Should You Wear Makeup to the Gym?

The Ins and Outs of Wearing Makeup to the Gym While Getting Sweaty

If you frequent your local gym, you probably notice quite a few women working out with a bit of makeup on. Some may just have a quick slash of eyeliner, and others may come with a full face of glam. As you look around, you may wonder if wearing makeup to the gym while working out is a good thing.

Whether you are headed to the gym after work or first thing in the morning, having makeup on your face may be one of your biggest concerns. It seems that more and more women are embracing the makeup while working out trend, and in this article, we are going to discuss all aspects of it. We will cover the reasons why wearing makeup to the gym may not be great, and the ways that you can protect your skin should you choose to wear it. We are also going to cover some tips and products that work best while working out.

Should You Be Wearing Makeup to the Gym?

Honestly, no one can answer this question for you. Do you want to wear makeup to the gym? If you said yes, then you should. Makeup is all about making you look and feel your best, and if you need that little pick-me-up to get you to the gym and taking care of your body, then, by all means, wear the makeup.

There are plenty of women that choose to do their face before a workout. Some feel insecure about their bodies, and the makeup gives them the little boost of confidence they need to join the spin class. Some women can barely squeeze in a workout during their lunch break, and they don’t have time to take the makeup off before jumping on the treadmill.

Whatever your reason is for wearing makeup to the gym, it is your reason. You should never feel ashamed of your choices. Even professional athletes sometimes need a little makeup to feel good while sweating it out at a match. Professional soccer player Sydney Leroux says, “Some people are against wearing makeup, I am not. We have this thing on our team, a few of the makeup-wearing girls: ‘Look good, play good, you know, feel good,’ and I think that that’s such a cool thing.”

Does Wearing Makeup to the Gym Damage Your Skin’s Health?

Contouring and highlighting may be a good look in your gym selfie for Instagram, but many people worry the makeup may have lasting effects on the skin. You can rest easy, however, because dermatologists have not found any evidence that points to makeup at the gym leading to premature aging.

Related: Contour, Highlight, and Bronzer, Oh My!

If you prefer to move your workout outdoors during the fair weather months, there is one important thing you should be putting on your face beforehand: sunscreen. Forgetting to wear your SPF can and most likely will lead to fine lines and additional wrinkles. You will also be increasing your risk of sun damage and skin cancer. So, even if you forego the makeup on your daily runs, you need to at least smooth on a good quality sunscreen.

There are over 4 million cases of skin cancer diagnosed each year. Prevention by wearing appropriate sunscreen every time you are out of doors is the best way to protect yourself from becoming one of those statistics.

Will Wearing Makeup to the Gym Cause Your Skin to Break Out?

The short answer is…yes, it definitely can. All that cardio you are getting on the bike is amping up your body temperature. The increased heat opens up your pores which your makeup, especially if you are wearing foundations or powders, can fall into and clog up.

Makeup clogged pores aren’t the real danger though. The gym is a breeding ground for bacteria. Everything in there, the handles of the stationary bike, the yoga mats, the hand weights, are all covered with other people’s sweat and germs. Every time you wipe the sweat from your brow, you are smearing that bacteria onto your skin.  Having makeup on your face gives those little bacteria something to attach to, and thus make their way into your open and waiting pores. People touch their faces a lot, nearly 4 times per hour, that gives the bacteria ample chances to jump from the exercise mat to your face.

You can combat the breakout problem with a little due diligence. The first thing is to try to keep yourself from touching your face as much as possible. Next, make sure that you cleanse your face immediately after your workout. Use a good quality cleanser and follow that with a light moisturizer, it should help you stop those breakouts in their tracks.

What Kind of Makeup Should You Wear to the Gym?

If you just can’t stomach the idea of heading to the gym with a bare face, there are a few things that you should do to minimize the number of breakouts you experience. Choose products that are light and airy to give your skin the most breathing room.

Things like BB Cream or a tinted moisturizer make a good gym-wearing choice or if you can get away with just a little bit of concealer on your trouble spots. If you are someone that doesn’t leave the house without having the brows on fleek, make sure you use a water-resistant formula that will stay put once you start to work up a sweat. There are plenty of gel formulas and pencils that are water resistant which would make a good option.

Related: The BB Creams Basics

While we are on the topic of water-proof, mascara would be the next thing that you will want to stay put. Mascara that doesn’t stay on your lashes will definitely leave you looking like a raccoon. Yet, it might also flake and run into your eyes causing a whole lot of discomfort. Having red, watery eyes isn’t a good look for anyone.

Dermatologists suggest sticking to all-natural ingredients if you are going to be wearing makeup to the gym. Waterproof options and those that are oil-free are also on the list of approved products.

Related: Mascara and False Lashes – Defined

Is There Makeup Specifically Designed For the Gym?

There are a few brands on the market that are specifically targeted at working out. Clinique has a FIT line that includes SPF in the foundation making it a good choice for indoor or outdoor workouts.

Arrow by Birchbox is another line of makeup that is meant for gym goddesses. They have a lot of the beauty staples you will need to give yourself the glowing-look you prefer, and they are all made with the “athleisure” life in mind.

Another makeup line aimed at wear while you workout is made by Tarte. It is likened to “yoga pants for your face.” The products are infused with antioxidants, and most contain an SPF for those that prefer to work up a sweat out of doors.

The founder of Rae Cosmetics, Rochell Rae, describes herself as a “sweaty girl.” She was inspired to create a line of sweat-resistant makeup that promotes an “active lifestyle.”

There is also a line of cosmetics started by a former professional soccer player, Courtney Jones. She started the line because she wanted to wear makeup during televised games.  “Athletes didn’t have products that were made for us,” she said. Her company is all about creating cosmetics that allow for sweat, are water-resistant, and meet SPF standards. They are oil and fragrance-free to help prevent breakouts.

You can even find makeup suggestions at the big stores as well. Sephora has products that they curate as being great for the “gym bag.”  So you have a wide range of choices if you’ll be wearing makeup to the gym.

Gym Makeup Tips

Even if you put on your full face before heading to the gym or you stopped by the gym after a day of work, you need to wash your face immediately after your workout to get rid of as much sweat and bacteria as possible. It is never a good idea to just slather on a new layer of products on top of the makeup you worked out in.

Lipstick and blush were not made with the gym in mind. Besides, you will likely get a nice rosy glow once you do your first set of squats. If you need a little color on your cheeks and lips, however, you may want to reach for a stain. A little bit on your lips can give you a nice matte color that won’t smear across your teeth. Plus, you won’t have that annoying problem of your hair sticking in your lipgloss.

Another option for looking great can be a pre-workout skin care routine focused on hydrating and brightening. This will make your skin look fabulous, and you can go to your workout looking and feeling confident with a makeup-free face. Cleansers that contain green tea leaves can go a long way toward calming your inflammation giving your skin a more even tone.

Gym Makeup Do’s

Skip the moisturizer layer you usually use under your foundation. Your skin will be plenty moist once you start the cardio session.

Go with a nude color on your lips or just a bit of lip balm or lip stain.

On days you plan to hit the gym after work, use blotting paper on your T-zone. This will leave less powder on your face at the end of the day which means less powder for you to sweat off.

Eyelash extensions can give you perfect lashes all the time, and they won’t cause you to have raccoon eyes during hot yoga class.

Keep the eyeshadow to a minimum. It will be very difficult to make it stay put on your lids, so it is better to skip it altogether.

If you want to wear foundation, do choose one that is less greasy and doesn’t contain pore-clogging ingredients.

Gym Makeup Don’ts

Don’t let your sweaty makeup sit on your face for hours, wash it off right away.

Don’t even take the ride home without at least using a makeup remover towelette to clean things up.

Another point for skipping the foundation while at the gym is sweating. A little bit of sweat is actually really good for your skin. When you are hot from your workout, your sweat will help get rid of the extra sebum lurking around in your pores. You actually perspire a lot of the toxins out of your skin, but if you have a lot of makeup in the way, it can keep things from moving out as they should.

Don’t overdo it and use all of your products before your gym session. Keep things as minimal as possible to prevent your skin from having major breakouts.

Greasy products are a big no-no when it comes to gym makeup. Oil-based products will not be your friend when you are on the elliptical.

Avoid anything really dramatic or overly colorful. The smoky eyes may look amazing on your date night, but they will not translate so well under the bright fluorescents at the gym.

Don’t use your makeup brushes to reapply while your face is sweaty. You will transfer all of that gym bacteria to your brushes which can lead to breakouts even when you aren’t working out.

The Last Word

The gym is where you go to get in shape and get healthy. You may feel a lot of pressure to look like an Instagram fitness model during your workouts, but that shouldn’t be your main focus when you are at the gym. (Unless, of course, you are an Instagram fitness model!) Do what makes you happy, and wear or don’t wear makeup as you see fit.

There are plenty of products designed specifically for the gym if you do choose to workout in glam-mode. You should be able to find items that fit within your skin care needs and your beauty ideals. Use these gym beauty tips to feel confident and beautiful at yoga class, while hitting the weights, or while jogging on the treadmill.

Take care of your skin by properly cleansing post workout, and you should have no problems wearing your favorite looks while at the gym.

More Great Rescources on Wearing Makeup to the Gym:

The Do’s and Dont’s of Wearing Makeup to the Gym

How to Wear Makeup at the Gym Without Sweating It All Off

Yes, I Wear Makeup to the Gym — and Here’s Why