What Skincare Products Work Best in Saunas?

For me, the best sauna skincare routine starts with a gentle cleanser and ends with moisture. I remove makeup before going into the heat, keep my skincare simple during the session, and save my body oil for after my shower.

That might sound obvious. But I used to do almost the opposite.

Before becoming a co-founder of ETHOS 528, before running a sauna business, and before having hundreds of conversations with sauna members about their routines, I was the person walking into the sauna with a full face of makeup.

My approach to sauna skincare has changed considerably since then. Here is what shaped it—and what I recommend paying attention to when choosing products for your own routine.

What Wearing Makeup in the Sauna Taught Me

I used to go to the gym wearing makeup, finish my workout, and head straight into the sauna without washing my face.

Then I would wonder why I was dealing with breakouts and clogged pores instead of the beautiful post-sauna glow everyone talked about.

I cannot attribute every breakout to one habit, but looking back, I was overlooking a basic step. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends removing makeup before exercise and gently cleansing afterward, rather than leaving sweat and product buildup on the skin. American Academy of Dermatology

After having my first daughter, I became much more mindful of what went in and on my body. I started paying closer attention to skincare ingredients, makeup, and the way I cared for myself.

That included finally allowing myself to use the sauna without makeup.

Later, running a sauna business gave us the opportunity to speak with hundreds of members about their experiences. One concern came up repeatedly: dry, flaky skin after sauna sessions. People loved the heat but were unsure what to use afterward or how to care for their skin without irritating it.

Those conversations helped inspire ETHOS 528. We wanted products that fit naturally into the sauna experience, with botanical ingredients and textures we enjoyed using ourselves.

Just as importantly, we wanted the routine to make sense.

Before the Sauna: Choose a Gentle Cleanser

My first step is removing makeup and product residue. I use our ETHOS 528 Charcoal Goat Milk Soap or a favorite gentle face wash, depending on what my skin needs.

The goal is clean, comfortable skin—not an aggressive deep-cleaning treatment.

For acne-prone skin, a mild cleanser labeled non-comedogenic is a useful starting point. Use your fingertips rather than scrubbing, and rinse with warm rather than hot water. Irritation from rubbing or overly hot water can aggravate acne. American Academy of Dermatology

I would pay more attention to how your skin feels after cleansing than to how much a product foams. A cleanser does not need to leave your face feeling tight to have done its job.

If your skin is especially dry or reactive, a gentle, non-soap cleanser may be a better fit than a traditional soap bar. Even a soap made with ingredients you love may not be the right choice for every face. DermNet®

My biggest change was not adding another product. It was taking off what did not need to be there before entering the sauna.

During the Sauna: Keep Skincare Simple

My preference is to enjoy the heat without turning the session into a facial treatment.

I save body oil for afterward rather than applying it before sitting in the sauna. I also would not use a sauna session as the moment to experiment with a new peel, scrub, or strong treatment.

Retinol and exfoliating ingredients such as glycolic acid can irritate skin, particularly sensitive skin. Introducing them during a sauna session also makes it harder to distinguish a reaction to the product from discomfort caused by the heat. My approach is to keep those experiments separate. American Academy of Dermatology

This does not mean abandoning a skincare treatment prescribed by your dermatologist. It means following that treatment’s directions rather than assuming heat will make it work better.

For me, the sauna is a place to pause—not an opportunity to fit in more skincare steps.

After the Sauna: Cleanse Gently, Then Moisturize

The part of the routine I care most about happens after the session.

During our conversations with sauna members, many described the same frustrating contrast: they felt relaxed and refreshed, but their skin felt dry or looked flaky.

That is why I think post-sauna skincare deserves as much attention as the session itself.

Start With a Gentle Shower

After the sauna, I shower with our ETHOS 528 Charcoal Goat Milk Soap. On my skin, it feels gentle and moisturizing, and I appreciate its simple approach to cleansing.

The purpose is to wash away sweat and surface residue—not to scrub until my skin feels stripped.

Keep the shower brief and use lukewarm water rather than adding another prolonged exposure to hot water. Gently pat your skin dry, then apply moisturizer while it is still slightly damp. These are standard dermatologist-recommended habits for caring for dry skin. American Academy of Dermatology

You do not need a complicated post-sauna cleansing ritual. You need one that leaves your skin feeling comfortable.

Choose a Face Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

Your face and body do not necessarily need the same product.

For facial skincare, look for a moisturizer that suits your skin rather than choosing something simply because it is marketed for sauna use. A fragrance-free formula is a sensible starting point, especially when dryness or sensitivity is a concern.

Ingredients such as glycerin and hyaluronic acid help attract water, while a moisturizer containing ceramides can support moisture retention. Drier skin may benefit from a cream, while someone who dislikes heavier textures may prefer a lighter formula. The American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes choosing according to skin type and the degree of dryness. American Academy of Dermatology

A body oil you enjoy on your arms and legs is not automatically the right choice for your face. There is no need to make one product do every job.

Finish With a Body Oil You Enjoy Using

My favorite part of the routine is applying ETHOS 528 Sauna Body Oil after my shower.

Our formula includes organic jojoba, apricot kernel, and evening primrose oils, along with coconut-derived emollients. It was created as the finishing step in our sauna routine. Ethos 528

What matters most to me is the experience: it feels lightweight, absorbs quickly on my skin, and leaves it feeling smooth and hydrated without a greasy finish.

It also adds that glow I used to expect from the sauna alone.

Honestly, this is the point where I want to put on my cozy robe and stay in it all day.

We have heard our body oil described as the best-kept secret to the true post-sauna glow. That feedback means a lot to me because it captures exactly what I enjoy about this step: not just how my skin looks, but how it feels.

Understand What Body Oil Can—and Cannot—Do

Body oil is not automatically a complete replacement for a moisturizing cream.

Oils can soften skin and help reduce moisture loss, but an oil-only formula does not supply water the way a water-containing cream or lotion does. Moisturizers can combine oils with water-binding ingredients, making them useful when skin needs more than an oil alone provides. DermNet®

If your skin still feels dry or flaky after using body oil, consider a fragrance-free cream rather than simply applying more oil. For very dry skin, dermatologists generally recommend a cream or ointment rather than a lightweight lotion. American Academy of Dermatology

I love body oil, but I do not think a good routine should require anyone to ignore what their skin is telling them.

Natural Ingredients Still Need to Suit Your Skin

Botanical ingredients are an important part of what I enjoy about skincare. But choosing natural ingredients and choosing products your skin tolerates are not always the same thing.

Our body oil contains cedarwood, bergamot, and orange essential oils. Its aroma comes from those ingredients, so it is not fragrance-free. Ethos 528

That distinction matters. Essential oils can cause allergic contact dermatitis in some people, and naturally scented products are not automatically suitable for fragrance-sensitive skin. DermNet®

Someone who enjoys and tolerates aromatic body products may appreciate that part of the experience. Someone with fragrance sensitivity may be better served by a fragrance-free moisturizer.

Introduce a new product outside of your sauna routine first. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends testing a small area twice daily for seven to ten days before regular use, following the product’s directions for how long to leave it on. Stop using it if a reaction develops. American Academy of Dermatology

For me, thoughtful skincare means paying attention to ingredients without assuming that any ingredient—or any finished product—is right for everyone.

Do Not Mistake Irritation for a Better Sauna Session

The mistake I most want people to avoid is skipping gentle cleansing and moisturizing afterward—or replacing those steps with harsh products because their skin feels sweaty or congested.

More scrubbing is not necessarily better care. Hot water, rubbing, and irritating skincare can make dry or acne-prone skin more uncomfortable. American Academy of Dermatology

It is also worth remembering that a different product cannot solve every reaction to heat. Heat itself is a common rosacea trigger. If sauna sessions repeatedly cause burning, persistent redness, or worsening irritation, speak with a dermatologist about whether sauna use fits your skin’s needs. American Academy of Dermatology

The goal is not to push through discomfort in pursuit of a glow.

My Approach to Better Post-Sauna Skin

I used to think about sauna skincare only when I was disappointed with how my skin looked afterward.

Now, I think about the whole routine: removing makeup, keeping things simple during the session, cleansing gently afterward, and finishing with moisture.

For my body, that finishing step is ETHOS 528 Sauna Body Oil. For someone else, it may be a fragrance-free cream. What matters is finding a routine that feels good on your skin and is easy enough to repeat.

Running a sauna business taught me how many people share the same questions. My own experience taught me that the answer does not have to involve more products.

Sometimes, it is about using fewer products more thoughtfully—and remembering that caring for your skin does not end when you step out of the sauna.