Healthy(ish!)

i am a self-confessed make-up addict. I wear it every day of my life without fail – to the beach, whether I’ve just had a baby, and even if I’m so busy I don’t have time to eat, I will always find time to apply a three-minute face. I’m not talking about Kardashian-esque layers here, I’m more of a ‘stealth’ make-up kind of girl – the sort that makes you look fresh, bright and glowing with minimum effort.

And so when it comes to the gym, I naturally default into my make-up wearing mode. Not tons, but you’ll be sure to find me in downward dog sporting a lick of mascara, spots covered, with a touch of blush. I didn’t think anything of this until recently when a friend exclaimed PRE-HIIT class, ‘Sus, why are you wearing make-up in the gym?’ ‘Um, because I always do,’ I replied, shrinking into my locker.

It made me think about the possible repercussions, so I decided to ask top dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting if wearing make-up to the gym is such a bad thing after all. ‘I think that there are a couple of issues,’ she begins. ‘The first is that sweating while wearing occlusive [pore-blocking] products on the skin, such as long-wear foundation and powder, creates major problems. Perspiration mixes with oil, bacteria and skin cells to create an irritating mix that aggravates follicles, driving breakouts, particularly in “sweat-zones” like the forehead.’

But what if you want to cover spots? Friends of mine with acne-prone skin tell me they’d never make it to the gym if they had to go with a scrubbed face. ‘Make-up doesn’t have to be problematic,’ says Sam. ‘Just stick to a lightweight formula like Nars Radiant Tinted Moisturiser, £36, and make sure you skip powder.’ Instead, Sam advises to blot throughout the day: ‘I love Japanese brand DHC Oil Blotting Paper, £4.50, to reduce shine.’

Obviously, if you’re comfortable going bare-faced then this is the best course of action. But, should you want to wear make-up, my personal favourites include: Eyeko’s Sport or Waterproof Mascaras for their smudge-proof abilities, both £19, Hourglass’s Veil Retouching Fluid, £31, which miraculously evens skin without looking like it’s there, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Away, £24, which is like a retoucher for smoothing away anything from spots to under-eye bags.

Finally, the only product that would potentially make me swerve make-up is Face Gym’s Training Stick, £38.50, which looks like a deodorant but is skincare infused with vitamins and hyaluronic acid that you apply pre workout. Penetrating your skin as it warms during training, it leaves you with a high-beam glow. A genius idea, but I’d have to wear it with mascara... @susannahtaylor_