Many runners are now weaving beauty routines into their training and race-day preparations, embracing skincare, makeup, and self-care as vital parts of their athletic performance. Chloe Humphries, a runner based in the West Midlands with over 634,000 Instagram followers, shares her detailed skincare ritual before her marathon runs. Using collagen patches by Abib, a Sunday Riley peptide essence, Garnier vitamin C sunscreen, and Sol de Janeiro lip balm, she treats her pre-run skincare like a physical warm-up. Humphries believes that these rituals help her decompress, mentally prepare, and boost her confidence before tackling long distances.
Similarly, London-based healthcare worker Intisar Abdul-Kader, who has run marathons worldwide, emphasizes the importance of durable makeup. She favors brands like Merit and Glossier to ensure her look lasts through hours of racing. For Abdul-Kader, showing up looking her best is an act of pride and recognition of the months of training behind each race.
Elite runners like Charlotte Purdue echo the sentiment, likening race-day grooming to dressing for a professional setting, especially when competing on a world stage with cameras everywhere. For many athletes, beauty routines extend beyond skincare to treatments like tanning, manicures, and haircare. Sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson is celebrated not only for her historic speed but also for her iconic, custom-designed acrylic nails, which she proudly wore during her victories at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Marathoner Anya Culling also incorporates both pre- and post-run beauty rituals. After grueling sessions, she values self-care through hair masks and rich moisturizers to recover physically and mentally. By investing in longer-lasting treatments like self-tanning, eyebrow tinting, and BIAB nails, she minimizes daily prep time and focuses more on training. Products like the Bondi Sands express tan, Eylure’s eyebrow tint, and Benefit’s BadGal Bang! mascara are among her race-day essentials.
The growing integration of beauty into sports reflects a cultural shift. Historically, female athletes were discouraged from highlighting their femininity, facing pressures from a male-dominated sports world that prioritized strength and competitiveness. However, pioneers like Florence Griffith Joyner in the 1980s challenged those stereotypes with her flamboyant nails and powerful performances. Her style was once viewed as unconventional, but today, it resonates with a new generation of athletes who see beauty and strength as complementary rather than conflicting.
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