For most women, the purpose of using makeup is to enhance the features of the face while camouflaging certain flaws such as a complexion that may be less than perfect, or a face that tends to be too rounded. Cosmetic products have certainly gone a long way over the last decade, both in terms of formulation and the ease by which they can be applied. For instance, foundations can now mimic almost any skin tone in the spectrum, while providing good coverage and longer staying powder. Even drugstore brands are now producing cosmetic products that are pigmented and easily blended.
The wide range of colors and products that are available, even amateur artists can produce wonderful aesthetic looks for every occasion. And while consumers and manufacturers alike are now more conscious of skin safety, there are still some women (and men) who continue to be plagued with problems like acne and irritation whenever they wear makeup. If you are one of these people, then read this post. In this article, we tackle some of the reasons why your makeup could be causing your skin problems like acne, irritation, etc.
Reason #1: Wrong Products
Skin type and condition are important considerations when choosing makeup. There are specific formulations for each skin type but usually, creams and heavy liquids are preferred for dry skin while gels and powders work best with oily skin. If you are prone to breakouts, slathering heavy coverage foundation could easily cause your pores to become clogged. On the other hand, insisting on using powders on dry or flaky skin could aggravate it.
Reason #2: Certain ingredients
Cosmetics can contain some ingredients to which you may be allergic or sensitive too. Foundations and powders are usually the ones guilty here but any makeup product could easily be guilty too, even lipstick or lip balms. Note that even high-end brands could make your skin react negatively, so try to use only one new product at a time just so you can more easily determine which one is causing the reaction. Some ingredients that seem to irritate a fair number of makeup users include silicone, dimethicone and bismuth oxychloride. These are usually added to give product more ‘slip’ to achieve a better application and smooth appearance.
Reason #3: Dirty Tools or Contaminated Makeup
Using makeup tools such as brushes and sponges do make application look more professional but you need to clean them thoroughly at least once a week to prevent dirt and bacteria from growing on them and then transferring to your skin. And this includes all the tools you use, including lip brushes or sponge applicators you carry in your makeup kit. There are some instant brush and sponge cleaners out there which remove pigments and oils from your makeup tools but they are still no substitute from a complete brush and sponge shampooing routine.
You also have to be especially careful when using up your cosmetics. Using dirty fingers or tools to dip into pots and pans introduces bacteria into your makeup. Pumps and squeeze tubes are most hygienic, while pots, and mascara or lip gloss tubes, are notorious for breeding germs. Use clean spatulas or disposable wands whenever possible.
Be aware of these reasons, and avoid them like the plague, and you are bound to see some improvement in the condition of your skin. Finally, no matter how eager you are to climb into your memory foam double mattress at the end of a long day, always remove makeup completely before going to sleep. And, like any other beauty product, cosmetics should be thrown out if they have gone bad, reached their expiration, or just simply makes your skin all worked up.
