We’ve all exercised with makeup on at one time or another. Whether you do this subconsciously and never thought about it or because you just like going to the gym pretty, we’ve all been guilty of it at one time or another. But what effect does it actually have on your skin?

A little foundation for even skin or mascara for a beautiful eye look; as women, we like to use makeup to beautify our appearance. When going to the office or a night out, there’s nothing wrong with that either. But during sports, things are a little different. You get sweaty during exercise, and that in combination with makeup is not conducive to your skin.

Sweating and makeup

Sweating profusely and wearing makeup can affect the production of oil and sebum to the size of your pores. In fact, sweating helps cleanse your pores and even encourages skin rejuvenation. But when makeup – such as foundation – combines with sweat, it can clog your pores and cause blemishes and irritation.

Actually, the effect of exercising with makeup is a bit like going to bed without cleaning your face. Even then, makeup can start to mix with that natural oil and sebum of your skin, which can clog your pores.

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Blush face

So foundation is better left out when going to the gym, but does this mean that all makeup is out of the question? Good news for fans of mascara, because it does little harm while exercising, just like eyeliner or lipstick. These products do not cover your skin, so there is very little chance of clogged pores.

So while a bare face is best, you should not leave your skin unprotected when exercising outside. Don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun with a good SPF. Use at least factor 30 and don’t forget to apply it to areas such as your lips, ears and neck as well.

Clean skin

To keep your skin healthy and young, you should cleanse properly after exercise. Of course we get in the shower after a big sweat session, but also don’t forget to use your facial cleanser to clean your skin – both face and body – of excess oil, sweat and bacteria.

Source: Popsugar, Glamour UK, Image: Adobe Stock