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According to dermatologists, wearing the wrong type of make-up during a workout has the potential to cause acne and uneven skin texture – not cool.
But, sometimes, a layer of workout make-up feels essential. You might want to conceal a breakout before that spin class, or add a slick of mascara to see you straight from yoga to brunch. We get it.
'My first advice is always to avoid make-up during workouts to prevent breakouts, blackheads and skin irritation,' says Dr. Amiee Vyas, aesthetic doctor and educator in cosmetic dermatology. 'However, if someone absolutely needs to wear make-up while working out, I suggest sticking to just waterproof eyeliner and/or mascara, avoiding formulations containing oils and waxes which can run around the eye area as you sweat and potentially block pores,' she says.
But what about foundation? While it’s clearly not ideal to be sweating beneath a layer of full-coverage foundation, there is a solution. 'It’s vital to choose something lightweight, mineral based and ideally containing antioxidants to fight damage from free radicals and bacteria,' says Vyas.
Thankfully, a host of brands are catching on to this need for our make-up to perform as well under pressure as we do. Dr. Vyas (as well as almost every other aesthetic doctor and dermatologist on the planet) recommends the Oxygenetix range: 'It’s breathable, antibacterial and helps the skin to absorb more oxygen.'
Moreover, brands such as Eyeko and Clinique have hatched clever new product lines complete with skin-friendly formulas and pigments that'll stay put through more or less everything, from Bikram yoga to HIIT.
And finally – the crucial rules to live by. 'The face must be washed before a workout, because if make-up has been worn all day it will have collected pollution and microbes,' warns Vyas. Furthermore, you’ll need to re-cleanse once you’ve finished –remember, gym equipment is covered in bacteria and other’s people’s sweat. Who ever said spinning was glamorous?
So if the very thought of forgoing the foundation is enough to break you out in a sweat, take your pick from the best gym make-up products that you can exercise in, no problem.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Cheek Tint
Arrow Revive Cooling Cheek Tint – £14
Birchbox's new gym-inspired beauty range is making a case for 'breathable' formulas – free of oil, gluten and parabens – so that you can work out without the worry of breaking out. Use your fingertips to blend this tint onto the apples of your cheeks for a post-spin flush that lasts.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Tinted SPF
CliniqueFIT Workout Makeup Broad Spectrum SPF40 – £20.50
There's one thing all dermatologists agree on: if you exercise outside, a high-factor sunscreen is a must, no matter the weather.
Clinique's new workout-friendly foundation boasts a brilliant SPF 40, but it's far from ashy or prone to slipping. Completely oil-free, the pigment particles really cling to the skin, lending impressive coverage and a satisfying matte finish. See ya, shiny T-zone.
Arrow Sculpt Tinted Brow Gel
Another hit from Birchbox's basic-but-brilliant gym makeup line, this brow gel will ensure you look just that touch more groomed. It adds subtle colour (that won't run down your face), as well as supreme hold.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Foundation
Oxygenetix Oxygenating Breathable Foundation – £45
Heavy-duty foundation has the tendency to form an occlusive barrier on the skin. Add sweat into the mix and it's not great news for the acne-prone - but that's where Oxygenetix comes in.
Formulated with oxygen-boosting Ceravitae, this medium-coverage foundation encourages skin cells to breathe, preventing clogged pores. The SPF 25 is a bonus, too.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Waterproof Mascara
bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation
bareMinerals Original Loose Mineral Foundation
If you're looking for a whole face of make-up you can wear both in and out of the gym, bareMinerals is the place to start.
You can't really go wrong with anything in this skin-friendly line, but we recommend starting with the original (and still the best) buildable loose foundation.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Concealer
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer – £26
Like a pair of yoga pants, IT Cosmetics' clever concealer flexes with your skin, so it's less likely to collect in fine lines or end up halfway down your cheeks. It's dewy, but definitely not greasy, and the added hyaluronic acid gives lacklustre skin an extra hit of hydration. It's one of the hardiest concealers we've tried.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Brow Tint
Wunderbrow Eyebrow Gel - £16.61
Forget sweat or saunas, we're pretty sure Wunderbrow could survive a monsoon. Complete with savvy fibres to mimic hairs and specially treated pigments for longer wear, this semi-permanent gel glides through sparse patches without completely soaking your brows in product or clumping up in places. On us, it survived HIIT and a drizzly walk home – genius.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Tinted Moisturiser
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo [+] Unifiant – £17.50
La Roche-Posay's dermatologist approved Effaclar Duo [+] moisturiser now comes with a subtle tint to lend sheer coverage while treating any sweat-induced spot eruptions. The thing that swayed us? It leaves skin feeling fresh and matte for hours on end, even if you're susceptible to megawatt shine.
Gym Make-Up: The Best Lightweight Powder
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder – £31
If you find liquid foundation too heavy to work out in but would still like a little coverage, Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder is your best bet. It's oil-free and non-comedogenic (i.e. won't clog pores) so you can sweat it out without the impending fear of an acne cluster.
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