JogBlog

Do you run in make-up? I don’t if I’m going out from home, but usually put on a bit of mascara if I’m in a race (I look bad enough in face photos as it is!)

Here’s a guest post about running in make-up.

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If your skin is prone to breakouts then it’s always best to run without makeup on but sometimes it can be tempting to just add a layer of foundation or a flick of mascara. However, running causes us to sweat which makes our pores open up but if there’s makeup covering the pores, then this can cause them to become blocked. It gets worse though, many cosmetics contain metals such as aluminium, zinc, iron, lead and even arsenic which may be able to seep into your pores more easily when you run in makeup.

Not being able to sweat properly can also cause problems in other areas of the body. For example, antiperspirant deodorant contains aluminium chlorohydrate which coats the sweat glands to stop sweat being secreted, unlike the chemicals in deodorant which neutralise sweat rather than blocking it. Although there has been much speculation about whether the aluminium in deodorant is linked to an increase in the risk of breast cancer, the connection between aluminium and cancer hasn’t been proven.

Below we take a closer look at some common cosmetics and the affects they can have on your skin, especially when running.

· Cosmetics

The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics discovered that many common cosmetics contain heavy metals which are potentially dangerous. Metals including lead, arsenic, mercury, aluminium, zinc, chromium and iron were found in everything from lipstick to whitening toothpaste, eyeliner and nail polish. Although the amount of metals in these products vary greatly, in some cases these can build up over time to cause potential health risks. Again, running in makeup could potentially make it easier for these chemicals to enter and become blocked in open pores.

· Skin cream

Some face and body moisturisers also contain metals, including mercury which can be toxic. Although legally only a trace amount of mercury is allowed in creams and other beauty products, imported creams manufactured for their skin-lightening benefits have been known to include toxic levels of mercury. To stay on the safe side, avoid any products which don’t have a label written in English or which have no ingredients listed. Metals which are thought to be beneficial to the skin include gold which can reduce bacteria on the skin and increase lymphatic drainage, making the skin less puffy. Some high end face creams include gold particles in a bid to slow down the anti-aging process and improve the surface of the skin.

· Sun cream

Sunscreens are designed to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays which have been linked to skin cancer and prematurely aging the skin. In sunscreens which contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide these chemicals work to block UV light from reaching the sun. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are minerals that have been ground down so small that they are transparent. Zinc oxide in particular works well as it doesn’t create white streaks on the skin and it blocks nearly all dangerous UV light. Zinc is an incredibly versatile metal and is also a common ingredient in concealer and foundation.

· Vitamin and mineral tablets

As well as affecting the outside of the body, metals can also affect our all-round health – in a positive way. Many of the minerals in multi-vitamin and mineral tablets are derived from metals including zinc, magnesium and iron as these are essential to the body’s health. For example, zinc improves the healing process, can help fight cancer, can reduce acne and benefits fertility. Magnesium helps improve sleep, benefits the nervous system and can strengthen bones.

It’s the Great South Run on Sunday. My training – on a scale of 1-10 – is at about 2. Oops. Shaun decided to make me feel better about this by telling me the weather report. I clamped my hands over my ears but the words ‘heavy rain’ and ‘strong winds’ filtered through. Bah.

Anyway, Bupa have asked me to publish the below press release, so have a read.

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BRITS STRIVE FOR PICTURE PERFECT AS THEY HIT THE GYM

- Nearly one in three British women living a healthy lifestyle have been motivated to exercise after looking at a photo of themselves -

- TV personality Gethin Jones supports campaign on helping to keep Britain motivated -

A picture paints a thousand words but for healthy Brits [1] it has also sparked a health kick. Nearly one third (30%) of women living a healthy lifestyle have taken up exercise after looking at a photograph of themselves, with just under one in five (19%) health conscious males also doing the same, according to a latest research campaign by Healthcare company Bupa.

The campaign, supported by TV personality Gethin Jones, delved into the habits of those leading a healthy lifestyle to find out what motivates these particular individuals to stay fit and healthy, ahead of the Bupa Great South Run this weekend.

Surprisingly, health mad celebrities are a fitness turn-off; only 4% say that a celebrity’s body has ever motivated them to exercise. Results indicate that a quarter (25%) of women surveyed also admit to using special occasions including Christmas parties as motivation to exercise. Other main motivations for both men and women to stay healthy through exercise include, wanting to improve one’s mood (61%), to fit into clothes (47%) and to relieve the stress of work (26%).

According to Bupa, Sunday still remains the ‘day of rest’ with ‘Brits’ living the healthy lifestyle putting their feet up on Sunday more than any other day of the week. Fitness on a Friday seems to have replaced the traditional post work trip to the pub, with it being the day those surveyed are least likely to avoid exercise.

Television personality Gethin Jones, ambassador for the campaign said: “It’s easier than you think to become a healthier person; it’s the small changes that make a big difference. Bupa’s campaign shows there are many motivations to adopt a healthy lifestyle, but for me it has always been setting myself challenges. That is why I am currently training for the Bupa Great South Run which has helped me to stay focused and get up for that morning run.”

The campaign, by Bupa, aimed to examine the behavioural habits and motivations of those who live a healthy lifestyle to ascertain how and why they maintain their regime and fitness. Working closely with a medical expert, Bupa defined the criteria for a healthy lifestyle as individuals who partake in five 30 minute sessions of exercise a week, consume a minimum of five daily portions of fruit and veg with a low saturated fat and salt diet, are non-smokers and who do not drink heavily.

Dr Steven Luttrell, Medical Director, Bupa Health Clinics said: “It has been very interesting to see exactly what it is that keeps those living the ‘healthy lifestyle,’ motivated and active. However, while people’s behaviours and motivations may differ, the importance of following this health choice remains the same for all. By eating well and keeping active, people should be able to improve their general health and wellbeing. So, whatever it is that keeps you focused, I would urge people to keep active and eat well and they should really feel the difference.

Gethin Jones will be demonstrating his commitment to a healthy and active lifestyle by participating in Sunday’s Bupa Great South Run in Portsmouth. The world’s premier 10 mile running event attracts 25,000 people and takes in the iconic sights of Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.

To find out more on Bupa’s commitment to inspire a healthier Britain visit bupa.co.uk.

About Bupa

Bupa’s purpose is longer, healthier, happier lives.  

A leading international healthcare group, we serve 13m customers in more than 190 countries. We offer personal and company-financed health insurance and medical subscription products, run hospitals, provide workplace health services, home healthcare, health assessments and chronic disease management services.  We are also a major international provider of nursing and residential care for elderly people.

With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare and fulfil our purpose.

Bupa employs more than 62,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Poland, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, China and across Latin America.

For more information, visit www.bupa.co.uk

[1] Bupa defined the criteria for a healthy lifestyle as individuals who partake in five 30 minute sessions of exercise a week, consume a minimum of five daily portions of fruit and veg with a low saturated fat and salt diet, are non-smokers and who do not drink heavily.