Even tough women love glamour

As tennis star Serena Williams demolished Italy’sFrancesca Schiavone at the US Open on Monday, her goth eyeliner, andpencil-filled eyebrows grabbed as much attention as her aggressive moves oncourt. While rivals have taken digs at Serena’s obvious penchant for warpaint, she isn’t alone in her love for glamour while sweating it out.Olympic long-jumper Jade Johnson was in the news last year, forturning to permanent make-up to stay good-looking while competing.“I’m an Olympic athlete but I’m also a woman. I love makeup,lashes and getting my hair done so I look good on and off the track.”Women in Mumbai feel the same, we’d say, because fitnesstrainers claim it’s not uncommon to see female gym rats dolled up for glamworkouts like zumba and barre. Personal trainer Sanjay Patel, who once workedwith actor Deepika Padukone, says, this is more common among evening gymmers,since some women make their way for a workout straight from work. “Theydon’t bother removing the make-up, and I often see them hitting thetreadmill with foundation and blush on,” he adds.Dermatologists say this could prove problematic for your skin.Whenwe exercise, the body temperature rises. As the skin starts to sweat, our poresget enlarged, allowing the chemicals in cosmetics to enter your bloodstream.“Blood vessels dilate during a workout — which is what gives yourskin the healthy, flushed look — and wearing make-up could mean that theharmful chemicals in the cosmetic are making their way straight into yourbloodstream,” says Dr Bindu Sthalekar, consultant dermatologist atHarkisondas Hospital. Even if you are armed with good qualitymake-up, you could end up with a bout of acne. Packing on cosmetics whileexercising, say dermatologists, is akin to donning a scuba diving suit whilesweating it out. “Make-up forms a waterproof, almost plasticlike layer onyour skin, trapping in sweat and toxins that are released while working out. Theskin reacts to the mix of sweat, bacteria and make-up, causing allergies andpatches,” says Dr Sthalekar. Dr Jaishree Sharad, medicaldirector and cosmetic dermatologist at the Vashi-based Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin& Laser Clinic, adds that hair follicle openings on the skin’s surfaceget clogged by makeup, increasing the risk of bacterial infection and boils.Another common problem, she says, is milia — tiny white nodular cysts onthe skin — caused by blockage of sweat gland ducts. But thedangers of wearing make-up while working out are far greater than an acne farmon your face. And here’s the clincher. You could just be defeating thevery purpose of working out (if fighting of ageing is your concern) becauseclogged pores interfere with the anti-ageing benefits of exercise. “If notallowed to breathe, pores enlarge further, and when toxins enter them, theydamage the collagen and elastin in your skin, quickening ageing,” DrSthalekar says. However, if bumping into your gym-enemy (the woman who flaunts hergreat body and luminescent skin while lifting weights) sans make-up gives youthe heebiejeebies, then chuck the powder and instead, opt for a light, oil-freemoisturiser, says super facialist Debbie Thomas in an interview to aninternational fashion magazine. But, Thomas adds, cleaning your face immediatelyafter the workout is an equal must. Not all instructors look down onexercising in make-up, though. Simi Melwani, a 25-year-old yoga and zumbainstructor at a south Mumbai studio, says she’s fine if light make-uphelps build a client’s confidence. “I too use light kajal andlip-gloss.” For Melwani and Williams, ophthalmologist Dr GirijaSuresh has a piece of advice: “If you must use eye make-up, avoid metallicliners. Go for chemical-free, waterproof products.”Ifrunny mascara gets into your eyes, it could cause irritation, infection, evenconjunctivitis, says Dr Girija Suresh, an ophthalmologist from Mulund’sFortis Hospital. - Scrub your face clean. If you don’thave access to a shower or a basin, carry face wipes. - Hydrate your skinwith a hydrating gel or a mild moisturising serum to prevent the skin fromgetting infected.- Head for a shower to rid yourself of bacteria build-up andchange into fresh clothes. Wearing the sweaty gym kit for long could give riseto fungal infections. Use a mild shower gel. - Wash your face withcleansers and splash on some cool water to close the pores. - Once dry,apply a moisturiser since all that sweating has dehydrated your skin. -Wait another 15-30 minutes, allowing for blood vessels to constrict and pores toclose, before applying fresh make-up.