It’s no secret that exercise is good for the body. It is the most efficient way to reach your personal health goals. That confidence boost is enough to make you glow. However, aside from getting fit, exercise can make your skin glow in some pretty crucial ways.

Here are 6 ways exercise boosts our skin:

1. Elevate hGH. Human Growth Hormone (hGH) is responsible for cell regeneration and growth. HGH is boosted up to 771 percent during a great sweat sesh, and that boosted hGH is going to do wonders for your skin (think: increasing collagen production and repairing fine lines). Mother Gothel would approve.

2. Increase Blood Flow. Red in the face after a 5K? That’s a direct result of increased blood flow to your skin, which boosts oxygen levels in your skin cells. Elevated oxygenation provides nutrients and takes away toxins like cancer-causing free radicals.

3. Detox. Regular exercise keeps those detoxifying organs (like your kidney and liver) operating in tip-top shape. This helps your entire body flush out toxins on the regular, thus keeping your skin at its best.

4. Bust Stress. All the serums in the world can’t remove the impact of stress on your face. No doubt about it; stress leads to Breakout City. The best way to instantly reduce stress is to fire up some endorphins with your favorite exercise. A calmer you = calmer skin.

5. Sleep Better. If you’re plagued by dark circles and dull, dehydrated skin, it could mean that you’re missing out on some much-needed shut eye. Not only does vigorous exercise help you release excess energy, it also helps you sleep more deeply, thus increasing both the quantity and quality of your sleep. Good quality sleep (and enough of it) helps your skin reboot, recharge, and repair.

6. Eat Better. Ever notice that you tend to crave healthier foods after a major fitness session? It’s not just you. Exercise tends to make healthy foods more appetizing and junk/sugary foods more unappealing. Since the key to healthy skin is vitamins, follow those post-exercise healthy cravings to load up on Vitamins A, C, B, and E. Follow your natural post-exercise instincts to avoid sugar, which increases inflammation and brings on fine lines and wrinkles.

In addition to these skin-credible skin benefits you get from exercising, you also reap the benefits of improving your immune system (kind of important) and boosting your mental health by releasing endorphins and serotonin. 

Bottom line? Exercise, exercise, exercise. But make it fun.