Being the girlfriend of an athlete, I am aware of the benefits that exercise can have for your skin. I am also aware of the negatives. Congregating the perfect balance can be crucial for good skin performance, almost as crucial as the way you hold your weights when trying to hit a personal best.

Your warm up set

I asked my partner how he cares for his skin before a rugby match and his answers were slightly concerning.

In the morning, he plays it simple by just cleansing his face.

“Cleanser or just water?” I asked.

He answered cleanser.

For ease, a splash of water is a quick salvage to help wake up and remove sweat and oil build-up throughout the night. If cleansing in the morning, I recommended for him to use something very light that doesn’t contain highly potent actives that once exposed to sunlight may damage the skin barrier.

The lack of moisturiser in the morning concerned me most, my partner was going to train after stripping his face of oils and then not replenishing his skin afterwards. No wonder he says his skin feels tight and dry. A hasty application of moisturiser after cleansing will suffice. Again, using something light and water-based will promote healthy oil production and cell regeneration, giving your skin a layer of protection against the sweat and gym bacteria.

Sun protection is the icing on the cake and how boring would a red velvet be without the icing. Using SPF, as icing does, will form a protective coating on the skin, preventing sun damage and skin cancer. Rain or shine, the sun is still pertinent and remembering to do this final step of your skincare routine can take years away from your inevitably ageing skin. In order to save time, Transformulas’s Photoglow combines hydration with SPF, also providing a sheer glow.

Lunge into healthy skin

I have always been envious of my partners glowing, plump skin, forgetting the eyebrow stitches and various scars from years of rugby matches. I wanted to find out how he kept such a strong skin barrier and minimised breakouts amidst all the on-the-floor action of a pitch. If I was planting the floor thirty-times an hour, my skin would scrape off.

He informed me that drinking water and replenishing his SPF (thankfully) are his essentials for enduring healthy, nourished skin throughout game-time.

Tips from myself would include avoid using a dirty towel and be sure to best disinfect any equipment. Limit touching your face and contact with other players hands and skin.

The sweat evoked by exercise can offer a great rosy glow and rid the skin of bacteria, however, sweat also causes your body’s water hydration to decrease when it is released. This is going to impact your physical performance and leave your skin parched, leading to symptoms including congestion, redness and inflammation. The wind can also deplete moisture levels. If you’re playing sport outdoors on a windy day, this will pull water from your skin too resulting in drier skin quicker.

Replace lost fluid with plenty of water and electrolytes. Some even say adding salt to your water can be a natural form of electrolyte!

The cool down stretch

Making it through the game is one thing but not knowing how to care for your skin afterwards (before the winners booze session) can reverse your previous efforts!

Showering immediately after sports is an unmissable trick. This will lift any festering bacteria and congestion, leaving a clean state beneath. Remove sweat and dirt by using a natural, unscented body wash and stay consistent with your forementioned cleansing routine.

My partner’s biggest query was how he could moisturise post-match when his skin feels fragile and cut.

With its healing sea kelp and algae, Transformulas Marine Miracle Crème is incredulously underrated and remains the secret of a few. The crème restores and regenerates skin cells with its luxurious thick formula, rendering it perfect for replenishing hydration and alleviating scratches and cuts (this is also a great post-shave hack!).

3 sets 3 reps

To captivate this healthy skin, remaining consistent is essential. These three exercises of cleanse, hydrate and protect can be done quickly and easily leaving no room for excuses! When playing high-impact sport, your skin is the first contact with any bacteria and harm, these small activities ensure you are doing your upmost to negate any problems with dehydration and blemishes!