Is Exercising With Makeup Bad?

The gym used to be a place where I could just wear a baggy t-shirt and a pair of running shorts with my hair up in a “DGAF” type of bun, along with my makeup-free face, but now I feel like I have to put lipgloss and eyeliner on to look decently cute just in case I run into someone I know. However, facialist and dermatologist Debbie Thomas gave Vogue UK the deets on why wearing makeup during intense workouts leads to breakouts, confirming that you should never wear makeup to the gym or while you exercise.

We all know that we really shouldn’t be wearing makeup when we hit up the gym for two main reasons: 1) Unless everything you wear is waterproof, your face is going to look like it’s melting when you start sweating, and 2) makeup causes breakouts on its own, but makeup + sweat = even bigger breakouts. Yet we still end up drawing our eyebrows on so that they’re on fleek and making sure to conceal those darn under eye bags—even if it's just to SoulCycle. Oh, and to ease our breakout fears, we end up buying stronger acne products and deeper cleansing soaps, when we should seriously give our faces a break.

Here are 5 reasons Thomas told Vogue UK you should start embracing your plain, beautiful face and skip the makeup at the gym.

1. It causes blackheads

Sometimes, blackheads are more annoying than pimples because it's harder to treat them. Also, since blackheads are essentially the dirt that clogs up your pores, they can sometimes turn into pimples. "Not everyone will get spots, but most will get blackheads coupled with dulling and possible uneven skin texture," Thomas told Vogue.

2. It causes frequent breakouts

Alright, this one is obvious, but do you know exactly why the breakouts happen? Thomas said it's because, "When we get hot, several thins happen to our skin. The first is sweating and the second is a slight relaxing and enlarging of the pores. Add a layer of even the best makeup on this and firstly you'll end up with streaky makeup, but you're also increasing the likelihood of a breakout."

3. Your skin needs to breathe

Think about how trapped your skin must feel when it starts to sweat and there's makeup clogging your pores. "Your skin needs to breathe — during a good workout even more so. Mix in sweat, heat and open pores and over time the skin will become blocked," Thomas told Vogue.

4. Streaky makeup is never cute

Why spend extra time to get ready in the morning just to make your mascara run?

5. It helps you to learn to love your natural face more

You're so used to hiding those scars, discoloration, those freckles and redness, but after you begin to treat your skin better, you'll grow more confidence in your skin, your looks and ultimately yourself. Work it, girl.

To read the entire interview and learn more about why you should never, ever wear makeup to the gym, head over to Vogue UK.

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