Doing aerobic exercise with makeup is harmful to the skin

Summary
Research in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in March indicated that wearing makeup during training can promote skin problems due to the accumulation of sweat and sebum, caused by blocked pores.

Makeup is an essential item in most people’s lives. Many people don’t leave the house without first applying at least a foundation or concealer. And there is no problem, as long as some care is taken, such as always removing these products from the skin before going to sleep. But what about when it comes to practicing physical activity? Do I need to remove makeup? Do these products cause any type of damage to the skin if used during training? For makeup aficionados, unfortunately, the answer is yes, according to a study published in March in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.

“Wearing makeup during training can promote skin problems due to the accumulation of sweat and sebum caused by blocked pores. It’s the same reason why we recommend removing makeup before going to bed”, explains dermatologist Claudia Marçal, full member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD) and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD).

To reach this conclusion, the researchers analyzed the changes caused by exercise in the skin of 43 students, 20 men and 23 women aged between 23 and 26 years old. Before starting the physical activity, each of the participants received a non-greasy foundation applied to half of their face, specifically in two areas: the forehead and the cheekbone.

The corresponding areas on the other side were kept clean. With the base properly applied, participants used a treadmill for 20 minutes. From skin assessments before and after exercise, researchers were able to observe an increase in hydration and elasticity levels in all areas, but it was greater in areas with makeup.

“This may be due to the fact that the foundation prevents water from evaporating through the skin. And the elasticity of the skin may depend on the level of hydration”, says the doctor.

On the other hand, pores, which increased in size on skin without makeup, did not change significantly in areas with makeup. Furthermore, after exercise, there was a decrease in the amount of sebum in areas without makeup, but an increase in areas with makeup.

“These changes indicate a possible blockage of pores caused by makeup, which favors the accumulation of sebum and sweat that would need to be expelled during exercise. This situation can predispose to the emergence of problems such as irritation and acne”, explains the dermatologist.

Oil levels in the skin

The study also showed that, after exercise, oil levels increased in skin without makeup, but decreased in the area with makeup. “This could mean that wearing makeup during exercise can make it difficult to maintain adequate oil levels in the skin, leading to dryness.”

In other words, at the end of the day, thinking about skin health, the ideal is not to use makeup when practicing physical activity. But more research is needed to confirm the study’s conclusions and even understand the impact of wearing other types of makeup during exercise.

“Perhaps, products such as eyeliner, concealer and lipstick are less problematic as they are not applied to the entire face”, points out Claudia. Until then, it’s best to avoid wearing any makeup to exercise. “If you train after work, for example, and already have makeup on, it is recommended to use a makeup remover or micellar water to remove the product and allow the skin to breathe properly.”

However, for some people, it is really difficult to completely abandon makeup, even if it is just for a few hours while exercising. In these cases, it is possible to opt for products such as tinted sunscreen or more fluid foundations with less coverage.

“And, regardless of the use of makeup, it is essential that you adopt some skin care after exercising to remove sweat and impurities, control oil, reestablish pH and assist in the recovery of skin tissue”, advises the specialist , which states that the first step is to clean the skin with micellar substances or soaps suitable for your skin type.

“Then, the ideal is to use a toner to help rebalance the pH of the skin altered by sweat, which is very acidic and can harm the skin tissue and cause dehydration. After the toner, a moisturizing cosmetic should be applied to help tissue recovery, which may contain antioxidant or calming and anti-inflammatory active ingredients, which is especially interesting for people who blush when working out. Finally, if you are going to be exposed to the sun, use a sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to protect your skin against damage from solar radiation”, adds Claudia Marçal.