Personal Care – Skincare for Cyclists and Endurance Athletes
Here are some top tips for looking after your skin when you are enjoying an active outdoor lifestyle.
My featured brand in this piece is Weleda—who make by far the nicest and most effective range of natural skincare products that I have found to date. They are sustainably sourced, feature organic ingredients, and hold zero micro-plastics or petrochemicals.
Lip Balms and Barrier Creams
Throughout the year I apply Weleda Skin Food Lip Balm before a ride. This natural balm helps to avoid painful chapped lips caused by windburn and sunshine.
In the wintertime, I use Weleda's Weather Protection Cream—it creates a unique natural protective barrier from the drying effects of the winter elements. In the summer, I compliment this with the Edelweiss Sunscreen Lotion (SPF30) to give protection from harmful UV rays.
Chamois Cream
The seat area of your anatomy undergoes constant abrasion and friction while cycling. A superior quality chamois cream will help to reduce friction and prevent saddle sores.
You may not need to use chamois cream on every ride, but when you are doing longer hours Weleda's Calendula Nappy Change Cream is a smart choice. The cream is naturally antibacterial and anti-fungal, so it is particularly good for times when bacteria build up is more likely; such as when you are forced to wear the same pair of riding shorts on back to back days on a bike tour (of course, you should never aim to do this).
I combine the cream with Weleda's Calendula Cuts and Grazes Salve if I need to treat any problem areas that arise.
Sports Body Wash
Post-ride, removing the dirt and grime from your skin can be tricky. Often, it will require soap and a fair bit of scrubbing. Lots of the soap products on the market will only dry your skin out further though, and leave it irritated and sore.
The body wash range from Weleda is composed of beautifully creamy body washes, which leave your skin feeling clean and rejuvenated. The Arnica Sports Shower Gel is a favourite of mine—containing natural arnica extract to help to soothe aching muscles.
Muscle Creams and Balms
After you are washed and dried, it is time to help your body recover. The Weleda Arnica Massage Balm and Arnica Cooling Gel use natural ingredients to reduce tension in your muscles and joints. Arnica is a proven homeopathic medicine for sore muscles and joints.
Whether it is niggling pains or just generally sore muscles—these are great products to use.
Healing Hands and Fresh Feet
Bike riding is hard on your hands and feet—hours of damp and freezing conditions leave them dried out and at risk from microbial infection such as Athlete's Foot. The Weleda hand creams and foot creams are natural ways to restore life and freshness to your feet and hands.
Cuts and Grazes
Finally, a worthwhile precaution for any athlete—avoid infection. The Weleda Calendula Cuts and Grazes Salve and HyperCal Wound Salve are disinfecting balms, which are ideal to treat grazes, cuts, and small nicks. The products are anti-microbial and anti-fungal—so they will help to combat any infections that might try creeping in.
For more insights on treating cycling related cuts, read my post 'Healing and Treating Road Rash'.
Looking after your skin and muscles holds a long term benefit to any bike rider and endurance sports athlete. It will help to reduce ageing and painful infections, as well as improving the way you feel after a hard session in the great outdoors.
Looking after your skin and muscles holds a long term benefit to any bike rider and endurance sports athlete. It will help to reduce ageing and painful infections, as well as improving the way you feel after a hard session in the great outdoors.
» View the Weleda range at Weleda.co.uk « (Use the code TIM24 to get 30% off Weleda at the checkout)
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