years old and I have started to show my age on my face. After a long day in an aircraft cabin, this is exactly what my skin needs. It doesn’t take much time to complete and the results are worth it." – Jerri P
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New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! Teamwork makes your hair dreams work.
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Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
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"I love this shampoo and conditioner. After six weeks of use, I can say that this combination really helped my dry scalp and to reduce itch.” - Alex L.
Healthy Hair Duo
good for:
New + Improved: Same thickening formula now with biotin! Teamwork makes your hair dreams work.
Our highly-rated Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner teams up to get to the root of hair loss, strengthening and nourishing hair starting right at the scalp. Achieve thicker, healthier follicles with the help of our protein and vitamin-packed formula.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Hair Thickening + Strengthening Shampoo
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"I love this shampoo and conditioner. After six weeks of use, I can say that this combination really helped my dry scalp and to reduce itch.” - Alex L.
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Cleansing Duo
Hit refresh! The Cleansing Duo gives you the ultimate cleanse with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect duo for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or clay mask treatment. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
Cleansing Duo
Hit refresh! The Cleansing Duo gives you the ultimate cleanse with highly-effective skincare-grade formulas. Vital Body Wash fights dryness and breakouts and Purifying Clay Cleanser keeps your skin clear and balanced. It's the perfect duo for a fresh, confident look every day!
Pro tip: Use Purifying Clay Cleanser as a spot treatment for pimples or clay mask treatment. Apply to the affected area or the full face and rinse off after 10 minutes.
Includes Steps:
- 01 Purifying Clay Cleanser
- 02 Vital Body Wash
Never go empty! Subscribe + Save 15%
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Korean R&D is two decades ahead of the rest of the world. Cardon products use the highest quality, most effective ingredients out there.
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