I was wearing my over-sized violet sweatshirt with my black training capri. My tangled hair ponytailed with a hot-pink scrunchy. I was messy and sweaty. Nothing about the way I looked was conventionally classy or attractive. The brown-girl (possibly South-East Asian) on the treadmill next to mine was medium built. She had her long, black hair finely combed down to her waist. I could not help but notice her caked makeup and her eye-liners thick and evenly done. She was dressed in a loose top with leggings. I can’t deny the fact she looked lovely but she was not much dressed up for the gym. It got me to thinking, why dress-up, or even wear makeup to the gym?
Based on her makeup alone, I have accused her of wandering around the gym solely to attract men and questioned the quality of her workout, because who seriously works out like that? My hostile assumptions are based on the fact that she is a woman with makeup on at the gym. As women, sometimes that is the trap we fall into when it comes to beauty and fashion, isn’t it? We assume there is only one right way — which conveniently is usually OUR way. We apply our own notions about what is "proper" onto women we don’t even know. In my case at the gym, the issues were contained entirely on one fellow gym-goer’s makeup and outfit.
It could be all those mirrors. That cruel and unforgiving lighting. Or simply not knowing who you might meet or bump into – or may like to bump into. I understand, women always want to look their best in public and the gym is one of the big social meeting places for people these days. Also, there have been several innovations with waterproof make-up recently that will supposedly breathe with our skin when we work out and will stay absolutely perfect even when we are pushing ourselves hard physically, so it’s much easier to look good working out.
I am a little skeptical, especially because exercising with makeup is bad for the skin. I will not deny the fact that I DO feel self-conscious about my dark under-eye circles and acne-marks, in addition to my not-yet-gym-toned body. But isn’t that the whole point of working my ass off at the gym? I wear makeup for work and when I go out. But I never wear makeup to the gym. If I go to the gym after work, I bring makeup removing wipes with me and wipe it off in the bathroom at the gym.
You may never see me rocking Kim Kardashian’s smokey eyes while I am huffing and puffing on the elliptical, but I do think that wearing makeup to the gym is a preference, not an indication that a woman is seeking the attention of sweaty gym bros or that a woman is less committed to getting a good workout. I think, the biggest obstacle a woman wearing makeup to the gym is enduring the very real possibility that other people were going to be as judgmental about her look as I usually am. The truth is, wearing makeup at the gym — or anywhere — doesn't mean you are seeking attention or you are not willing to work hard; wearing makeup to the gym means you feel like wearing makeup to the gym. Period.
Whenever I have just finished exercising — with baby hairs sticking up everywhere, pink cheeks, and sweat making my forehead shiny — I feel beautiful. I may not look as conventionally "good" as I would when more groomed up, but it's a beauty that comes from within. It comes from knowing I did something good for myself. Why should I assume women wearing makeup at the gym do not look forward to the same feeling? Why should I assume my method of feeling beautiful at the gym is the only one that exists? I may never wear makeup to the gym, but I will be making an effort to more open-minded running alongside a fellow Glamour Girl.
