Have you had nights when you were too tired and went straight to bed with your makeup still on and woke up with zits on your face? A lot of women use makeup to accentuate their features and feel more confident in their skin. But makeup, being made of artificial chemicals, can have side effects on your skin. These effects can be worse if your skin happens to be sensitive and may include acne, blemishes, irritation in the eyes, inflamed skin, rashes and other forms of allergies. Your skin needs to be treated with love and care, especially if it is regularly exposed to makeup. So here are a few tips and guidelines for your skincare routine pre and post makeup.
Pre-Makeup
Before you inevitably expose your skin to the various chemicals contained in cosmetic products, it is essential to prepare it for the same. This helps it to resist their harmful effects and maintain its natural beauty. It additionally helps to form a protective layer between your skin and the makeup, and can also help the makeup sit better on your skin, giving it a smooth and finished look. Follow these steps to prep your skin before you go for that glam makeup look!
1. Cleanse
You should always start the preparation process by thoroughly cleansing your face before you apply any makeup. Use a mild cleansing agent that will be gentle on your skin. Make sure that the cleansing agent you are using doesn’t strip it of its natural oils and helps in maintaining its natural pH balance (which should be between 4.5 to 5.5) by hydrating it. You may even choose a cleansing agent that is specific to your skin type based on whether your skin is usually dry, sensitive, oily or prone to acne. Make sure that you apply the cleanser to your neck and do not leave it out of the preparation process.
2. Exfoliate
After cleansing your skin to remove the dirt from it, you can exfoliate it. This will help you to remove the dead skin cells from the surface of your face and will make your makeup sit better. This process will leave your skin feeling smoother since it will relieve it of clogged pores, and excess oil. Use a mild exfoliating agent to massage your face in circular motions gently. However, make sure you are not too harsh with the exfoliation process as this might cause it to suffer from abrasions.
3. Tone
Using a toner after exfoliation can help tighten your pores and also hydrate it. This step becomes especially important if your skin tends to be dry. A natural toning agent that you can use is rose water. If required, you may follow up the toner with a little serum. Skin serums contain essential vitamins that can seep into your skin, repair and hydrate it, leaving a smooth texture and a beautiful afterglow.
4. Moisturize
Using a light moisturizer to moisturize your face, especially the areas under your eyes and neck can play a massive role in making your makeup even and smooth. It can prevent your foundation from getting cakey as you approach the end of the day. It is recommended that you choose a moisturizer that can protect you against the sun. If that is not available, you can either go for applying sunscreen after moisturizing or mix a little sunscreen with the moisturizer in your palm before you proceed to use it on your face.
5. Prime
It is essential to use a primer on your face before applying the foundation. This ensures that makeup products like foundation and concealer stick well to your skin to give you an even and smooth finish. It protects the moisturizer by acting as a layer between it and your makeup. You may also choose to add a few drops of serum to your foundation. This can help your skin appear vibrant and glowing after you are done with the rest of your makeup.
Post-Makeup
The biggest mistake that might prove to be the root cause of all your skin woes is sleeping with your makeup on. Before you retire to your bed and call it a night, it is essential to spare ten minutes to thoroughly cleanse your skin and remove all the traces of makeup from it. This is important to ensure that your skin can breathe over the night and until you choose to put on some makeup again. Leaving the makeup on will clog your pores with dirt that the products picked up throughout the day and irritate your skin. It might even result in skin infections and zits. Follow the given steps to fully rejuvenate your skin after a day of wearing makeup on it.
1. Remove
You can use wet wipes to wipe the makeup off of your face. You may also use a moisturizer or micellar water, that is available for special use for makeup removal for this purpose. Just squirt some of the product out on a wad of cotton and gently rub it on your skin to remove the makeup from it. A natural option that you could go for is an oil-based cleanser like olive oil or coconut oil. Just take some oil in your hands and massage it on your skin. All of your makeup will dissolve into the oil, and you can then proceed to wipe the oil off using a damp towel.
2. Deep Cleanse
To further cleanse all the smaller particles of the makeup that might still be embedded in your skin, you can use a cleansing foam. This will also help you to get rid of the sticky oil that might be left behind on your skin from the makeup removal process. It is important that you choose a cleansing foam or liquid that is suitable for your skin type and does not disturb the pH balance of your skin.
3. Tone
It is essential to tone your skin after cleansing to seal your pores. This will hydrate the skin to compensate for the oil stripped by the cleansing process and will also help you feel fresh and rejuvenated. You may also use a face serum to heal your skin and provide for essential oils and nutrients to seep into it to undo all the damage caused by the harmful chemicals in cosmetic products.
4. Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin before you sleep is an excellent practice to nourish it and maintain its health. This will repair your skin over the night and you will make up to healthier, softer and more beautiful skin. This is very important to rejuvenate your skin after a day of wearing makeup products, which can leave it dry and flaky as a side effect. It is also advisable to moisturize one’s lips with a nourishing lip balm to prevent them from getting chapped, especially if you have been wearing a matte lipstick.
These tips will help your skin stay healthy and glowing which will enhance your beauty than any makeup products could. It is also an excellent practice to go on a makeup detox and give your skin a break if you have been frequently using makeup products for a while. Other than following these guidelines, if you regularly pamper your skin and take care of it, it will look quite unusual and not just make you feel confident but also comfortable in your skin.