Would you wear make up to the gym?

A survey published last week claims that 7 out of 10 women wear make up to work out.

The survey, conducted by ASDA revealed that a gobsmacking 40% will apply mascara before any form of workout with 34% using foundation.

Despite the fact that most dermatologists would tell you that wearing make up whilst you sweat isn’t healthy for the skin, more and more people are choosing to do so.

Even Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis admitted earlier this year that she doesn’t go bare-faced even at sporting events. “I never compete without full makeup” she says, in a Daily Mail interview.

“It makes me feel more confident.”

A Grazia article on the subject interviews seven women on the products that they use when they exercise.

Article continues below...
More stories you may like...
Germaine Greer: once provocative and progressive, now misguided and embarrassing
The workplace must stop judging women by their looks
Camel No: The end to all your camel toe woes?

Whilst some make reasonable suggestions like moisturising after swimming, blogger Lily from ‘What I Heart Today’ is quoted in the article describing ‘minimal’ make up which includes BB cream, concealer, blusher, mascara and tinted lip-balm.

And she isn’t the only one, with many of the Grazia staff & bloggers ‘fessing up to wearing some kind of makeup when they exercise. Even the gorgeous Kim Kardashian was recently spotted heading to an exercise class wearing lipstick and pencilled-in eyebrows.

In the article one member of the Grazia beauty team, Lauren, described going to the gym as “no excuse” for going bare-faced.

So why has this become the norm? Since when did we need an excuse not to wear make up? And are we really so insecure in our appearances that we feel the need to hide under layers of slap even while we’re exercising?

Student Izzy, 19, from Sheffield says she doesn’t see the point of it. “It just ends up down your face afterwards anyway! If you look good after a workout, you haven't worked hard enough.”

And Jess, 20, from Nottingham agrees. “There's no point! It's not like I'm trying to look attractive and I'll only sweat it off anyway.”

None of us are innocent of being too lazy to take our slap off when we go to the gym after work or lectures but to actually make the effort to get pretty suggests an endemic lack of self-esteem that’s more than a little worrying.

Do you wear makeup to work out or play sport? Have your say below.

Would you wear make up to the gym?

You might also like...

People who read this also read...