As I finished the 40 lengths of my weekly swim, I met up with my friend at the end of the lane.
We both erupted into laughter as it quickly became clear I’d forgotten to remove my mascara before dipping into the pool, and I was sporting some high glam panda eyes.
It’s probably on account of my raging ADHD, but forgetting to remove my makeup before a workout is largely the norm for me.
I’ve been known to run through rainstorms with a full face — liquid eyeliner included — because, well, how am I supposed to gather enough executive function to remember to remove it beforehand?
For many women, though, wearing makeup for a workout is all part of the process — like a lady I saw recently doing her water aerobics with a smoky eye, lipstick, and full brow.
One 2019 survey from YouGov found that 28% of British women wear makeup every single day, while 26% commit to it at least twice a week. And, one in six said it’s always on while they exercise.
This, like so many decisions women deign to make about their own bodies, has long been viewed as a controversial one.
When opera singer Katherine Jenkins ran the London Marathon in what appeared to be full makeup, she was branded ‘fame-hungry’ and full of ‘self-interest’. The then 33-year-old was forced to publicly defend herself, stating the only makeup she’d been wearing was Vaseline on her lips.
More recently, ex-Hollyoaks star, Sarah Jayne Dunn, posted an Instagram photo of herself looking model-esque at the gym. Alongside the picture, she wrote: ‘Someone actually asked me… “Are you seriously wearing makeup to the gym?” Yep. I am. I’m not doing it for you, I’m doing it for ME!’
On TikTok, there are countless videos of women claiming they’ve been shamed for their gym makeup – or they’re worried they will be. Meanwhile a controversial thread on Reddit branded those who wear makeup to the gym as ‘vain, insecure and only doing it for male validation’.
There’s no doubt that for some, blusher and mascara help in the battle against body insecurities, often heightened during exercise. New data commissioned by Gymshark found that 34% of women report feeling self-conscious about their appearance at the gym.
Counsellor Georgina Sturmer tells Metro that wearing makeup while working out can indeed be protective, providing ‘comfort, security, or even armour.’ She adds that, when surrounded by mirrors at the gym, it can offer a ‘sense of control’.
But she also says that’s not the only reason: ‘This social element of a gym means that it’s natural for us to pay more attention to how we look, and how we might be perceived.
‘For others, applying make up might feel like a soothing ritual, making us want to work harder or challenge ourselves in new ways.’
‘My gym makeup is the same as my everyday makeup’
Jo Francis, 51, goes to the gym every single day. ‘I’ve been a member for 10 years, and in that time gone from someone who drags themselves in once a week, to where I am now,’ she tells Metro.
Focusing on strength training, Jo wants to be ‘as fit and healthy as possible.’
She says her concealer, a BB cream, mineral powder, bronzer, mascara, and a light dose of lip balm — the same as her everyday makeup — make all the difference while she’s training. It’s a combination that boosts her confidence and gets her ‘ready to face the world.’
She adds: ‘If I had a Sunday at home, wasn’t going to the gym and had no plans to leave the house, my routine would still be the same, with the makeup included.’
For Jo, wearing make up is ritualistic, and a choice she makes for herself — but she knows that it won’t always go unnoticed.
‘Compliments are always appreciated,’ she says. ‘But it’s a balance between appreciating the attention and not overly encouraging it.
‘It’s part of the territory. Would I get the same attention without makeup? Maybe, maybe not.’
‘I often take a selfie to get motivated’
Donna Richardson, 45, goes to the gym three times a week, and describes the ritual as a ‘huge part’ of her life. She’s a member of her local leisure centre, where she takes classes including body balance and aquafit — and she’s ‘never without’ her waterproof mascara.
For her, taking a selfie at the end of her gym session is an essential part of the process, as it helps her to stay motivated and commit to her goals. And throughout, she’ll always be wearing lipstick, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, blusher, and concealer, or what she describes as ‘the full works.’
‘Going to the gym is something I do for myself as it helps me keep my endorphins high. For me, it’s about feeling fitter and trying to lose weight, which has been creeping on since my late 30s,’ she says.
Amid the yoga, the core exercises and the lengths, Donna uses makeup to help her feel ’empowered’ and boost her confidence, noting that it helps her to ‘psych’ herself up.’
‘I know I’m not as physically fit as other people at the gym, so makeup gives me that boost to walk through the door,’ she reflects. ‘It’s not to be noticed, rather to feel good.’
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