How to Apply Makeup That Still Looks Amazing at the End of the Race
When I ran my first steeplechase, I pictured triumphantly crossing the finish line with a big smile on my face, beaming with joy of achievement. It was actually a sweaty and humid unseasonably warm day, but I look great in my racing photos. My secret? I ran with makeup all the way.
When I’m not racing, I work as a senior hair designer and makeup artist in a busy salon. I’m known for my bold style and love experimenting with new makeup looks. On competition day, I want to be a version of myself as a superhero, which means that I will bring my signature style to the track.
By the time I turn 30, most of the important moments in my life are over. I have already taken graduation, wedding and new baby photos, so now the most important moments and photo shoots in my life are the ones that I create for myself. I ran several distances in full make-up and the pictures above are from my first obstacle course race. It might be in vain, but after months of preparation for the spartan sprint and a huge buy-in, I’m ready to put in a little extra effort to get home with some great photos for my medal.
Plan to look good from a distance
Race photos and action shots will not be in close-ups. Race day makeup serves a different purpose than everyday makeup. The goal is to look great from ten feet away, so focus on keeping your features straight and your complexion even. Make sure your eyebrows don’t fade into the photo and your lips stand out. More product means more things to move around, so keep your horse racing day more concise and minimize any contours or highlights. You will have a lot of glow from the exercise, so you don’t need an artificial one.
What i wear
Preparing for a race, like a Spartan or a marathon, takes months of training. With all this effort, I don’t want to risk my daytime style. Most of what I wear is prestige cosmetics with a formula designed to withstand a long day. The higher price really gives you more technology and better ingredients.
My face on competition day starts with Clinique Fit . It has an SPF of 40, so there is no need to apply additional moisturizer. I love this foundation because it wears out for a long time and completely covers the skin without feeling heavy. Any long-lasting foundation you like will do the job just fine as long as it has a matte finish formula.
Then I fill my brows with neutral brown powder. For this race I used a brown eyeshadow, but any powder will work to match the color of your eyebrow. I like powder over pencils or lipsticks when I sweat a lot because it doesn’t seem to move that much. Eyeshadow tends to glide over my eyelids even with primer, so I didn’t wear it except for a little skin tone under my eyebrows.
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner is best for that bold look. This is the most popular liquid eyeliner, and for good reason. Will not budge. I used Tarte Tartiest mascara because it gives a gorgeous bold black look to the lashes. A trick for sweat-proof eyes is to only apply eyeliner and mascara to your upper lashes. Anything on the lower lash line will definitely budge. I didn’t bother with the waterproof mascara because I believe that as long as I don’t touch it, the Tartist won’t go anywhere.
I love the bold red lips. Spartan racing ends with jumping over fire, so I got inspired by the fiery red color of NYX Cosmetics Elements . I find that long-lasting lipstick formulas, especially matte ones, are very dry and I end up licking my lips in a way that makes them watery anyway. This lipstick was so comfortable that I forgot I was wearing it, which is how lipstick should feel.
Smile for the camera
At most major races, photographers post around the track on race day to document your progress. Your pre-competition newsletter usually includes information on whether the races will be filmed and what the photographers will be wearing. When I find them on the track, I always try to look them in the eye and smile. In places like the finish line, they are often difficult to spot, but the joy and relief from finishing the race is enough to make me smile.
Remember you are wearing makeup
The hardest part about wearing makeup on race day is remembering it’s on me. Durability formulas are designed to last a long day, but they come off with frequent rubbing and touching. For the Spartan race, my headband protected my eyes and face from sweat, and my hands were covered in dirt, so it was easy to avoid touching my face.
Waterproof makeup is not a promise or a challenge. After all, it is removable, so it can come off. Avoid getting water on your face to make sure you’re still fresh at the finish, although I’ve poured a few cups of water over my head to cool it down. I ran through fog stations during long distance races and my makeup was fine too.
After all, racing and makeup should be fun. A showy lip gives me extra confidence. When I have to overcome 26.2 miles or jump over fire, I will use all my confidence!