How to run pretty

You don’t race with a full face but there is nothing wrong with looking good for the finishing line, says Karen Dacre
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17 May 2013

“Is it no longer enough to chuck a hair band around your greasy barnet before flinging on your trainers and heading for the door?” we asked ourselves as singer Katherine Jenkins dashed around the London Marathon last month looking, at all times, ready for her close-up. “Is nothing sacred?” cried a nation of jogging females, terrified at the prospect of giving up one of the golden, fashion-free moments of our week for yet another grooming process.

Surely it’s not okay to sweat out under a layer of thickly applied foundation? Such an approach has been firmly vetoed by skincare professionals who claim that working out in make-up is almost certainly linked to complexion issues. “Expect blemishes,” said Sydney-based therapist Anna Field in a recent interview. “Make-up forms a barrier, so sweat and bacteria can’t be purged. It becomes trapped and skin becomes a muddy mess of bacteria, dead cells and make-up.” Gross, right? And sufficient motivation to ignore the example set by Jenkins? I think so. At least I did before signing up for Nike’s We Own The Night, a 10k race taking place in east London’s Victoria Park this Saturday night. Now I’m having a rethink.

Staged in association with Elle, the race will see the great and good of the British fashion industry as well as a host of other— and perhaps fitter — London women come together in a late-night race designed to celebrate the growing popularity of running among women. Similar events are planned in other major cities across the globe, with strong attendance expected from high-profile sporting and fashion figures.

Designer Henry Holland has created a canvas bag for the event while 400m hurdler Perri Shakes-Drayton and marathon record holder Paula Radcliffe are expected in Victoria Park on Saturday night. In short, it sounds like a pretty terrifying occasion on which to stand on a starting line without a hint of make-up to hide behind. The running part is challenging enough.

So what’s the happy medium? Experts recommend starting with a CC cream. Providing a gentle lick of coverage, it corrects the tone of your skin while letting the natural glow shine through. Singapore cosmetics label Skin Food offers a superior range of CC creams with SPFs while Dr Brandt offers a dynamic range. I suggest applying a layer of good-quality self-tan the evening before your race. Just be sure to opt for a brand that is light on perfume and streaking risk.

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