This is what makeup REALLY does to your skin when you work out…
Hands up who wears full makeup in the gym? While it’s normal to want to feel your best wherever you happen to be, from a touch of concealer to a full face of foundation, many women choose to wear makeup when they work out – but it could be wreaking havoc with your skin.
We speak to Dr Preethi Daniel, Medical Director of London Doctors Clinic, about the benefits of going barefaced and how to look after your skin in and outside of the gym:
Is it OK to wear makeup when you exercise?
While many of us apply makeup the moment we leave the house, it’s important to remember that exercise makes you sweat. Sweating is the body’s way of cooling down and it also helps push impurities out of our skin.
While many of us wear makeup in the gym, it’s important to remember that exercise makes you sweat.
When your skin is covered in makeup, those impurities can’t get out. ‘Sweat and natural skin oils can clog these pores and cause overgrowth of bugs such as P. Acne, causing spots,’ explains Dr Preethi.
‘What’s even worse is when these sweat poresopen, anything sat on the surface such as day-old makeup and city pollution particles also clog them up and cause breakouts.’
‘Furthermore, heat rash or miliaria which are small itchy bumps on the skin can develop from not letting your skin breath,’ she adds. ‘Sweat needs to evaporate off the body, cooling it and lifting impurities. By not allowing this you have more of a chance of developing these small itchy bumps.’
Expert skincare tips
Dr Preethi recommends that you remove all of your makeup before you hit the gym, preferably using a micellar water product (try Garnier’s sensitive skin cleanser, £5.00) on a cotton pad.
‘It is best to shower or wash your face after working out to clean any sweat and dirty gym gear residue (think of those mats!) off your face as soon as you are finished at the gym,’ advises Dr Preethi.
Net Doctor