Short answer: yes. After a workout, rinse off the sweat, pat your skin dry and put on a body cream while your skin is still a little damp. Sweat, extra showers and friction all pull water from the outer layer of your skin. A cream holds it in, so your skin feels soft instead of tight.
Why does skin feel dry after training?
Three things stack up on a training day. When sweat evaporates, the water leaves and the salt stays on your skin. Then there are the showers: often two a day, often long and hot, with plenty of soap, and each one strips the oils that keep skin supple. Add bars, chalk, straps, wind and cold air, and your hands, forearms and shins take the most wear.
Most post-workout skincare advice is written for the face. Your body does most of the work.
A post-workout body care routine
- Rinse soon. Don't let sweat dry on you for hours. A quick rinse is enough if a full shower has to wait.
- Keep the shower short and warm. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests five to ten minutes in warm (not hot) water, with a gentle cleanser only where you need it.
- Pat, don't rub. Towel off gently so your skin stays a little damp.
- Moisturize right away. Dermatologists recommend putting moisturizer on damp skin and massaging it in. Start where skin dries out first: shins, forearms, elbows, knees, shoulders and hands.
Should I moisturize before or after the gym?
After. A heavy layer before training feels slick under a barbell or on a mat, and it mixes with sweat. Rinse off first, then moisturize. If lifting is wrecking your hands, read dry hands from lifting, chalk and hard work.
What kind of body cream works best after a workout?
| If you want | Look for |
|---|---|
| A fast, non-greasy finish so you can get dressed | A light cream that absorbs in a minute or two |
| More comfort on very dry spots | A richer cream or balm on shins, elbows and hands |
| The gentlest option for very dry or reactive skin | Fragrance-free products, which dermatologists generally favor for very dry skin |
| A scent you enjoy as part of the ritual | A cream with natural botanical oils, after a patch test |
Where SYLEKSA fits
We made SYLEKSA Nano Herbal Cream for this moment: after the shower, on skin that has had a long day. It is light and absorbs fast. A hematite-derived mineral gives it a velvet finish, and clove, rosemary and lavender oils give it a warm, herbal scent. Those oils also mean it isn't fragrance-free, so patch test first if your skin is sensitive.
SYLEKSA is a skin-comfort ritual, not a muscle product. It is a cosmetic for external use only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Frequently asked questions
Should I put lotion on before the gym?
Better to wait until after. Lotion before training feels slippery and mixes with sweat.
Is it bad to skip moisturizer after a workout?
It won't hurt you. But if your skin often feels tight or rough on training days, moisturizing after you shower is the simplest fix.
How soon after showering should I put on body cream?
Right away, while your skin is still a little damp. That is what dermatologists recommend.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology, "Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin" (aad.org).