Full Question
What is the best coverage to wear if you work out regularly? I have a tendency towards redness, so I like to have some sort of coverage on my skin. But I work out mid-day and don’t have a lot of time to spend on my skin post workout. Any suggestions?

Answer
You can definitely look good during and after your work-out.  You do want to be careful with how much make-up you wear, as you don’t want to risk the chance of your skin breaking out later!  It’s best to not wear any coverage while you’re actually working out.  The mixture of sweat and face make-up can lead to clogged pores and incite pimple flare-ups!  So before your work-out, remove your face make-up using a wipe or some cleanser.  (Keep a pack of facial wipes or a small bottle of facial cleanser in your locker to ease the process).  If you like, you can keep your make-up on your eyes and lips as it is, but just be sure any mascara you’re wearing is waterproof!  (Last thing you want is a streaky mess running down your face, as you run on the treadmill!)

Once your work-out is done, lightly cleanse your face and moisturize before applying any make-up.  If you’re comfortable with it, use a minimal amount of make-up and simply accentuate your eyes and lips, rather than applying full face make-up (i.e. foundation, concealer and powder).  You can use concealer where needed and blotting tissues to tone down any excess shine, rather than applying a whole face of make-up.  You’ll also have a natural flush from just working out, so go easy on the blush!

If you feel best with more coverage on the face, try a tinted moisturizer or a mineral foundation powder.  A tinted moisturizer is the lightest type of foundation and gives just a hint of colour.  It’s the perfect option if you’re in a scramble to get back to the office, as it both moisturizes and gives a bit of coverage.  If a tinted moisturizer is too light in coverage, try using mineral foundation powder. Mineral make-up products do not contain the synthetic ingredients (talc, preservatives) that typically lead to pore clogging, which make them ideal for a post-workout beauty routine.  Cleanse and moisturize first, and then apply the mineral foundation powder to help camouflage the areas of concern.

More tips:  To quickly tone down stubborn post-workout redness, try dusting a yellow-toned translucent powder all over the face.  Don’t worry - the yellow tinge of the powder won’t cause a sallow look!  Rather, it will help to neutralize the redness so your skin tone appears closer to its true colour.  

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