Braving Dusty Bike Trails? Here's a Grooming Routine Just for You

If braving dusty bike trails is your idea of a fun time, you’re not alone! The cycling culture in the Philippines is a growing beat, with more and more Filipinos doing it to relax, socialize, and commute. If you're just getting into it, know that it’s not always going to be a smooth ride — especially for your skin. Cycling exposes your skin to UV rays, free radicals in the environment such as fumes, as well as good old-fashioned dust and dirt. Here’s an easy grooming routine that you can do pre- and post-ride to stay fresh and protected.

Exposure to humidity, heat, dirt, air pollution and sweat makes your scalp more prone to dandruff. Biking in the Philippines, with heat and dust everywhere, makes you more prone to this problem. It adds up to excessive sebum on your scalp — the favorite snack of the dandruff-causing Malassezia fungus. While it’s a harmful fungus that lives on most healthy human skin, the presence of excess sebum for the fungus to feed on can contribute to dandruff. Avoid using hair products such as waxes or gels, which can make dirt stick to the hair and scalp even more.

The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hair often. Use a strong shampoo to remove the day’s grime from your scalp. Since sweat and humidity from intense cycling outdoors can leave you with a greasy scalp, wash your hair regularly to prevent dandruff. CLEAR Cool Sport Menthol Anti-Dandruff Shampoo protects your scalp with taurine and Triple Anti-Dandruff Technology, as well as menthol to cool and refresh you before and after your ride. 

Whether it’s to get groceries or to get away, going out on your bike exposes you to germs that can be harmful to your skin as well as your health. Any bacteria or fungi that you catch outdoors can stick and thrive on your clothes and skin. Dust of all sorts can also penetrate the skin and cause ulceration, irritation, and dermatitis. Therefore, it's just as important to change your clothes as soon as you get home, as it is to shower.

To prevent this, shower with a germ-fighting antibacterial soap for your body. Lifebuoy Antibacterial Body Wash Total 10 has Activ Silver, which can penetrate germs and destroy them from the inside. It removes 10-problem causing germs and leaves skin clean and refreshed.

Sweat is inevitable with intense outdoor physical activity. The bacteria on your skin break down the acids in sweat, especially from the armpits, and expel waste products that give off what we call “body odor.” According to an article from the International Hyperhidrosis Society, the first step in fighting body odor with or without hyperhidrosis is keeping the area dry. Using an antiperspirant helps. It works by forming superficial plugs in the pores, stopping the flow of sweat. These plugs stay in place for 24 to 48 hours and are easy to wash off.

Keep sweat and body odor at bay with Rexona Men Natural Fresh Charcoal Detox Antiperspirant Deodorant Roll-On. This freshens underarms with charcoal and natural lime, which absorbs toxins and neutralizes bacteria, respectively. It also cools the body with menthol, while protecting it from sweat and odor for up to 48 hours.

Cycling, whether on dusty bike trails or busy city streets, can be a dirty business. Practice this simple three-step grooming routine before and after every ride, not just to feel refreshed, but to keep skin and hair issues associated with sweat, dirt, and pollution at bay, too.