Having foundation on your face while exercising can clog pores and increase oil production.
- After a workout, moisture levels in the skin on the forehead and upper cheek, where foundation was applied, increased, because makeup prevents it from evaporating.
- “Wearing makeup can clog pores,” according to researchers.
- In addition, having makeup on the face during physical activity reduces the skin’s protective film, which leads to skin dryness.
Practicing physical activity while wearing makeup, is it a good or bad idea? This is the question asked by researchers from Texas A&M University-San Antonio (United States) and the Korea National University of Education (South Korea). To answer this, they carried out a study published in the journal Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
As part of this work, the team evaluated the effects of using foundation on skin conditions during a sports session. “Indeed, there is a growing trend for people to wear cosmetics when participating in physical activities. Nevertheless, there remains a need to better understand the effects of makeup on the facial epidermis during exercise, considering taking into account existing gaps in knowledge.”
“Makeup prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin”
A total of 43 healthy students, including 20 men and 23 women, were recruited. The foundation was applied to half of the participants’ faces, in two different areas (the forehead and the top of the cheek). The other half of the face served as a “control zone”. Moisture, elasticity, pore and sebum levels were measured using a skin analysis device before and after a 20-minute treadmill exercise. Then, a test was carried out to measure the condition of the skin before and after sport.
According to the results, humidity levels increased after physical activity in both non-makeup and make-up areas. However, the authors noted a greater increase in the forehead and upper cheek. “This may be because makeup prevents moisture from evaporating from the skin,” they explained. Skin elasticity also improved after physical exercise, but more significantly in areas with makeup.
Using foundation during exercise reduces oil, causing dryness
Another observation: the size of pores increased in non-make-up areas after sport, but not significantly in made-up skin. “This may indicate that wearing makeup can clog pores.” Sebum production was also greater in areas with makeup.
The lipid film – which protects the skin – increased in areas without makeup and decreased in areas with foundation. Which suggests that it may be difficult to keep it on the skin when wearing makeup. This phenomenon favors the skin dryness. “Therefore, wearing makeup may not be recommended for people with dry skin. However, it is best for everyone to remove makeup before exercising,” said Dongsun Parkco-author of the work.
