Skincare after swimming: how to care for your skin after chlorine and salt water
Swimming is wonderful – but not always for your skin. Chlorinated water in the indoor pool and salt water in the sea often leave it dry, tight or slightly rough afterwards. The good news: well-planned skincare after swimming only takes a few minutes. In this guide we explain what chlorine, salt and sun do to your skin, show you a five-step routine and compare in a table what matters at the indoor pool, the outdoor pool, the sea and the lake.
Contents10
- What chlorine and salt water do to your skin
- Skincare after swimming: the five-step routine
- Indoor pool, outdoor pool, sea or lake: what is different?
- Skincare after swimming for face, hands and feet
- Prevention: what you can do before swimming
- Skincare after swimming: the swimming bag
- Common mistakes in skincare after swimming
- When you should seek medical advice
- Conclusion
- Frequently asked questions
What chlorine and salt water do to your skin
Chlorine in the swimming pool
Chlorine is added to pool water to keep it hygienic. That makes sense, but it has a side effect: chlorine compounds can attack the skin's natural lipid layer. On top of that, spending a long time in the water makes the skin swell and then tend to dry out. If you swim several times a week, you often notice it on dry shins, rough elbows and tight facial skin. By the way, the typical "indoor pool smell" is usually not caused by chlorine alone, but by compounds that form when chlorine reacts with sweat and other residues. That is one reason why showering before swimming is mandatory in pools.
Salt water in the sea
Sea water contains salt, which stays on the skin as it dries. Many people find that pleasant at first, but over time the salt draws moisture from the skin's surface. Combined with sun, wind and sand, the skin often feels tight in the evening.
Sun, wind and frequent showering
Outdoors the sun adds to this, in the indoor pool it is the frequent showering with warm water. Both put extra strain on the skin. Skincare after swimming therefore has two jobs: rinse off chlorine or salt thoroughly and then give the skin back moisture and lipids.
Skincare after swimming: the five-step routine
- Shower straight away: Get under the shower right after swimming, before the water dries on your skin. Lukewarm rather than hot – hot water dries the skin out even more.
- Wash gently: A mild shower gel is all you need. According to the product description, the VEGAN FOX shower gel contains aloe vera, panthenol and betaine and is also intended for daily use. Use only a small amount and rinse thoroughly.
- Cleanse your face separately: The face is often more sensitive. Wash it with a mild foam, for example the cleansing foam for dry skin, which removes dirt and residues without putting unnecessary strain on the skin.
- Pat dry instead of rubbing: Press the towel gently onto your skin. A flat-woven hammam towel fits well in a swimming bag because it takes up little space and dries quickly.
- Apply cream while the skin is still slightly damp: Face cream for the face, hand cream for the hands, foot cream for the feet. For the body, a body lotion of your choice is enough if your skin feels tight.
Important: skincare after swimming should not put even more strain on the skin. A body scrub straight after swimming, for example, is not a good idea if the skin already looks irritated.
Indoor pool, outdoor pool, sea or lake: what is different?
Depending on where you swim, the priorities shift. The table gives you a quick overview.
| Place | Main strain | What to pay attention to |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor pool | Chlorine, warm shower water, dry air when you go outside | shower thoroughly with lukewarm water, cleanse your face, apply cream before going out into the cold |
| Outdoor pool | Chlorine plus sun | reapply sun protection after every swim, shower and apply cream in the evening |
| Sea | Salt, sun, wind, sand | rinse off the salt with fresh water as soon as possible; remove sand before applying cream |
| Lake | Sun, wind, often no shower on site | take a bottle of tap water for rinsing, shower and apply cream at home |
A lake such as Lake Kulkwitz near Leipzig is fresh water without chlorine. Even so, after a long day of swimming with sun and wind, the skin often feels dry – so evening care is worthwhile here too.
Skincare after swimming for face, hands and feet
Face
Your face is constantly in the water while swimming and usually in the sun or cold air afterwards. After cleansing, apply a cream, such as the VEGAN FOX face cream with almond and avocado oil. It contains no sun protection filter. If you stay outdoors after swimming, you also need sun protection.
Hands
After a long swim, hands are often wrinkly and then dry. According to its description, the hand cream with shea butter and macadamia is our richest hand care, and at 120 ml it fits in any bag.
Feet
Barefoot on wet tiles, plus chlorine: feet are often forgotten when swimming. Dry them thoroughly, including between the toes, and apply the foot cream with aloe vera in the evening. At the swimming pool, pool shoes protect your feet on the way to the shower.
Prevention: what you can do before swimming
- Shower beforehand: This is mandatory in swimming pools anyway and means fewer residues get into the water.
- Don't apply thick cream right before: Greasy creams and oils don't belong on your skin before you get into the pool. At the outdoor pool and by the sea, water-resistant sun protection is of course still important.
- Keep an eye on time in the water: Splashing around for hours puts more strain on the skin than half an hour of brisk swimming.
- Swimming cap: It mainly protects your hair, but also keeps your scalp drier.
Skincare after swimming: the swimming bag
- Shower gel, ideally decanted into a smaller bottle
- Cleansing foam for the face
- Face cream (50 ml) and hand cream (120 ml)
- A light towel for drying off, for example a hammam towel
- Pool shoes
- A separate bag for wet things
- In summer: sun protection and a water bottle
If you stay at the pool a little longer after swimming, you will appreciate a bathrobe. We explain which one is suitable in our guide Bathrobe for the Swimming Pool.
Common mistakes in skincare after swimming
- Not showering: Chlorine or salt then stays on the skin for hours.
- Showering too hot: After the cool pool, hot water is tempting, but it dries out the skin.
- Rubbing dry vigorously: Friction puts strain on skin that is already stressed.
- Forgetting to apply cream: Especially if you swim regularly, this makes the biggest difference.
- Not reapplying sun protection: Even water-resistant sun protection doesn't last forever. Reapply after swimming and drying off.
When you should seek medical advice
If your skin regularly itches badly, turns red, develops pimples or flakes after swimming, an intolerance or a skin condition may be behind it. Skincare products are not the solution for this – please have it checked by a doctor. The same applies if you have open wounds and are unsure whether you should go swimming.
You can find all VEGAN FOX products for your skincare after swimming in our skincare products.
Related reading: Hammam towel at the outdoor pool: lawn, sun lounger, locker and hygiene · Washing Off Sunscreen in the Evening: Facial Cleansing After a Sunny Day · Dry skin in winter: how to shower and care for your skin
Conclusion
Good skincare after swimming is not much effort: shower with lukewarm water straight away, wash gently, pat dry and apply cream while the skin is still slightly damp. At the indoor pool chlorine is the main issue, at the outdoor pool and the sea the sun as well, and at the lake mainly rinsing off at home. If you swim regularly, keep shower gel, cream and a light towel permanently in your swimming bag – then your skin will feel comfortable even after many lengths.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really have to shower after swimming?
Yes, if you want to get rid of chlorine or salt. A short, lukewarm shower is enough. At a lake without a shower, rinse off with tap water from a bottle and shower at home.
Which cream is suitable after swimming?
A mild face cream for the face and separate creams for hands and feet. For the body, a simple lotion is enough if your skin feels tight. Outdoors you also need sun protection.
Why does my skin smell of chlorine after the indoor pool?
Chlorine compounds cling to skin and hair. A thorough shower with shower gel helps, but the smell can linger a little longer in the hair.
Is salt water good for the skin?
Many people find a dip in the sea pleasant. But if the salt stays on the skin for a long time, it can dry it out. So rinse off with fresh water after swimming.
How often should I apply cream after swimming?
After every swim that leaves your skin feeling tight. If you swim every day, it is best to apply cream every day – face, hands and feet first.
Personally written by Martin – founder of BeachAndSteam and sauna operator at Lake Kulkwitz for more than 18 years.