Sweet Summer Sweat

On a recent trip to Ulta, my goal was to pick up some products I could sweat in. Call me vain, call me insecure, call me whatever, I HATE not being able to wear makeup when working out. I don’t need the whole sha-bang, but I hate going completely barefaced for sweat sessions. Yes, I know how absolutely ridiculous this sounds but the reason why I was in search of sweat resistant makeup is really the same reason why I dropped a few hundred on a new workout wardrobe.

I’m new to working out. I’ve always been a bit chubbier than I should be and recently the weight has seemed to just fall off on it’s own. I’m really quite the super duper late bloomer and kind of grew into myself now that I’ve reached my mid-twenties. Over the last couple of years, I been receiving more and more attention for my appearance. I don’t hate this, but it some how worked itself backwards and now I worry about when I don’t look as good as a could. I place more time into my appearance now that I am prouder of it. Back in the day, I wouldve been happy to be overlooked; now, I’m happy to stand out. So why can’t I go to the gym makeup-less? I’m getting there.

Being new to working out, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t know “all the moves”. It’s really no surprise that like anyone else treading unfamiliar waters, I’m uneasy and thus, self conscious. I may not be in control of whether or not I know what I’m doing yet but I can control whether or not I look good. I went on a Marshall’s/TJMaxx work-out apparel shopping spree and picked myself up a new wardrobe to sweat in (and I look pretty adorable in the workout gear btw). The only problem left to solve would be my makeup dilemma.

I have a very low-set brow. I look like I’m scowling about 90% of the time. My eyes, tucked below this shelf of a brow, are quite small. Tiny. My daily makeup allows me to open up my eyes; looking brighter and friendlier. But I can’t be rocking a smokey eye and liquid lined look at the gym! That’s just ridiculous. Even if its all waterproof, simply having the full-faced makeup look is silly. What can I get away with at the gym? A-ha! Here it is, my gym makeup:

I go with a light brown, very neutral shade of a waterproof eye pencil. I picked up this dual sided duo of pencils by Urban Decay. No mascara. Just a soft liner.

On my face, I don’t require a lot of coverage but to even out my tone, I use this BB tinted treatment by Tarte (one of my favorite brands) or an even lighter coverage tinted moisturizer. Both are oil-free and SPF 30. Both are very sheer. The BB can be built upon so it’s perfect for your gym bag as you can apply a couple of coats after your workout if youve got other places to be and errands to run.

While at Ulta purchasing my gym supplies, they were having a sale on Loreal products, so I picked up these two 24hr infallible eye shadows:  #997 Eternal Sunshine and #335 Golden Emerald.

I also picked up the Lorac TANtalizer Glow to Go Value Set. Check back tomorrow to find out more about that!!

I know many of you who read this will think its very shallow and silly of me to not feel secure enough to spend time around others without any makeup on. I recognize this too about myself. It makes me feel better and if I feel better about it (working out that is), I will continue to do it and I owe it to myself to follow a workout schedule. I owe it to myself to feel better about my appearance and take more pride in it. If slapping on a little eye pencil and tinted moisturizer makes me feel comfortable enough to go for it, I don’t see what so wrong with that.

Thank you so much for reading! I owe you guys a “What have I been up to for the last 6 months” post. A LOT has happened. Some really amazing things and some really shitty things. The last half of a year have flown by and dragged on in exuberant elation and nagging pain. My circle of friends, job and state of being have all changed and for the better. I find myself in a beautiful and content place in my life and I haven’t lost hope for a brighter tomorrow. One day soon, this limbo I’ve been balancing in for nearly two years will settle and I will settle safely where I am destined to.

Thanks, as always, for reading!

Love, GK