Do you love to wear make-up but often hear that make-up is bad for your skin? Me too! I took it upon myself to find out if wearing make-up every day actually leads to skin damage; or if it was just another myth. Let’s jump in and find out.
As a beauty writer and a make-up junkie, I take my job seriously. I find myself testing out a new beauty product every week. Blessed with hereditary panda eyes (dark circles), I have worn a concealer and foundation every day since I was in college to look like I’ve had my beauty sleep. What I’ve learned through the years though is that wearing make-up is NOT bad for your skin especially when you use the right products. The bad part is neglecting to properly remove your make-up; THAT is terrible for your skin!
Here’s what my experience taught me…
1. Use good quality products; don’t scrimp on your moisturizer, foundation and make-up remover. You’re worth it!
2. Clean your brushes and sponges AT LEAST once a week. Bacteria wreaks havoc on your skin leading to redness, breakouts and sometimes, infections.
3. Use a make-up remover followed by a good face wash every night to take it all off. Don’t skip this step if you want your skin to look just as good without make-up.
4. Some BB and CC creams break you out if you have acne-prone skin, don’t panic if it happens. Apply some calamine lotion to heal and calm your skin.
5. Use the right skincare for your skin type, age catches up faster than you think!
6. Certain brands are known to cause some people with sensitive skin to breakout. If you’re one of them the best thing to do before you buy anything new is to test it out for a couple of hours before you splurge. For example, if you need to buy a new a foundation – make sure you head out to the store and try it out, wear it for a couple of hours and buy it the next day. This is the best way to ensure you don’t end up breaking out due to a product.
An expert weighs in
Here’s what Dr. Kiran Lohia of Lumiere Dermatology has to say…
“Wearing makeup on a daily basis is absolutely fine as long as you don’t overdo it. A simple concealer and BB cream will often do the job. Always wash your face the moment you come home and use brands that are ideal for your skintype.”
Why make-up remover matters
Not following a religious cleansing routine to take your make-up off is what causes clogged pores, acne and other skin woes. Washing your face with a face wash or using a baby wipe is not enough to remove make-up. Invest in micellar water or a water-based make-up remover. For stubborn eye make-up or long-stay formulas, make the most of coconut and olive oil.
Taking it all off…
Start by applying some make-up remover on a cotton pad to remove all your make-up. Repeat this step once again, because believe me ladies – there will always be SOME make-up left over. Wash your face with a good face wash and follow your regular skincare routine. Use a clay mask once a week (Sunday, maybe?) to ensure your pores get a deep clean. I love the Innisfree Super Volcanic Pore Clay Mask (Rs 1,100) for a weekly deep pore cleanse.
Here are some of the products I trust and use everyday
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water to remove all of my make-up. Buy it here for Rs 945
Avene Cleanance Gel to wash my face. Buy it here for Rs 1,400
I use the Clinique Moisture Surge as my night-time moisturizer to keep my skin hydrated. Buy it here for Rs 1,950.
The Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is the last step to my night time skincare routine, it helps repair the skin and heal blemishes and scars. Buy it here for Rs 3,950
Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Even Finish Foundation SPF 15 is my go-to everyday foundation. Buy it here for Rs 4,750
I use the Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Powder or the Laura Mercier Translucent Powder to set my make-up. Buy Bobbi Brown here for Rs 3,300 and Laura Mercier here for Rs 2,778
The Tarte Shape Tape Concealer is my saviour on days I don’t wear foundation. Buy it here for Rs 1,900
