THE DEBATE ABOUT whether or not wearing make up at the gym is bad for your skin is one which has raged on for awhile. Are you blocking up your pores and giving yourself more skin problems or is it all fine?

First of all, why bother with makeup at the gym at all?

Question- why do people feel like they need to wear makeup to the gym? I’m not being judgemental, I’m genuinely curious.
Is it because of acne or scars?

— Louise O' Neill (@oneilllo) January 16, 2018

Dr. Caitriona Ryan is the Consultant Dermatologist at the Blackrock Clinic in Dublin and is an internationally renowned expert in Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology.

She explained why people might feel the need to wear make up at the gym.

The prospect of  working out without makeup can be very daunting, particularly for patients suffering from acne and rosacea who can feel very self conscious bare-faced in the gym.

It's tough when you don't wanna put on a full face of makeup for the gym but you also don't want to look like a slug

— Meg (@mollyfinn_x) August 20, 2016

But the myth that wearing make up at the gym is bad for your skin is according to Dr. Ryan just that, a myth. Dr. Ryan herself regularly wears make up at the gym and says the most important thing is the kind of make up you wear.

Choose an oil free, non-comedogenic light foundation or tinted moisturiser. Avoid smudging of eye makeup by wearing waterproof eyeliner and mascara.

Dr. Ryan says the most important thing to do is cleanse your face completely straight after a workout.

Whether you are wearing make up or not, warm, moist skin is the ideal breeding ground for the normal bacterial flora on our skin to proliferate and cause inflammatory acne lesions or folliculitis of the chest and back. Try to avoid lounging around in sweaty gym gear – cleanse your face and shower as soon as possible.

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What if you’re working out in the outdoors? (if the weather ever gets any warmer that is). Sunscreen is the most important thing according to Dr. Ryan.

Remember to always wear a sunscreen when running or working out outdoors, preferably a mineral physical sunscreen containing zinc or titanium.  Physical sunscreens block the full UV spectrum with particularly good protection against UVA – the type of UV which plays a greater role in ageing, wrinkling and discoloration of the skin.

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Zinc in particular could have an additional benefit of acting as an anti-inflammatory for Irish skin which is prone to roscrea.

Physical sunscreens are also best as they last longer than chemical sunscreens and are less likely to cause acne breakouts. The more you know.

So there you have it. Make up at the gym is a-ok once you cleanse your face straight after your workout. So contour to your hearts content guys, you’re all good.

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