Makeup

[nancielle]

I usually just use a sunblock (skin & lips). Anything else just seems to irritate my skin when I ride.

[Crankin]

I always wear moisturizers w/ spf 15, and I add sunblock w/ 30 or 45 when I ride. If I ride after work, I leave my make up on (blush, eye shadow and mascara). I am also fair, with freckles and I have reddish circles on my eyelids/ under the eyes. So, I always wear concealer here, even when going out on a weekend ride. I also wear lipstick; I can't stand the feel of my lips without it and I think it just gives my face color.

[kjay]

It's great to read about another person who insists on wearing under-eye concealer and lipstick even when bike riding. I LOVE it. Like you, I also wear sunscreen every day and when I'm biking will wear 45 SPF plus, plus (and don't laugh) a fairly good-sized straw visor that attaches below my helmet and at the back of my head via Velcro. Ever since I biked around the Big Island last Nov, I've gotten some brown spots on my face, so now I wear the visor even though it looks really goofy. I'm 62 and only recently have developed a few brown spots, so it's good to cover up as much as possible, not that brown spots are so darn bad, but why get them if you can prevent them . . .

[Crankin]

well, kjay, I'm 52 and I really don't look that great without my reddish eyes being concealed! It takes about 5 seconds to do and I don't really care if people think it's vain. To me, feeling good means feeling good about the way I look. One of my younger colleagues told me that lip balm has replaced lipstick for the 20 something generation. I don't know if that is true, since I have 2 sons, but I think both products help get rid of that dry yucky feeling on your lips.

[susiej]

well, kjay, I'm 52 and I really don't look that great without my reddish eyes being concealed! It takes about 5 seconds to do and I don't really care if people think it's vain. To me, feeling good means feeling good about the way I look. ...

Robyn, I'm with you there about feeling good about how I look! That's why I just bought a yellow skort (and am hoping for the matching top for my birthday). All my bike clothes are shades of grey and pale yellow. Some days I feel vain and girly, but the nifty gear makes biking more fun.

And don't tell me accessorizing is a "girl" thing! The husband doesn't have a bike computer, he has a handheld device (Windows CE), connected to the GPS and his cell phone, all running custom software (that's very very flakey) to get his position and phone it back to a custom web page that plots his course. One year he hooked up a web cam to take pictures every 15 minutes. And all his clothes are yellow and black, and match his bike.

To answer the question: I never wear makeup -- too lazy! Neutrogena moisturizer and sunblock early in the season, suntan lotion late in the season after I've turned brown.

--SJ

[Bike Goddess]

I wear some moisturizer and light makeup as well as some color on my cheeks. Have to be careful about eyeliner as it tends to get in my contacts which aint fun! In the summer when I have more of a tan on my face, I just wear some kind of suncream to protect my skin.

[Grog]

No makeup. Just moisturizer. And moisturizer with sunscreen when it's not raining.

Currently riding through the winter, I just can't imagine what it would be with makeup. My nose is running, I have to spit every other minute (the cold makes my immune system hyperactive), I cry from the cold wind... wouldn't be very pretty.

You're all beautiful as you are.