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As runners, we have a lot of priorities. Things like remembering to lay out our gear the night before a long run, fueling enough during the run, and self-care are few of the things heavy on our minds. One highly overlooked priority is our skin care.
As much as we need to recover physically with things like ice baths, stretching and massages, we need to also care for our skin to prevent breakouts and heal chafed skin. After a satisfying run, your skin can often be left feeling the effects of sweat, sun, and environmental exposure. Post-run skin care is more than just washing your face—it’s about replenishing moisture, soothing irritation, and protecting your skin from long-term damage.
Here is an essential list for caring and repairing your skin post-run.
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Key Topics in this Post
Runner Skin Care for After Your Run
Whether you’re running in the early morning sun, on a windy trail, or in a bustling city, taking a few extra minutes to care for your skin can make a big difference in maintaining a healthy, glowing complexion. This guide will walk you through essential post-run skin care steps, from cleansing and hydrating to addressing specific concerns like redness, chafing, and sun damage.
I hope this post helps! I’ve linked specific products in the post below if you need more information! I’ve also pulled all items tagged below in a complete shopping list.
Related Post: For a list of pre-run summer skincare, you need to check out this list of everything I use as part of my pre-run process.
Post-Run Skin Care Routine
Here are some options for taking care of your skin post-run!
Facewash Wipes for Runners
It’s just as important to wash your face after the run as it is before. If you’re on the go, I love these CeraVe Plant-Based Face Wash Wipes! They’re fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and since they’re plant-based, you can add them to your compost pile.
Related Post: Here is a guide for how to care for your skin while running in the winter months!
Full Body Skin Care Products
When you think of skin care as runner, it’s more than just your face. Here’s a complete list if skin care to consider from head-to-toe. For my favorite post-run hair care, you’ve got to check out the list of hair products I use daily.
Products to Freshen Up Post-Run
To freshen up your body when you can’t shower immediately after a run, I love using simple baby wipes (these cucumber and green tea wipes smell amazing) or the Lume Acidified Deodorant Wipes. Sometimes it’s nice to feel fresh driving home from my long run (especially if we’re grabbing brunch or running errands after).
What’s the Best Body Wash for Runners?
Use a gentle body wash product for after your run, especially on days you may have gotten too much sun. I love Dr. Teals Probiotic Body Wash or CeraVe Body Wash since they’re really gentle and non-abbrasive.
If you had a little too much sun or your sunscreen sweat off your skin, soothe your skin with an aloe vera product, like Sun Bum Cool Down as a gel option or Banana Boat Aloe Vera Spray with Cucumber.
Exfoliation Products to Consider
If you’re not considering exfoliation as part of your post-run skin care routine, it’s time. I have a few options up my sleeve to help with bumps and blemishes from
If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, these wipes from Divine Derriere Beauty are amazing. I love the formula smells great, the pads are soaked in product and it does wonders for exfoliating underarm and bikini areas.
I’ve also added an exfoliating mitten (I use this one from Wildpier) to my routine once a week (do not use it on chafed skin) and an exfoliating scrubber for daily showering. I ditched my loofa for the TikTok viral Sud Scrub. I’ve noticed I have fewer red bumps and my skin is really smooth! It’s also antimicrobial and infused with silver and zinc-infused silicone shower brush that’s proven to resist 99.99% of odor-causing bacteria and >90% of fungi from growing on its surface.
If you’re having issues with acne on your body, consider adding a body wash for minimizing blemishes, such as the CeraVe Body Wash with Salicylic Acid.
Products to Help Heal Chafing
If chafing does occur, it’s essential to clean the affected area gently and keep it moisturized to aid healing. My friend, Heather, told me about Bag Balm a few years ago to help heal my skinned knees after a running fall. It was initially developed by farmers for moisturizing cow utters but now it’s available for moisturizing human skin too. It’s perfect for adding to chafed areas because it adds a bit of a barrier between my skin and my clothes.
Related Post: If you’re traveling, check out this post on travel skin care!
Runners Skin Care Wrap Up
As runners, we’re hyper-focused on taking care of our legs! Also consider a pair of post-run sunglasses to have fun and block those rays! (I love this funky pair from Sojos!) Hoping this article helps spark the reminder it’s a full-body activity (including your skin).
Have a runner skin care tip I missed? Leave a note in the comments and share your secrets!
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