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<\/div>Exercising while wearing foundation can change our skin\u2019s characteristics<\/p>\n
oneinchpunch\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n
Wearing foundation while exercising may affect the health<\/a> of the skin by changing its pore size and the subsequent release of sebum, which plays a role in keeping it healthy.<\/p>\n Sukho Lee<\/a> at Texas A&M University, San Antonio, and his colleagues recruited 43 college students, 20 men and 23 women. The participants first washed their faces with a cleanser. The researchers then measured skin variables on different areas of their faces, including pore size and sebum production.<\/p>\n Next, a single layer of foundation was applied to all the participants\u2019 faces, either their foreheads or cheeks, depending on which they preferred.<\/p>\n They then did a moderate 20-minute workout, consisting of running on a treadmill for 5 minutes at 3 miles per hour (mph), for 10 minutes at 4 mph and for 5 minutes at 5 mph.<\/p>\n After the workout, the researchers repeated the various skin<\/a> measurements, finding that sebum was reduced on the areas with foundation compared with those without make-up.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a gleaming example of the deleterious effects of make-up use during exercise,\u201d the researchers wrote in their paper. \u201cIn this study, make-up use clogged the pores, which led to a negative sebum score.\u201d The optimal amount of sebum is unclear, with too much being linked to acne and too little causing skin irritation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The size of the participants\u2019 pores also significantly increased in the areas without foundation, while there was no meaningful change to those in the made-up areas. This suggests that the foundation may have restricted pores from naturally enlarging during exercise<\/a>, preventing the release of sebum and sweat, which moisturises and cools skin. The researchers didn\u2019t assess whether these changes were linked to any skin issues.<\/p>\n Wearing foundation while exercising may not have a big effect on most people who do relatively short workouts, but \u201cwe don\u2019t know the impact for endurance-type athletes\u201d, says Lee. The team now hopes to investigate the effects during longer exercise routines.<\/p>\n