Why does British sprinter Dina Asher-Smith swear by the Milk of Magnesia makeup hack?

Dina Asher-Smith, aka “the fastest woman in British history,” dropped details on her secret to long-lasting makeup during sport—Milk of Magnesia. The Team GB sprinter is celebrated by fans not only for her two Olympic medals but for her beauty and style in and out of the track field as well. She even swapped the running track for the glitz and glamour of the catwalk during Paris Fashion Week 2018.

So, fans are naturally curious to know what Dina does to keep her race day makeup on point. During a 2022 interview with Harper Bazaar UK for Inside My Beauty Bag segment, the British sprinter revealed that she swears by the Milk of Magnesia makeup hack as "it just doesn’t budge," even with all the sweating on track.

Disclaimer: This article is purely based on the writer’s opinion. If there’s something we missed, please let us know more in the comments below.

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A detailed look on Dina Asher-Smith’s Milk of Magnesia makeup hack

Dina Asher-Smith’s beauty essentials include a “strange” tiny white bottle from her purse—a decanted Milk of Magnesia product. She told Harper’s Bazaar UK:

“A makeup artist that I’ve worked with before, she told me that when I’m racing, to keep the makeup on, I should put like some Milk of Magnesium underneath it. Apparently, this is like one of those really kind of old-school beauty tricks and I tried it and it worked.”

Race days come with a bit of glitz and glam. Dina Asher-Smith is often seen with a full face of makeup on track, but she makes sure that it stays on, even when she is sweating or in rainy conditions.

“Whenever I’m racing and I’m sweating and I’m going through all the paces with my makeup, I typically put this [Milk of Magnesia] on underneath, so it just doesn’t budge. Even if it rains or anything, I’ve just got a nice beat face. And it’s great,” added Dina Asher-Smith.

Talking about her Milk of Magnesia hack for melt-proof makeup, Dina Asher-Smith finished by saying:

"This is probably the best tip that I’ve had from a professional. I tend to pick up quite a few tips. I’m very inquisitive, I ask loads of questions but this one is definitely one that stuck with me."

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Benefits of using Milk of Magnesia as makeup primer

Dina Asher-Smith isn’t the only one who swears by this makeup hack. Using Milk of Magnesia, also called magnesium hydroxide, as a makeup primer has been featured in many YouTube and TikTok tutorials by beauty gurus for years for these supposed benefits:

• Milk of Magnesia has oil-blotting properties, which can reduce sebum production during hot days, especially for those who have oily skin types. In the same way, it can help curb seasonal outbreaks.
• Acting as clay that mattifies the skin, it can control extra shine. This will help in keeping makeup flawless with no need for touch-ups later in the day.
• As it contains zinc, Milk of Magnesia can be applied on the skin to kill bacteria as well as help heal wounds faster.
• Milk of magnesia is alkaline, which means it can neutralize acids and can be used in treating certain skin rashes.

While it’s better known as a laxative, Milk of Magnesia is a versatile ingredient that is supposed to help improve skin texture and smoothen it before makeup application.

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Anyone who wants melt-free, sweat-proof makeup can take the Milk of Magnesia beauty tip from Dina Asher-Smith. But with its drying effects, this product is best used on oily skin types as it can be too drying or can cause flakiness when used on other skin types. Moreover, it can create a whitish film or chalky finish on the skin as it dries.