Wearing makeup to the gym is a completely personal decision, and for many people it genuinely reduces self-consciousness in a space that can already feel exposing. The product choice is not in question here; what is worth examining is what the category implies, and how it is sold.

Activewear has one job: to support the body during movement. Exercise is good for you, for mental health as much as physical health, and there is no version of that fact that comes with a body type attached. The fitness industry managed to imply otherwise for decades.