You Should Never Wear Makeup To The Gym. Here's Why

It can be so tempting to go to the gym with a face full of make-up. Perhaps it's because you were coming directly from work, trying to get the attention of Mr. Six-Pack in the Corner, or are one who feels absolutely naked without your cosmetics. Or maybe you are doing so simply because you didn't realize it wasn't a good thing to do. Dr. Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, tells Elle, "Ideally, it's best to avoid wearing make-up to the gym." The reason? It's better for your skin.

So how, exactly, is our skin at risk?  "Sweat and increased temperature brought on by exercise can lead to open pores which can become blocked by particles of make-up," Mahto tells Elle. "This can easily lead to breakouts and, in turn, uneven skin texture." Breakouts and uneven texture are not exactly the results we were looking for when we signed up for our memberships.

While a breakout is never something we would wish for, we know they tend to be temporary. Is there any long term damage to our skin if we choose to keep our concealer on? Luckily, no. Mahto explains to Elle, "The body's natural, physiological reaction to exercise is to generate sweat and heat, and even though working out in make-up can cause breakouts, there is no evidence that it will lead to accelerated or premature aging."

Our sweat mixed with make-up appears to be a bad cocktail, but there are other reasons to ditch the foundation. Essentially, we are touching a lot of surfaces filled with bacteria at the gym — bike handles, yoga mats, and free weights to name a few. According to Healthline, a study done in 2008 showed that we tend to touch our faces an average of 16 times an hour. Wearing make-up gives the bacteria from our hands something to hold onto, explains Elle. 

So, if you are managing to get your busy self to the gym, then bravo! Don't stop. Just consider putting those makeup wipes in your gym bag before going.