When I started working out to shed the flab that surrounded my body, the part that I least considered was the one that covered most of it – my skin. It never entered my mind until I attended enough hot yoga sessions to earn a forehead full of pimples. I panicked and stopped temporarily because pimply was not something I counted on as a fitness goal. However, the languorous and cleansing feeling after hot yoga was invigorating and I was hell-bent on continuing.
So continue I did and eventually the pimples faded. Exercise can really sift through the layers of your body and eliminate what you don’t need. Like a trimmer waist, it doesn’t happen overnight. Just as your body goes through stages of loosening and firming up, the skin can progress from sallow to supple with a good workout regimen and balanced diet. I got the skinny about the workings of exercise on the skin from four active individuals who are role models both in complexion and physique.
Joanna Christina Lizares-Co, 44 years old
Yoga Instructor
Joanna personifies both the gentling and empowering aspects of her chosen form of exercise, yoga. She hardly looks her age, as her skin is more radiant than she’s ever known it to be.
If you maintain a skin regimen, how has this changed since you incorporated yoga into your lifestyle? Did you add or eliminate anything? In our yoga practice, we expect to sweat a lot. I added more drinking water and extra hours of sleep to my daily routine. I am quite minimalist with the skin care products I use and I don’t even keep a regular facial schedule. But I do wash my face 2-3 times a day and moisturize after every wash with the same moisturizers I have been using since I was a teenager. I have only since added pure Moroccan argan oil as serum prior to moisturizing. All in all, I did notice that my skin (face and body) is not as dry as it used to be.
What are your skin-friendly tips for other active people like yourself? Allow yourself to sweat. I say this because even in the gym I see people get uncomfortable the moment they start perspiring and find the nearest air conditioner to keep cool. It’s all good, let your sweat out. Let your skin breathe as well. Avoid using heavy or oil-based foundations that can clog your facial pores and trap sweat underneath it, especially during exercise. If you must, use lightweight and non-comedogenic cosmetics. Take a shower before and after exercising and wear light clothing when you work out.
Fritz Freire, 35 years old
Plana Forma, Yoga & Zumba Instructor
When one thinks of Fritz, lightness and grace in mid-jump immediately comes to mind. He is a flurry of activity, seeming able to do it all while successfully demonstrating to legions of students that you can stay active and enjoy it thoroughly. Looking at his clear blemish-free skin and trim figure, he is a prime example of one who fully reaps the benefits of exercise.
How often do you exercise? Since I am a group fitness instructor, my exercise is my way of life. I do them six days a week. Sometimes I play badminton, which is my cross training exercise, on my rest day.
Since you started, have you noticed any changes in your skin? Exercising has been very beneficial for me. I noticed before I used to have skin problems in my face but since I started exercising, I don’t encounter them anymore.
Nikka Go, 24 years old
Weights, Circuit Training & Boxing
Nikka is something of a local fitness phenomenon. She dubs herself, The Asian Superwoman, and documents her fitness journey on her blog of the same name. Lean and sculpted to a fault, she has made taking care of her health her pastime and main strength.
Since you started, have you noticed any changes in your skin? Ever since exercise became part of my routine, I noticed my skin was less dry and minimized my pores. Sweating helps the body get rid of toxins and increases blood flow, increasing the oxygen in your system to give you that natural glow. And we all know that exercising releases endorphins, which gives you a natural high. Happier people are prettier!
What are your skin-friendly tips for other active people like yourself? Don’t forget to shower before leaving the gym. You want to prevent bacterial infections and breakouts that can occur when you don’t rinse after a workout, which is when your pores are susceptible to clogging from dirt and oil.
Faye Remolar, 25 years old, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer and CrossFit Athlete
Well after the dust has settled around CrossFit – that is after those who just tried it for kicks have surrendered to its intense rigors – you are left with athletes like Faye who remain passionate about it and really believe that you rep to reap. In fact, she has opened her own box together with like-minded partners called CrossFit Cranium.
How often do you exercise? I work out almost everyday of the week since I’m a trainer and part of my job is to test the workouts I give our athletes. Also, I do this to continuously develop strength and conditioning.
Since you started, have you noticed any changes in your skin? I believe that the positive changes I’ve seen in my skin is due to the hydration when working out. I try to keep myself hydrated at all times. It is important to replace the lost fluids from our sweat to continuously function at optimum performance. In addition to this, we follow a certain diet of eating more meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruits, little starch and no sugar. The effect of having to eat clean adds up to these positive changes. Technically, staying away from garbage food and drink has all kept my skin as well as my health as a whole in good balance.
