I not a huge fan up makeup in the gym, but there are days
that I need a little pick me up. There are hundreds of articles on the internet
how makeup during exercise can be bad for the skin. You know the drill…you skin get heated up,
pores expand, and your cake-like foundation blocks all of your oils in. This
leads to pimples, blackheads, bad skin, etc etc etc. We know the potential harm for heavy makeup at
the gym, but there are times where you might want a little pick me up or need
to hide a few pesky pimples.
Honestly, I’m 100% makeup free about 60% of my work week. When
I do wear makeup during the day, I try to keep it as light as possible. The
best makeup advice I ever received was way back in my college days from my manager at
Abercrombie.
Back in Abercrombie-Yesteryear, my store manager would harp
on us to ditch the heavy makeup and go for a natural day look. Over and over
she said, “if you are spending more than 5 minutes doing your make up, you have
way too much one.” For the daytime…I completely agree.
Here are a few of my “must-have” makeup items that can be
worn in the gym for a light, natural look:
BB Cream.
While heavy foundations clog your pores, BB creams can provide all-in-one sun
protection, moisturizer, and even complexion coverage without blocking pores.
My favorite is Dr. Jart Black Label Detox BB cream ($36,
1.5 oz).
I received a sample of this when I was on vacation in
Puerto Rico. I had a terrible breakouts and didn’t have foundation. I
happened to throw some Sephora samples in my bag, and this product was one of
them. Not only did it give me coverage when I was sweating all day, but my face
actually got clear over the vacation!
White Eyeshadow.
Ok…this one sounds crazy, but stay with me. Using a 24 hr cream formula in
white, give your lids a VERY, VERY sheer wash of color. The white neutralizes the
redness and discoloration. If you look like you are wearing white eyeshadow,
you are wearing too much. The objective is to make your eyes look refreshed,
not white them out. It shouldn’t even look like you’re wearing eyeshawdow at
all.
My favorite is Make Up Forever Aqua Cream in white pearl
shimmer ($23).
These creams stay on forever and a little goes a long
way. If you want a cheaper version, you can use the same method with NYX shadow
stick in “milk”….just make sure you use primer or it will crease.
Gel Eyeliner. By
using a gel base, these eyeliners go on smooth and don’t run. Try tight lining
your eyes for a really natural look that will last all day.
My favorite gel eyeliner is Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel
Eyeliner ($20).
I have worn gel eyeliners in 130 degree African summer,
and these don’t budget at all. It takes a steady hand to tight line, but it
gets easy with practice. Here’s a video tutorial on tight lining:
Waterproof
Mascara. Waterproof mascara can open and draw attention to the eyes,
without giving raccoon eyes. A light coat will give coverage, but don’t clump
on 7 coats if you’re seeking a natural look.
My favorite is L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes
Waterproof ($9).
I have tried dozens of high end brands, but none of them
a good applicator AND formula. This formula applies really well and doesn’t
clump.
Creaseless
concealer. While foundation is bad for the gym, some dermatologist believe
there is little harm with spot correction. Try a creaseless concealer to hide
pimples or under eye circles.
My favorite is Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer ($24).
I try to avoid using concealer in the gym, but sometimes
I bust this out for an occasional pimple or under eye circles.
Tinted lip balm. Hair
gets stuck in lip gloss, so opt for a light coverage lip balm.
My favorite is Sugar Fresh Lip Treatment in petal pink
($22.50).
This balm gives you light color and SPF coverage, without
the stickiness of lip gloss.
If you are doing some major sweating, just ensure you are washing off your face post workout!
Do you have any makeup "must haves" for the gym? I don't wear make up in the gym very often, but every once and while you might need a little pick me up!
