Sweaty Days: Face Washing and Shine on Commute and Gym Days
In a hot, humid city, some days your face is damp with sweat before you even reach work. If you ride to the office on a two-wheeler with a helmet on, or fit in a workout after work, you can end up sweating several times in one day.
The basic routine of cleanser, serum and moisturiser is covered in 'A Three-Step Skincare Routine for Hot, Humid Days'. This note sticks to sweaty days: how to wash your face after sweating, what to do and what to avoid when your face gets shiny during the day, and what to pack in your gym bag. It draws on public guidance from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).
Washing your face after sweating
The AAD advises limiting face washing to twice a day and after sweating: once in the morning, once at night, and again after you have sweated heavily. It also says to wash as soon as possible after sweating, and notes that sweat is especially irritating when you have been wearing a hat or helmet.
It is specific about how to wash, too. Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser that does not contain alcohol. Wet your face with lukewarm water and apply the cleanser with your fingertips. The AAD says a washcloth, mesh sponge or anything other than your fingertips can irritate the skin. Resist the urge to scrub, rinse with lukewarm water, and pat dry with a soft towel. On a very sweaty day, the method stays the same.
When your face gets shiny on the commute
The AAD's advice on oily skin uses the same washing rule: up to twice a day, and after sweating. It says not to scrub, even when removing makeup. It suggests a mild, foaming face wash, because a face wash that is too harsh can irritate skin and lead to more oil, and it advises against oil-based or alcohol-based cleansers. When choosing cleansers, moisturisers and makeup, it suggests looking for 'oil free' and 'noncomedogenic' on the label.
For shine during the day, use blotting papers. The AAD says to press the paper gently against your face, leave it for a few seconds, and not rub, because rubbing spreads oil to other areas. The same thinking applies to touching your face after holding a bus or metro handle. The AAD explains that touching your face can move dirt, oil and bacteria from your hands to your face, and suggests touching it only to cleanse or to apply moisturiser, sunscreen or makeup, with clean hands. If you are concerned about how oily your skin is, the AAD suggests seeing a board-certified dermatologist.
A gym bag checklist
Here is the AAD's workout advice turned into a gym bag. Before you exercise, take off your makeup. The AAD says you do not need to wash your face for this, and an oil-free makeup remover towelette is enough. Pack workout clothes that have been washed since you last wore them. Your towel should also have been washed since it was last used, and you should pat sweat off gently rather than rub.
Wipe shared equipment before you use it, and avoid sharing protective gear like helmets where you can. The AAD suggests considering a shower straight after your workout, and if you cannot shower, washing your face with a gentle cleanser and changing into clean clothes. So the bag needs makeup remover towelettes, washed workout clothes and a change of clothes, a clean towel, a small gentle cleanser and blotting papers. Add the moisturiser you already use for after washing.
HANARI's gel cleanser
HANARI's Clean Start Gel Cleanser is a gel cleanser for the step before serum and moisturiser. We designed it with hot-day sweat, oil and washing after time outdoors in mind, but how often you use it should suit your own skin. It is planned to launch in December 2026 and is not on sale yet. Once it is available, follow the directions on the product, and if your skin reacts in a way that bothers you, stop using it and see a dermatologist.