Makeup

[Trek420]

bcipam "I have a good friend that ....after our rides she looks a little scary - lipstick and eye liner all askewed, makeup running."

'fraid I'd look like that BEFORE the ride if I put makeup on

sunscreen (I like Nivea), chapstick, road id, earings, that's it.

[Grog]

Earrings: I don't remember when in my childhood, must have been around physical education class, heard of another girl who tore her earlobe where her earring had been in a fall or something similar. I sometimes look at the earrings box before I leave for a ride, and then I remember about that and take them off. If I fell off my bike or my helmet straps got stuck in the earrings somehow or or or..... I just don't do it, but frankly I don't think the risk is very important...

Sunscreen: I don't apply any over the eyes because my helmet covers my forehead pretty well anyway. Depending on how I manage my hair, I may put some on my scalp (if I part the hair in two to make pigtails)... Someone on this board last Summer suggested lip balm (the stick type) in eyebrows to prevent sunscreen running in the eyes. I never tried, but it sort of makes sense.

Dreaming of the Sun already...

[annie]

Sunscreen on my face. Always. I have fair, freckled skin and don't need to burn! Moisturizer, too. But that goes on every morning, regardless. So does mascara, just a light coat. It's a habit. If I forget, I feel naked.
I have to confess to lipstick, too. I love Burt's Bees lip gloss. It's a moisturizer as much as a color. None of this runs or streaks when I ride and sweat...... if it did, it'd be out. My girlfriends that I ride with - we have a favorite saying, sort of a joke. "You can always do lips!" Meaning it's so easy, why not? I guess we're all a little vain. I admit it. But I'm content that way, it does not affect my riding, so what the he**!

annie

[Crankin]

sj, my husband has more bike toys than most, so I know accesorizing is not entirely a female thing. He has quite a few matching jerseys and socks, some in quite shocking colors.
As far as those riders who looked like they hadn't broken a sweat on the century ride, I think that is more of a physiological thing than a make up thing. If I am riding in hot weather, or even other times, I generally look like a truck has hit me (why do we use that comparison?) even if I have lipstick on... I am trying to grow my hair out, from a pixie short-short to a more, all one length short around my chin. Since I have to blow it dry now, to get it to look OK, I am dreading what it will be like when i take my helmet off after a long, sweaty ride. I do a fair amount of riding where we stop for lunch, etc. I know there has been a thread on hair styles before, but I am wavering on whether comfort, styling, etc for riding should rule my hair decision. This is really stupid, given some of the other issues we discuss here, but I wonder how much cycling should rule my life (in all aspects). I don't want to get too unidimensional. Does this make sense?

[betagirl]

I never wear makeup so I don't put any on to go for a ride I guess if I go to a wedding or something fancy I put a little on, but day to day nada. When I ride I do put on sunscreen, especially on my nose which always seems to get crispy if I don't. I too couldn't imagine sweating through makeup. Or god forbid you rub your eyes

[sarahkonamojo]

I had a makeup phase, but it didn't stick. I make the makeup counter ladies at the department stores cringe, I'm sure. But what has got to stick for me is the sunscreen. I use Vanicream. It goes on white but then disappears. I have not had any problems with it in my eyes. I tend to avoid the gels they get in my eyes and also dry my skin.

My sister brought me some sunscreen from France that is nice, too, but not approved in US.

[Melody]

I'm with beta and sarah. I don't use makeup normally so none goes on while I ride.

I _do_ sometimes use sunscreen, but it's rare. I very very rarely get sunburned though as I age it's happening more often so I should be using it more often. It just gets hard to remember since I so rarely used it before.

Mel

[DeniseGoldberg]

I _do_ sometimes use sunscreen, but it's rare. I very very rarely get sunburned though as I age it's happening more often so I should be using it more often. It just gets hard to remember since I so rarely used it before.

Mel

Although there seems to be a bit of controversy here - as with everything these days - sunscreen also is believed to help prevent skin cancer. So even if you don't get burns, you should use it - on your face and on other exposed skin too.

Here are two articles that promote the use of sunscreen: http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/h...cer/skin.htm#5
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/co...tearea=&level=

--- Denise

[snapdragen]

Ooo, sarah, thanks for the site. Looks like sensitive skin snap will find all kinds of good stuff there.

I do wear makeup, but not while riding. I've got enought problems with my skin, don't want to exacerbate it!

This reminds me of when I was on a hiking trip in Canada. There was one woman that would be in full makeup every day, foundation to lipstick. (Deep red lipstick at that!) Makes my face itch just thinking about it...

[fixedgeargirl]

I am trying to grow my hair out, from a pixie short-short to a more, all one length short around my chin. Since I have to blow it dry now, to get it to look OK, I am dreading what it will be like when i take my helmet off after a long, sweaty ride.

Robyn, I'm in the process of growing out from a pixie to long layers, so I know what you mean about being in the must-blow-dry phase. Have you thought about wearing a do-rag or skull cap? Or bring along a Buff? You can do all kinds of creative wrap/headband things with those and they come in cute colors and prints.

I totally understand questioning the validity of letting your sport(s) determine your hairstyle ! I lived in the mountains, skied quite a bit, and spent most of my outdoor time with a hat or helmet of some kind on. I had long, straight hair for years b/c it was so easy and always looked the same post-helmet as it did pre-helmet. But I finally realized it wasn't the least bit flattering (finally outgrew my hippie phase ). I have given lots of thought to each subsequent hairstyle, I don't want to waste $40 and eight weeks of regret . It is a consideration, especially if you do a lot of riding. It's valid b/c it matters to you. Now, if you start obsessing about it, I'll start to get worried !

[yellow]

Oh, after reading about Robyn's hair adventure, I realized that I fibbed earlier.

When I first got my hair cut super short (like about 1.5" all around), it only took one person to call me "Sir" to push me into the world of makeup. So to work, where I had contact with other humans, I wore mascara and eye shadow (and earrings!). But no makeup on weekends.

Of course since I'm not working at the moment it doesn't even occur to me to put makeup on. Plus, like Robyn, I'm attempting to grow my hair out a tad, so I'm not looking so "Sir-like" anymore. Robyn, I have lots of cute hats to disguise my hair once off the bike and, like FGG recommends, I often wear a Buff while riding since it kind of doubles as a hat when I take my helmet off. I noticed that the latest Terry catalog has Buffs that match their other clothing. Cute!

[Crankin]

I haven't thought about the skullcap or buff. Right now, any riding I do (only one outdoor ride this month) is with a hat for warmth under my helmet. I usually start my season in March, but since I live in New England, my outdoor riding can be on and off until well up through April. Last year it rained right up through the middle of June...
well, back to hair. I might try one of the above accessories. My husband swears by the skullcap to keep cool and warm. I'm not sure if wearing one will help achieve my goal of not looking like a monster when I take the helmet off. I generally look pretty bad in hats; I love them, but I have a teeny head and putting any kind of head covering on sort of accentuates that and makes me look weird. I finally found a small sized headband at Terry, which I wear for x country skiing when it isn't too cold. Regular winter hats are always falling down over my eyes. I have the same problem buying eyeglasses; all the cool looking ones look awful on me. I ended up getting my reading glasses in a kid's frame! Mostly, I wear contacts, but my bifocals are also kid's frames. I have until March 17th to decide about my hair. That's the date for my next trim.