3 Basic Skincare Tips That All Runners Should Follow
From anti-chafe balms to sweat-resistant suncream, we highlight the top dermatologist-approved tips and products for achieving your skin’s personal best.
For most of us, the arrival of autumn means a chill in the air, the changing of the leaves and the welcome return of pumpkin spice lattes (Yaasss!). But for runners, it marks the start of race season and an opportunity to fall in love with running all over again after the uncomfortable heat of summer.
With the Great North Run already under our belts and a whole host of athletic events on the horizon, the quick-paced amongst us are already right-clicking open a thousand tabs for some new seasonal gym gear and a fresh pair of kicks to get them in the mood . But in your haste to invest in a sweet new running look, don’t forget to invest in another seriously important aspect of your performance: your skin.
Whilst you’re likely to pay attention to a dodgy knee or monitor your breathing, it can be easy to forget about your skin when so busy thinking about the other organs in your body - but as the largest organ of all, it’s more than deserving of your attention. Sure getting the blood pumping around your body will help towards that post-workout glow, but thanks to a number of physical and environmental factors, from chafing to sun exposure, your skin is exposed to some pretty harsh elements when you’re out there trying to achieve your fitness goals. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of targeted products available to keep it in peak health!
As the official sun and skincare partner for the most recent Great North Run, La Roche-Posay are our go-to for sports conscious skincare. Here we highlight the best products from the range to combat the most common runner’s skin complaints.
La Roche Posay
Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+
£20.00
One of the brilliant things about running is the opportunity it gives you to enjoy some time in the great outdoors, and autumn boasts some of the best scenery. But it is also important to realise that this will also expose you to significant amounts of UV exposure. That means spots, uneven pigmentation, and wrinkles could be on the horizon if you’re not careful. Consultant Dermatologist Dr Catherine Borysiewicz recommends La Roche-Posay’s Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF 50+ , a sweat-proof sunscreen in an ultra-light, anti eye-sting formula. Her top tip? Apply adequate quantities! According to Dr Catherine, ‘People usually only apply ¼ to ½ the quantity they should! It should be a teaspoon to the face, and a dessert spoon measure to the arms, a dessert spoon to the legs and a dessert spoon to the body.’
La Roche Posay
CICAPLAST Balm B5
£18.90
Running is great for many things: improving fitness, clearing your mind, and impressing people in the park. What it’s not good for is chafing. Chafing rashes occur at areas of high friction on your skin, such as the thighs, underarms or - the worst one - nipples. As well as ensuring your sportswear fit well, you might find you want to apply a cream that reduces friction by acting as a barrier cream such as La Roche-Posay’s CICAPLAST Balm B5.
La Roche Posay
Effaclar Purifying Foaming Gel
£24.00
If you’re not sweating, you’re not doing it right! Unfortunately, the increase in sweat can be problematic for your skin, resulting in everything from itchiness to breakouts. According to Consultant Dermatologist Dr Catherine Borysiewicz, ‘In runners it’s very common to see back and chest acne - we call this ‘folliculitis’. It happens when sweat remains on the skin, causing bacterial overgrowth and blocked and inflamed pores.’ So how do you prevent it? ‘Look carefully at your skin care regimen and ensure you shower and change out of your running clothes quickly.'
For blemishes and imperfections using a cleanser such as EFFACLAR Cleansing Gel Wash, enriched with Zinc PCA, is a great start followed by their EFFALCLAR Duo moisturiser, packed full of Lipo Hydroxy Acid & Salicylic Acid.