One day you may find yourself half-jokingly agreeing to run a half marathon.
Then, later, as the illustrious day approaches, you may find yourself hoping that the people who invited you to run the race with them, forget (oh please, oh please, oh please!).
Chances are, they won’t.
So you start training.
During your first 10-mile training run on the treadmill, maybe you develop a wicked case of chafing, and maybe it’s directly under the middle strap of your sports bra, right there on your solar plexus.
Maybe it hurts (it does, a lot).
And maybe the only painkillers that seem to work at all are happy thoughts.
Happy thoughts about happy things, like blush. 🙂 Like the new L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blushes ($12.99 each, and available in three shades).
Hello, genius! That’s what these new blurring blushes are, especially if you’re a dame of a certain age (if you catch my drift).
Imagine the slick, slippery, silicone-like feel of a Smashbox primer, but in more natural-looking colors, like light peach, medium pink and medium berry.
Introducing the L’Oreal Visible Lift Blur Blushes.
They feel kind of like a mousse…and I think they definitely make the skin tone and texture of my cheeks look more even and smoother.
These are really great disciplinarians when it comes to those pores that are constantly trying to out-diva each other. I have some on the apples of my cheeks that are like Christina, Mariah, Beyonce and Celine, and these blushes make everyone play nice. 🙂
Whenever I wear one of them, my pores look mellower and smaller (but aren’t completely gone, of course), and I swear my skin looks smoother.
I almost feel like a 20-something-year-old ingenue with boundless energy and optimism (please, just let me have this one thing, LOL!), and not a semi-crabby, late-30-something-year-old chickadee who just really wants to eat a huge plate of linguine and go to bed at 7:30.
Haha! Sorry, I made myself laugh. 🙂
Wear time clocks in at about 5-6 hours.
PRICE: $12.99 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at drugstores, Ulta and ulta.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B+ (an A- if they lasted a couple hours longer, and a solid A if they also didn’t contain silicones, which are pretty high up on the ingredient list)
So, runner’s rash.
Yup, my trusty Lululemon sports bra let me down (boo!), and running for me now is about as much fun as getting carrots stuck in your braces, and then stepping on a snail.
I’ve tried turning the bra inside out, putting on a big bandage over the raw area and using that Body Glide stuff, but nothing’s working.
I’ve done a little reading on the subject, and it sounds like I may need a more powerful — ugh, I do not enjoy this word — lubricant and a new sports bra.
This one, the CW-X Xtra Support Running Bra III, gets rave reviews from distance runners and triathletes. I’m not enthused about the $60 price, but a bunch of reviewers say that it’s the only bra that doesn’t chafe them on long runs.
I like that the company is owned by Wacoal (their comfy bras have never let me down), so I just ordered one from zappos.com. Hopefully it gets here in time for my next long run on Friday.
In the interim, I might also grab one of these C9 Seamless Cami Sports Bra by Champion. Their medium-support bras also get pretty good reviews from runners, especially if you double up on them for a firmer hold.
I think I might have to triple up on them now though…
Anyone else out there suffer from bra-related chafing? Anyone? Bueller?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
All the best for Friday Karen! I hope the new bra delivers! Like the look of these blushes. Would they suit oily skin?
What great timing! I’m actually on the lookout for sports bras too!
I have the Soft Pink, and I’m surprised that it’s packed with shimmer but that they don’t show up on my cheeks at all. Did you notice that?
Sports bra wise, I have one from Brooks and I don’t have any problem with it, but then I’m not a distance runner. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it’s hard to put on and almost impossible to get off when you’re sweaty. I got stuck with half an arm out in a very awkward position a few times after hot yoga…
‘a semi-crabby, late-30-something-year-old chickadee who just really wants to eat a huge plate of linguine and go to bed at 7:30’ LOL. That sounds a lot like me, and I’m in my twenties 😉
I’m not a long-distance runner but I LOVE the C9 seamless cami sports bras. I’m a DD cup & don’t need to double-up on them for regular workouts but if I was running for a long period I would. They definitely aren’t hardcore in the support department but are the most comfortable sports bras I’ve found for regular workouts.
I passed on these blushes, just because they seemed a little too dewy for my (often oily) cheeks, but they look beautiful on you! I’ve never had many chafing issues unless I was wearing a really cheap or ill-fitting bra- as a member of the Itty Bitty Titty Committee, I’m fortunate that way!
Wow these look amazing on you, I will be adding these to my list!! Dammit!!
First of all, you look fabulous. I’m bummed that the blushes only last 5ish hours but I have a feeling your glow is due more to your increased running. If it’s really the blush, please correct me and I’ll be buying some ASAP. If it’s the extra running, I’m less excited to sign up. 😉 Yes, I feel you on the chafing. I find I get it even on the short 3 – 5 mile runs. No matter the bra, it’s always where the bottom of the band rubs under my chest. I have mostly Nike and Adidas so maybe a better bra is in order.
Looking good lady!
Best running bra ever….moving comfort . Even post baby…. Comfortable, keeps the girls in place and no chaffing!
I love the Visible Lift collection (I have the CC cream, which is a great day cream), and haven’t tried the blush yet. Will have to check it out!
On the sports bras, I have several (only one Lululemon), and I’ve also run distance for a long time now. I have found that Victoria’s Secret sports bras are awesome and mine have lasted me several years. Last year I ran the Fredericksburg Historic Half (a very hilly and rainy half marathon) in a Victoria’s Secret Dream Angel sport bra and had no chafing. Very comfortable, reasonably priced (no more than a bra by Lululemon), and had memory foam but didn’t squish the twins. I also really like Champions, either the C9 or just their very soft racerbacks, layered for support. They are cheap at about $16 and I have had no chafing or discomfort with them.
I heard that this stuff (Monistat soothing care gel) works for runners (and is supposedly a good face primer too). BTW, you are looking so healthy and happy lately. It must be all that running!
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/monistat-soothing-care-powder-gel/ID=prod6143714-product?ext=gooPersonal_Care_PLA_Yeast_Infection_Treatment_prod6143714_pla&adtype=pla&kpid=sku6166566&sst=aab2df5a-8324-4366-b23b-c00ad1b5cb34&kpid=sku6166566
what lipcolor are you wearing in those photos? Beautiful color!