I don’t wear makeup to work out, but I also don’t judge—partly because the heaviest makeup I’ve ever seen at the gym was on a regular who was super-jacked. Whatever she was doing, it was working for her! But I’ve often heard whispers about those people who work out in makeup. Isn’t it ruining their skin??
Supposedly, makeup will “block your pores,” so that when you sweat, you’ll develop acne. Fortunately, dermatologist Fayne Frey says this isn’t the case:
Based on both my clinical experience as a dermatologist, my knowledge of the available research regarding ‘acne cosmetica’, and my own personal experience (I wear makeup and exercise like a fiend), I believe the formulation/ingredient content of the makeup/moisturizers one chooses is more important in determining comedogenicity.
In other words, some products might contribute to causing acne (this is very hard to prove, though!) but the general combination of makeup and sweat is not responsible.
Neither is sweat itself, apparently. Studies like this one have found that even if you sit around in your sweat for a few hours (that must have been a fun one to participate in), you aren’t any more likely to get bacne than if you shower right after working out.
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