Our Pretty Little Secret- Makeup at the Gym

The dermatologist answer to whether or not you should wear makeup to the gym is “No”. The best course of action is not to wear makeup when you are working out because it clogs pores, causes bacteria buildup on your skin and can cause break-outs.

My answer? Really similar to my answer for everything; moderation. If you asked most women whether they think it makes sense to wear makeup to the gym (or during any workout), the great majority would say that it doesn’t and that it is silly when you’re going to sweat it off anyway. Still, I don’t think I’ve seen any women at all at the gym that were completely makeup-less.

Maybe it is vanity or habit or crazy-ness, but I don’t feel fully awake without my little bit of makeup on. So my answer to the question is moderation because I always feel like ‘to each his (or her) own’. I don’t want a client to be glancing in the mirror every 30 seconds and wincing because she’s so distracted by not wearing her makeup. On the flipside, don’t wear makeup that is going to run into your eyes and cause problems when you sweat, because that is, again, an unnecessary distraction.

I personally don’t wear much makeup when I’m doing anything. If I can’t get a get-ready routine completed in 15 minutes or less, then I’m probably going to end up with one of my kids giving themselves a haircut in the next room (Friday last week, sigh). But that little bit that I do wear, I usually have on before I go to the gym or do a workout anyway… and I’m guilty of not taking it off J

-       Because of the risks of breakouts, I would avoid wearing heavy foundations and full-on party eye makeup.

-       Instead of foundation, try a tinted moisturizer or just a smidge of bronzer (Bare Escenturals Bareminerals all over face color in warmth is a good one that doesn’t run, but I don’t sell that stuff--- you know what you like!).

-       Make sure your mascara is waterproof so it doesn’t run into your eyes—seems like a ‘duh’ but I’ve switched them before; I don’t like waterproof mascara for anything but the gym because it’s such a pain to wash off & I only wash my face with water J

-       Instead of lipstick, use a moisturizing balm (you can use a pink tinted one for a little color if you feel like a zombie when you wake up!)

In any case, if any of my clients show up with makeup on, I don’t bat my own waterproof-mascara-covered eyelash. I’m sure it doesn’t sound hardcore of me to say it, but I think we need to do what makes us feel comfortable so we can let go of hang-ups and give it our ALL during our workouts. If you can do that au-natural then you rock and you run a lower risk of giving yourself skin breakouts. If you can’t or you are like me and just don’t want someone to initiate CPR on you due to looking dead, just make sure that you’re considering your most moderate options and absolutely always wash your face off after your workout, removing all makeup so you can avoid the breakouts risk from bacteria buildup.