There’s no reason to look less than impressive just because you’re hot and sweaty! The right makeup in the right places can give your looks a boost, or carry you from Pilates straight to work, class, or a night on the town with just a little touch-up.

Then again, the wrong cosmetics can take your workout routine from a fun opportunity to flirt with the guy on the next stair climber to a disastrous scramble for cold cream. There’s a right and a wrong way to go about wearing makeup at the gym, and we’re going to break it down for you.

General

First things first: less is more. Remember that you’re going to the gym to get fit, and maybe flirt a little. It’s not a date, and you’re probably not going to be posing for any pictures.{relatedarticles}

Be sure to clean your face well and moisturize before applying makeup. Always moisturize first, but it’s extra important when you go to the gym. If you start with healthy skin, you’ll finish with healthy skin. The same goes for exfoliating. Wearing makeup to the gym means extra diligence when it’s time to clean up, and a good exfoliant will help remove dirt (including old makeup).

Too much makeup can cause breakouts and that’s a big problem. You’re working up a sweat, and that opens up your pores (which is good!) but you’ll only irritate and aggravate your skin if those pores open and immediately get clogged with dirt, oil, makeup, and any other grodiness.

Beware the “hypoallergenic” label because it doesn’t necessarily mean that one sort of makeup or another will or won’t be any better for your skin while working out. Back in 2000, the FDA stated that, “there are no Federal standards or definitions that govern the use of the term ‘hypoallergenic.’ The term means whatever a particular company wants it to mean.

In addition, the FDA had already said decades earlier, “by and large, the basic ingredients in so-called ‘hypoallergenic’ cosmetics are the same as those used in other cosmetics sold for the same purposes.”

So when you decide to apply makeup before your workout, just remember that there’s no blemish-proof formula. To protect your skin, it’s most important to just go easy on heavily applied makeup and any excessive tugging.{relatedarticles}

Skin

To cover up dark spots or minor discolorations, skip the foundation. Foundation can cake, crinkle, and run as you start to sweat. Instead, look for a tinted moisturizer. This is doubly beneficial since you’ll be moisturizing as you color.

Eyes

There’s more to good gym makeup than avoiding raccoon eyes, but we’d forgive you if that’s your biggest worry. Copious running eye makeup may work for pop superstar Ke$ha, but at the gym, it’s a deal-breaker.

Obviously, you’re going for waterproof mascara - that’s a given - but when you wear it to the gym, you really have to put your quantity in check. Waterproof mascara might not run, but it can still clump and smear when you wipe your sweaty forehead. One or two swipes will do the job!

Of course, depending on the length of your lashes, you might be able to skip the mascara altogether: try an eyelash curler to give your batting a little more body.

The same rule goes for eyeliner: think waterproof and minimal. Use eye shadow at your own risk - not only do you risk caking and smearing, but as the makeup mixes with sweat, it’s really going to grind into the thin folds of your eyelids as you exercise. We say: skip it, and put it on after your workout.{relatedarticles}

Cheeks

A delicate application of cheek stain can give you a darling blush. As for blush itself, take note: powdered blush can smear right off your face, while cheek stain will last longer, and resist smearing better.

If you want to look your best at the gym and you’re not doing crazy cardio, some sort of cheek color is a must. The harsh, often cold light of the gym tends to make anyone with even slightly fair skin appear sallow and pale. Go for balance and delicate highlights, but definitely boost your cheeks!

On the other hand, this product can be skipped completely if you are a fan of Zumba, running, or heavy strength-training.

Lips

Just like cheeks, lips are best stained. Think about it: you’ve just wrapped up a grueling half-hour session of Pilates and you’re sweating like crazy. You go to wipe your face and wind up leaving a long pink smudge on the back of your hand!

If you do go with lipstick over lip stain, pick a natural color that’s close to the normal hue of your lips. That way, if any should come off, it will be much less noticeable, and easier to touch up.{relatedarticles}

Clean Up

After your workout, a complete wash is best. Cleanse your face thoroughly with mild soap and water to remove makeup and clean out your pores. Of course, this isn’t always possible if you are running back to work or between appointments.

Another good option is to take makeup-removing wipes with you to the gym. These have the added benefit of letting you take off just what isn’t working. If your eyes still look good after cardio kickboxing, you can just wipe off everything else and touch up.

Don’t forget your hair, either. If you don’t have time to shower and completely reapply your makeup, you can use “dry shampoo” to freshen up your mane. This miracle product removes any trace of sweaty, wet hair as well as pumping it back up with body.{relatedarticles}

Dry shampoo is usually scented too, so no after-gym stink will follow you out. The only thing to remember with the powdered version of dry shampoo, as opposed to the spray-on, is that if not well-massaged into your mane, it could give your hair a grayish cast.

So remember: when it comes to workout makeup, less is more. Whether or not you should wear makeup at all depends on the kind of workout you’ll be doing. Twenty minutes on the elliptical during your lunch break? Go for it. An hour of high-intensity rock climbing? Better to leave the war paint at home to keep it from running in your eyes.