Makeup can be great for covering up blemishes, unfortunately, it can be great at making them too.
Not every makeup or application technique can cause pimples, and this doesn’t mean that people who currently have acne can’t wear makeup -- you just have to be careful and abide by a few tips.
Read on to learn about 11 ways that you may be wearing, choosing, or applying your makeup wrong that could be leading to more of worsening acne.
Non-comedogenic is just a fancy word in the dermatology world which means “this product is less likely to clog your pores”.
Look for buying products that have the words “hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, or oil-free” to help ensure that your product choices are not showing up as more acne on your face.
Just washing your face with a gentle water-based cleanser is probably not enough to remove every make-up product, especially if you go for waterproof cosmetics.
Anyone who has ever washed their face with makeup on only to discover smudgy raccoon eyes afterward knows this first hand.
Start by using a make-up remover, oil cleanser, or micellar water to remove the sometimes stubborn makeup before moving on to the final gentle facial cleanser.
Most cosmetics have expiration dates on them, in the form of a little jar with a number inside the logo.
That number represents how many months the manufacturer recommends using the product before tossing it.
Many people are guilty of continuing to use cosmetics until they are way past their prime.
And, while that blush may still look just as rosy on your cheeks, it is probably now depositing more than just a blushy color if it is 2 years old.
Old cosmetics can carry bacterial, fungus, and old dead skin cells and oils, making them a risky pimple-causing item.
Toss any questionable cosmetics, and pay attention to discard dates to avoid extra blemishes.
Really cheaply made makeup or ones with sketchy ingredients may look ok going on, but they can be too intense on your skin and cause a reaction leading to more pimples.
When you decide to try out a new makeup, do a spot test on your wrist, or at least pay close attention to how your face reacts to it in order to make the call of it being a good fit for your skin.
If you found a killer lipstick in the sale bin, but you are getting irritation around your lip the day after using it, it is likely causing you a reaction.
Brushes and applicators pick up more than your cosmetics, they pick up oils, dirt, and dead skin cells off of your face.
Aim for doing a thorough wash of all cosmetic brushes and applicators once every 1-2 weeks to avoid applying more grime to your face than makeup.
Makeup is great for helping you cover that big chin pimple on the day of your important presentation, but once the day is over, you still need to take the time to treat the blemish properly.
Using makeup as a constant cover for pimples without really addressing the problem may lead to a worsening of the problem.
At the end of your day, be sure to gently wash off all makeup, and apply an over-the-counter or prescription acne treatment to make it that there are no pimples left to cover up in the coming weeks.
Makeup needs to be applied to a clean palette to help reduce the risk of pimples forming.
Even if you are in a rush in the morning, there is no excuse for putting makeup over a just-slept-on face.
During the night your face produces oils, picks up stuff from your pillow, and may even get some saliva on it, so a morning wash is a must.
Applying a moisturizer underneath your make (to a clean face) is also a must to combat makeup acne blues.
Moisturizers help enhance your skin’s protective barriers and provide a layer between your skin and your cosmetics.
Even if you just washed your hands, your fingers and nails can harbor oils and bacteria that can be transferred to your face during makeup application.
Opt for freshly washed brushes and applicators for the cleanest application of cosmetics.
Washing your brushes regularly won’t help all that much if they then get tossed in your beauty junk drawer or stashed in the bottom of your makeup bag.
These places tend to quickly get covered in little bits of makeup, dust, and other various pore-clogging grime.
For the cleanest makeup brushes in town, place them bristles up in a cup or brush holder after washing and between each use.
Plenty of common additives to makeup can cause irritation, excessive dryness, and subsequent blemishes on your face.
Avoid known irritants like alcohol, synthetic fragrances, and dyes to ensure that your makeup is not contributing to your skin issues.
Ultimately, your skin is an organ, and it most likely does not like to be covered in makeup every single day.
It is important to give your skin a break from makeup every once in a while, to help it heal and renew itself.
Aim for one day a week to go au natural (lazy Sundays, anyone?), or if you can’t swing a full day, at least try to wash your makeup off as soon as you are home for the day.
Acne can be a struggle, and you don’t want your makeup to contribute to the problem.
Make sure you are not doing any of the above acne-brewing makeup mistakes listed above to help get clearer skin.
But, if your acne is severe and tips don’t seem to be helping, you may need to speak with a doctor about what prescription acne options are available.
Here at Strut Health, we developed a once-daily prescription acne formula that combines the power of Tretinoin with a topical antibiotic for a double-pronged approach to acne treatment.
You can have a free online visit with our doctors today to see if Strut Acne Formula is a good choice for you.
If you are a good candidate for treatment, your prescription acne medication can be shipped to your front door with our free shipping.
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