I wore makeup to the gym for the first time in forever yesterday (There was a reason… More on this in a sec.), and guess what? It led me to develop a list of go-to sweat-proof long-lasting makeup products that I know won’t budge an inch, even after an intense 60-minute HIIT class!
Not that I ever wear a full face when I exercise, but it never hurts to be prepared, right? At least now I know what to grab if Sydney Cummings ever asks me to do a workout video with her.
I think having a number of sweat-proof, water-proof products on hand is a good idea for people who do performances (dude, those stage lights are HOT), or if you’re going to be a guest at a destination wedding in a tropical locale, or if you’re going to Vegas to sit by the pool — basically, any situation where you know you’ll be sweating and you don’t want your brows/lashes/lips to melt off.
Anyway, the reason this particular makeup challenge came about was because my HIIT teacher asked me to be the “member of the month” at the gym for September 2019.
Being member of the month entails having your picture taken, which will appear on a big ol’ poster in the middle of the gym (EEK), and answering some exercise-related interview questions.
We did the picture part during Monday night’s class, and that included some action shots of me sweating (and hopefully) looking somewhat cute with makeup on, even in that terrible overhead florescent lighting.
I used the least amount of product I could get away with because I didn’t want to be wearing layers and layers of heavy makeup. Also, most of the items I used were from Urban Decay, a line with a solid reputation for long-wearing makeup.
BROWS
I’ve noticed that filled-in brows make all the difference in pics, so I used Urban Decay Brow Blade Waterproof Pencil and Ink Stain in Dark Drapes to fill them in (pencil first, then the ink).
By the end of the workout, the drawn-in tail on my right brow had faded ever-so-slightly, which wasn’t surprising, really, with the amount of sweat that was pouring out of me, but both brows remained more or less intact.
LIDS/LASHES
Because I have slightly hooded eyes, I wanted to define my lids a little, so I buffed the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog, a rich brown, all over my lids to simulate a slight crease for depth and dimension. Then, I lined my upper lash line and flicked out the ends with Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Fine Point Eye Pencil, before coating my lashes with Urban Decay Perversion Waterproof Mascara to open my eyes up.
After the workout, everything was still in place…even the kitten flicks!
FACE
Again, I didn’t want to be wearing layers of primer and powder, so I tried getting away with as little as possible. Just enough to even out my skin and cover up a pimple on my chin.
I started by wetting a Real Techniques Buffing Brush with Urban Decay All Nighter Spray and buffing it all over my face as a makeup primer.
Then, I did a mix of the the longest-wearing, lightweight base products that I know 1) photograph well, and 2) don’t break me out. These include MAC Face and Body Foundation in C5 and Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup, which I buffed all over my face using the same brush I used for the primer.
After it dried, I sprayed another layer of All Nighter on top to lock everything down.
LIPS/CHEEKS
For the lipstick and blush, I used a long-wearing soft matte liquid lipstick in a coral pink called Honest Beauty Liquid Lipstick in Happiness.
And that’s it!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Rachel says
August 13th, 2019 at 10:33 amDamn girl! Look at your arms in the gym picture! I’m impressed! I inadvertently wear makeup to the gym because I’m too lazy to take it off beforehand and it’s whatever I had on to go to work in the AM.
Karen says
August 13th, 2019 at 10:52 amAww, thanks lady! I’ve been working on my push-ups. 🙌🏽
Does your makeup make it through your workout? Tell me what you use and like!
Rebecca says
August 13th, 2019 at 10:55 amI wear makeup to the gym because it makes me feel yucky to look at myself in the mirror in that lighting with no makeup on. I felt shallow and silly about that for the longest time then decided one day that ANYTHING that made me feel better about myself as I struggled to lose baby weight, and then fight middle-aged spread and sag, was more than justified. EL Double Wear Light is good for the gym because it stays on but doesn’t crease or puddle and feels light on the skin.
Karen says
August 13th, 2019 at 11:24 amDouble Wear Light is one of my faves! I’ll give it a go at the gym soon.
What kind of workouts do you like to do?
FeyFrau says
August 13th, 2019 at 11:15 amNo makeup to the gym (and definitely not during yoga) but when I was a showgirl I definitely had to make sure I was sweatproof! If I was still performing, I’d totally revamp my personal kit; I’m sure there is so much updated makeup technology to make onstage/on video work even better.
One of my dream makeup artist gigs was — don’t laugh — adult films. Talk about a makeup challenge!
You look fabulous and no wonder; you totally deserved your gym star status!
Karen says
August 13th, 2019 at 11:27 amNot laughing at all. I have a buddy who did makeup for adult films and she said she learned a lot!
FeyFrau says
August 13th, 2019 at 12:29 pmI can imagine! Lucky kine friend! =)
Diana says
August 13th, 2019 at 12:48 pmYou are in amazing shape!! Omg look at your arms/shoulders! Ok I gotta ramp it up and get moving already with my weights. I have the brow blade in Drapes–it does last in the heat. I tend to just use the pen part, i see the difference using both. It does look great in photos. But that Honest beauty liquid lip 😍
Michelle says
August 13th, 2019 at 12:58 pmCongrats on Member of the Month! Since I workout at home in the morning I don’t have to worry about makeup but I consider my face a grease ball so I look for long lasting sweat proof makeup in general. I love the All Nighter foundation and setting spray. I use perversion too but not waterproof. I have a love hate with waterproof mascara. I love how it lasts but I always end up losing lashes trying to take it off which is a risk I am not willing to take. lol I have heard good things about Tarte Amazonian Clay Foundation but have yet to try it.
Bex says
August 13th, 2019 at 1:02 pmLadies, sweat your make-up not. There is a facial antiperspirant gel that I use which is amazing! It is Neat 3B Face Saver Gel & is really good. I put it on in the mornings and it keeps my make-up on in place all day – I’m in the UK & we’ve had high humidity recently of at least 86% and I work on the 11th floor of the hospital so it gets really hot but this stuff keeps my face sweat free all day. I get hyperhydrosis and sweat almost as soon as I move so it gets a workout. On a serious note I really would recommend it. P.S. I don’t have anything to do with the compant but the product works for me x
Helene Illervik says
August 14th, 2019 at 6:54 amThanks for the tip. I have just ordered a tube of Neat 3B Face Saver. IT’ll be interesting to try.
Thanks again!
Chelsea says
August 13th, 2019 at 8:34 pmGet it girl! 👏🏻 I’m such a sweaty person so these are great tips!
Just got back from a show the circus gym did at a local library – I was the stage tech since I’m just getting back in the air but it was fun! Took a while to get all the glitter off.
Kim says
August 14th, 2019 at 10:33 amCongratulations on being member of the month!!! That’s awesome! I already know exactly what I’ll need when Sydney comes to ask me about being in her HIIT workout video. A stunt double. HAHA! Kidding, but I’d absolutely need mascara and filled brows. I think I’d skip everything else. 🙂