Make-up and breakouts

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In my forays as a wannabe make-up artist, I had tried a whole range of make-up and skin care. And even the hypoallergenic brands such as Clinique and VMV Hypoallergenics tended to cause unwelcome breakouts or blemishes in spite of their claim to be non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog pores).

But even the most carefully formulated products result in blemishes when combined with other contributing factors. Some of the things I know from experience and from research:

• contaminated make-up tools or fingers. Dirt trapped in uncleaned brushes, sponge, and other applicators — including unwashed fingers — combine with make-up to contribute to pimple-causing residue. Clean make-up tools at least once a week, even if you don’t use make-up everyday. Use them only on cleansed skin. Always wash hands thoroughly before applying make-up, whether you’re going to touch your skin or not. Avoid touching the face with your hands unless you wash them beforehand.

• hormonal changes. No two skin types are exactly alike, so it’s always a balancing act. Especially for women. When hormones fluctuate because of menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, or just plain good ol’ stress, skin acts up and gets picky. And that means ingredients in your make-up that you were fine with before could cause irritation during those specific periods.

• make-up as dirt magnet. the bottom line is make-up isn’t supposed to stay on skin for long periods of time. Cosmetics have come a long way from the “non-breathable,” pancake make-up of yore. Light, sheer foundation and tinted moisturizers feel like you’re not wearing anything at all. But you are. And the oils and emulsifiers that make-up your favorite products are, unfortunately, ideal dirt magnets. Sleeping with make-up — and all the dirt that’s stuck in it — on will definitely cause breakouts. Maybe not the first time you do it, but soon enough.

Oh, and what’s this I hear about make-up “protecting” you from dirt by keeping it trapped away from your skin? Until they invent make-up made up of nano-bots programmed to physically defend the epidermis from dirt, the above statement remains wishful thinking.

• smoking. Regular make-up wearer and smoker? You’re really asking for it. Even without make-up, smoker skin already suffers greatly from cell damage and deformity. Smoking, indeed, is not an equal opportunity addiction.

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Filed under Cosmetics and Bath and Body Products, General Knowledge