Become a Lean, Mean, Beauty Machine

It’s no secret that exercise can make you feel stronger, healthier, and more confident, but working up a sweat can do more for your body than just help you squeeze into your favorite outfit. Regular exercise is one of the keys to achieving and maintaining beautiful, healthy-looking skin. These fitness tips will get you moving toward a higher level of beauty, inside and out.

Work It Out

Exercising can help cleanse the body of the toxins we receive from our diet and other environmental factors such as pollution.¹ Increased physical activity can also reduce acne-causing stress hormones while increasing blood circulation,² to give you that healthy, energetic glow. Additionally, after a good workout you will sleep better, which allows your body to release growth hormones that help repair damaged skin cells.³

However, in the midst of a hectic schedule, finding the time to hit the gym is not always an easy task. Developing a fitness routine is a gradual process that requires patience and dedication to avoid overexerting yourself. If you haven’t gone for a jog in several years, you can’t expect to begin training at marathon levels. Try easing yourself back into a steady workout routine with these simple guidelines

• Beginner: If it’s been a while since your last trip to the gym, getting back into the groove with beginner-level exercises is a good place to start. Gradually building your fitness and endurance levels with simple activities for about 20 to 30 minutes 4 days a week is ideal to make sure you don’t strain or injure yourself. In addition to a light strength-training routine, consider beginning with some aerobic exercises such as walking briskly, swimming, or bike riding.
• Moderate: Once you’ve gotten used to staying physically active throughout the week, it may be time to tackle a few more involved exercises. Yoga is a great way to target all parts of your body to help you lose weight while increasing blood flow, managing certain health conditions, and aiding sleep issues.⁴ By taking up a sport you really enjoy, like tennis or golf, you’ll also help lower your average stress level, which will be reflected in the overall appearance of your skin.
• Advanced: Time to kick up your fitness routine another notch? By doing advanced activities like running or weight lifting, you’ll reach your body’s peak performance—you may even notice the added benefit of truly radiant skin. However, during any intensive activity, it’s important to be cautious. Increase the intensity of your routine in small, incremental steps and take time to warm up and cool down. As with all levels of exercise, make sure to drink plenty of water in order to stay hydrated and replace lost fluids.⁵

To ensure that you get the maximum skin benefit from exercise, remember to cleanse your face regularly to remove the oil and sweat buildup. Avoid wearing makeup when you train in order to minimize the chance of breakouts. With these simple tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way toward more beautiful, glowing skin.

Leave us a comment below sharing the steps you’re taking toward obtaining your fitness and healthy skin goals.

1. Health Guidance. Exercise to detoxify.
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/12745/1/Exercise-to-Detoxify.html. Updated 2012. Accessed July 24, 2012.
2. Mayo Clinic. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise/HQ01676. Updated July 23, 2011. Accessed July 24, 2012.
3. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Your guide to healthy sleep.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.pdf. Updated August 2011. Accessed July 9, 2012.
4. Mayo Clinic. Yoga: tap into the many health benefits.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/yoga/CM00004. Updated January 16, 2010. Accessed July 24, 2012.
5. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Healthy skin matters.
http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Kids/healthy_skin.asp. Updated January 2011. Accessed July 16, 2012.