Here is the skincare you need before and after a swim (2024)

Swimming can be fun, especially during summer when the whole family can enjoy it together! However, you do not want to be left with dry, flaky skin after your time in the water. The sun and the chlorine in swimming pools or the sun and the salt water (if you are at a beach) can leave your skin feeling icky and tanned if not sunburned.

Shower before you dive in

Here is the skincare you need before and after a swim (1)

Take a good shower and soak yourself fully before you jump into a swimming pool. If you soak and saturate your skin cells fully before you get into the pool, chances of your skin soaking up the chlorine in the water become less.

Wear sunscreen before a swim

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Always protect your skin from the sun and the chlorine in pools, salt and other pollutants in the sea by wearing a sunscreen which will create a coating on your skin. Look for sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as they are highly effective, but do not irritate the skin.

Shower immediately after you get out of the pool/sea

Here is the skincare you need before and after a swim (3)

Any residual chlorine or salt that might be sitting on your skin needs to be removed, and a shower with a mild body cleanser helps do just that. This also helps restore the skin’s pH levels back to normal and cancel the effects of the pool/sea water.

Moisturise immediately after your post-swim shower

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After you take a shower with a mild cleanser, moisturise your body and face with a moisturiser to restore the hydration levels on your skin. Skin on the face is delicate and sensitive, so it important to cleanse thoroughly and moisturise your face.

Do not lie in the sun to dry yourself

Here is the skincare you need before and after a swim (5)

Lying on a chair by the poolside or beachside with a drink in hand may look glamorous, but is not advisable after a swim. If you have any ideas of drying yourself off just by lying on a deck chair, think again. The residue from the pool or sea will just dry up on your skin and may cause redness, itchiness or dry your skin up. So take a shower, dry yourself with a cotton towel, apply SPF and relax on that poolside chair with a cold margarita!