The weather is warming up and that may put you in the mood to get glammed up and apply more makeup than you usually would. But what exactly does that mean for your skin? Many times when you hear celebs talk about their daily makeup look it’s minimal precisely because they have to wear makeup all day every day on the set and they’re concerned about what all of that foundation, concealer, and powder does to your skin. But what does it actually do to the skin of mere mortals? This is what actually happens to your skin when you wear makeup every day, according to derms.
There’s good news and a bit of bad news. For starters, if you wear makeup every day — and even if you like a heavy hand when you apply foundation — your skin will likely be totally fine at the end of the day.
“I’m often asked is wearing make up bad for your skin,” says Dr. Emmanuel Loucas, Director of SINY in New York and Water’s Edge Dermatology in Boca Raton/Delray Beach/Wellington, FL. “The short answer is usually not. Unless you are a Broadway performer or appear on television, most people wear a water-based makeup. Water-based makeup is much easier to remove and don’t often clog your pores.”
The potentially bad news is that problems start when the makeup is partially left on and not removed properly, Loucas confirms. “This causes excess buildup of makeup and can impede the normal shedding of your skin, cause irritation, and clog your pores resulting in acne and various types of dermatides,” Loucas says. “It is important to wash your make-up off daily with gentle wipes or cleansers. I discourage excess scrubbing or the use of astringents frequently, as this will just remove the essential oils of your skin that are needed to maintain its integrity.”
Dr. Boyer of Farr Institute agrees that wearing makeup every day without considering the type of makeup you use or how you cleanse your face can lead to skin complications.
“Wearing make-up regularly without following basic guidelines may lead to a range of skin problems arising from clogged pores, allergic reactions, sun damage, and breakouts, including eye infections if you apply it around the areas nearer to your eyes and eyelids,” Boyer says.
“The best ways to reduce/prevent the side effects associated with wearing make-up on regular basis may include:
*Going for the right product that suits your skin type
*Use a moisturizer before applying makeup to maintain the protective layer of your skin and sunscreen afterwards to avoid the sun's damage.
*Consider the recommended steps and tips when you are done with your make-up like cleaning your brush and sponge, removing makeup before going to bed, and not sharing your makeup to reduce the risk of bacterial infection.”
