The gentle ritual of a sauna is a wonderful way to relax your body and mind. It also offers unique benefits for your complexion, as the warm steam and heat encourage pores to open and circulation to increase, helping to flush out congestion. But the real key to a lasting post-sauna glow lies in the post-sauna skin care that follows.
Once you step out of the heat, your skin is perfectly prepped but also vulnerable. It has lost moisture through sweat and its protective barrier needs support. This is the ideal moment to replenish hydration and nourishment with targeted, gentle formulas. At Green People, we use decades of experience in organic skin science to create routines that work with your skin, not against it.
At a glance
- The three core steps of post-sauna care are: cleanse, hydrate and protect
- Different saunas suit different skin types; gentle infrared is often best for sensitive skin
- Post-sauna, wash with a gentle cream cleanser like our Scent Free Cleanser to avoid stripping the skin
- Mature skin benefits from antioxidant support with serums like our Age Defy+ Collagen Boost Vitamin C Serum
- Always finish a daytime sauna routine with a broad-spectrum SPF to protect sensitised skin
What are the skin benefits of a sauna?
That immediate, healthy glow you notice after a sauna isn't just in your imagination. The heat helps to boost your circulation, increasing blood flow to the skin's surface. This process delivers a fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells, contributing to a vibrant and revitalised appearance.
The act of sweating itself provides a deep cleansing effect. As you perspire, your pores open up, helping to flush out congestion, dirt and impurities that can lead to blemishes. Your skin is left feeling wonderfully clean and refreshed from the inside out.
Which sauna is right for your skin?
Not all saunas are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference to your skin’s experience.
Traditional high-heat dry saunas are effective at promoting a deep sweat, which can be beneficial for deep-cleaning the pores of oily skin. However, this intense, dry heat can be too much for those with dry or sensitive complexions.
Steam rooms and salt steam rooms envelop the skin in moisture. This makes them a fantastic choice for hydrating dry and dehydrated skin types. The antimicrobial properties of salt can also be helpful for those prone to breakouts.
Infrared saunas use a gentler, more targeted heat that warms the body from within rather than heating the air around you. This makes them an ideal choice for sensitive skin, and may even be suitable for those with rosacea when used at a low temperature, as they provide the circulatory benefits without the intense ambient heat that can trigger flushing.
The 3 essential steps of post-sauna skin care
Whatever your skin type, a successful post-sauna routine follows three simple principles. Following them in order will help to calm, rehydrate and protect your complexion, locking in all the benefits of your session. Learning how to layer your skin care correctly makes a huge difference.
1. Cleanse gently: After your sauna, give your face a splash of cool - not cold - water. Then, wash away sweat and any impurities released from your pores using a pH-balanced, non-stripping cleanser.
2. Hydrate immediately: While your skin is still slightly damp, apply your hydrating products. This helps to trap that precious moisture. A light serum followed by a moisturiser is the perfect combination to replenish what was lost through sweat.
3. Protect & soothe: If you’ve had a daytime sauna, sun protection is non-negotiable as your skin is newly exposed and can be more sensitive. For an evening session, a nourishing night cream will support your skin’s repair processes as you sleep.
Post-sauna routine for sensitive skin
If your skin is prone to redness and reactivity, the post-sauna goal is to calm and hydrate without causing irritation. A fragrance-free routine is your best friend here.
Start your cool-down with the COSMOS Organic certified Scent Free Cleanser. This ultra-gentle, dermatologically tested cream wash purifies the skin without disrupting its delicate balance, leaving it feeling comfortable and clean.
Scent Free Cleanser 150ml
This fragrance-free cleanser is a sensitive skin essential!£30.00
Next, while skin is still receptive, pat on a few drops of the Scent Free Hyaluronic Booster Serum. This lightweight, fast-absorbing fluid delivers a targeted burst of hydration, instantly plumping and soothing thirsty skin without a hint of fragrance.
Scent Free Hyaluronic Booster Serum 28ml
This scent-free Hyaluronic Acid serum is pure hydration in a bottle£33.00
★★★★★
“Beautiful product .... feels very light but incredibly hydrating on my skin - I love it - Thanks”
Lesley S · Verified Buyer
Reviewing: Scent Free Hyaluronic Booster Serum 28ml
See this product now →For an evening sauna, finish with the Scent Free Truffle Night Cream. This intensely calming and restorative cream cocoons your skin, reducing any residual redness and supporting its overnight recovery. The Northern Truffle we use instantly soothes, and is clinically proven to reduce reddening and boost your skin's tolerance.
Scent Free Truffle Night Cream 50ml
Soothe, calm and repair with this Ceramide and Truffle sleep cream£34.50
Post-sauna routine for dry or mature skin
For skin that needs an extra boost of nourishment and radiance, a post-sauna routine should focus on replenishing lipids and supporting collagen.
Begin with the Age Defy+ Purify & Hydrate Cream Cleanser. This luxurious, certified organic cream cleanser has a beautiful rich texture that melts away impurities, leaving mature skin feeling soft, supple and perfectly hydrated, never tight.
Age Defy+ Purify & Hydrate Cream Cleanser 150ml
Reveal a radiant skin glow with our signature Age Defy+ cream cleanser£38.00
★★★★★
“A beautiful creamy, hydrating cleanser with a subtle fragrance. I love the natural ingredients. It's the best cleanser I have ever used and I won't be going anywhere else for my products. 💖”
Margaret D · Verified Buyer
Reviewing: Age Defy+ Purify & Hydrate Cream Cleanser 150ml
See this product now →With your skin cleansed and prepared, it's time for a potent antioxidant and hydration boost. Our certified organic Age Defy+ Collagen Boost Vitamin C Serum delivers a silky veil of brightening power, helping to promote firmness and a youthful glow.
Age Defy+ Collagen Boost Vitamin C Serum 30ml
Discover the difference collagen-boosting Vitamin C makes to your skin£48.00
Seal in the goodness with the certified organic Age Defy+ Brightening Moisturiser. This sophisticated formula not only hydrates but also helps to even skin tone and restore luminosity for a truly radiant post-sauna complexion.
Age Defy+ Brightening Moisturiser 30ml
Target age spots, fine lines and wrinkles with this hydrating face cream£47.00
Post-sauna routine for oily or combination skin
For complexions that can feel congested or unbalanced, the priority is to purify pores and provide light hydration for a clear, calm finish.
Start with a deep but gentle cleanse. The COSMOS Organic certified Foaming Face Wash creates a light lather that effectively lifts away sweat, excess sebum and impurities from open pores without over-drying your skin.
Foaming Face Wash 100ml
Purify, tone and clear with this certified organic foaming face wash£21.00
Even oily skin needs moisture after a sauna. The Oil Balance Moisturiser is the perfect final step. This COSMOS Organic certified moisturiser feels light and non-greasy, providing essential hydration while helping to balance the skin and leave a soft, matte finish.
Oil Balance Moisturiser 50ml
Balance and calm with our best organic day cream for spot-prone skin£28.00
★★★★★
“This moisturiser is perfect for my skin. ... It feels calming and soothing. Once dry it has a matte and smooth feel. It really evens out my skin tone and I feel it minimises appearance of my pores. It also lasts all day too and my face still feels soft by evening. ... Nothing else like it on the market for people with eczema. It’s incredible.”
Rebekah B · Verified Buyer
Reviewing: Oil Balance Moisturiser 50ml
See this product now →Final step for daytime sauna sessions: SPF
If you enjoy a sauna during the day, this last step is the most important of all. Your skin is clean, refreshed and potentially more sensitive to UV rays, so protecting it is crucial.
For those with dry, mature or sensitive skin, the nourishing Scent Free Facial Sun Cream SPF30 provides broad-spectrum protection that feels comfortable and hydrating.
Scent Free Facial Sun Cream - SPF30 50ml
Shield and hydrate with this facial SPF. Ideal for dry or sensitive skin.£30.00
★★★★★
“Fantastic sun lotion. Light and non greasy. Can be worn under makeup for a natural look with sun protection . Easy to apply too. I have been using this for a few years and would be lost without it . Thankyou Green People . It’s brilliant as it is specifically for your face and is great for sensitive skin.”
Noelle H · Verified Buyer
Reviewing: Scent Free Facial Sun Cream - SPF30 50ml
See this product now →If your skin is oily, combination or prone to blemishes, opt for the COSMOS Organic certified Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream SPF30. Its non-comedogenic mineral formula offers effective protection without clogging pores.
Scent Free Mineral Sun Cream SPF30 50ml
Reflect and protect with this 100% mineral sun cream£33.00
We hope you have found the best post-sauna skin care routine for you. If you need any more help or advice, our friendly UK customer care team are happy to help on 01403 740350 or on social @GreenPeopleUK.
MEET CHARLOTTE, FOUNDER OF GREEN PEOPLE
Charlotte Vøhtz, founder of Green People, has 25+ years of experience in the natural and organic beauty industry.
A recognised leader in the field of organic beauty, Charlotte helped inform the UK's first organic beauty standards and was voted the People's Choice in the 2023 list of Who's Who in Natural Beauty.
A published author, she wrote the organic beauty bible 'Naturally Gorgeous'. Previously, she qualified as a nurse and spent over 10 years working in pharmaceuticals.
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