Skin Glows After a Workout, but Sweat and Make-Up Clog the Pores: Beautician Silvia Giralt Shares Her Before-and-After Routine

A flushed face after a workout isn't a sign you overdid it. According to beautician Silvia Giralt, it's a sign your skin got something no cream can give it. "It raises body temperature and stimulates blood circulation," she explains. More blood means more oxygen and nutrients for the skin cells and faster clearing of impurities - hence the glow.

There's a second, less expected effect. Stress makes some skin conditions worse, and exercise releases endorphins that lift your mood. Giralt says this lowers the chance that acne, dermatitis or rosacea will flare up. Exercise, in short, works like a rejuvenating treatment - with one big footnote.

The footnote is sweat. Sweat, sebum, heat and make-up together clog the pores, and the result can be irritation or breakouts. That's why the post-workout routine matters as much as the workout itself.

Before a morning workout: gentle cleansing, a light moisturiser in gel or lotion form that absorbs quickly, and for exercising outdoors - a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen that's light and sweat-resistant. A stick is the most practical option.

After every workout: a deep cleanse to remove sweat, sebum and impurities; a thermal water spray that cools the skin and calms redness; an antioxidant, such as vitamin C; and a moisturiser suited to your skin type, to replace the water you've lost.

If you go to the gym straight from work with make-up on: ideally remove it before training, especially heavy, occlusive products - with micellar water, cleansing milk or wipes. If it has to stay, make sure it's water-based, without silicones or heavy oils; mineral powder is a good option. If you have no cleanser with you - lukewarm water and gentle patting with a clean towel, no rubbing, because heat opens the pores and leftover make-up easily clogs them.

The two mistakes Giralt forbids. Hydrogel under-eye patches and face masks during exercise block sweat and cause breakouts or irritation. "You don't save time, and you'll throw your money away," she says. Hair masks are fine. The same goes for LED masks: phototherapy needs clean, dry skin, and sweat plus the heat from the device are paradise for bacteria.

The list of recommended products for this routine ranges from 3.70 to 55 euros apiece. But look at the steps - water, cleansing, cream, sun protection - and none of them requires an expensive brand. The most important part of the treatment, the workout itself, is free in this story: a walk to the park is enough.