Life

5 Makeup Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Skin
by Meg Kehoe

I am one of those girls that has been gifted the plight of sensitive skin. I can't use scented laundry detergent. Most perfume makes me break out into a rash. And if a lotion's not hypoallergenic, it's not making it to my shelf. Yet, when it comes to my makeup, I'm not half as careful (and I wind up paying for it.) Why do I treat my face less tenderly than I do the rest of my skin? Why am I allowing myself to make makeup mistakes that ruin my skin?!

Well, there's truly no good answer to this, aside from the fact that I'm uneducated when it comes to proper makeup etiquette. Not to mention processing thoughts while trying to pull myself together in the morning is simply not my strong suit. But it's time to put the excuses aside and start taking better care of my skin — and yours too.

It's time to re-educate ourselves on proper makeup techniques that won’t leave you with an irritated complexion. By utilizing some tips from certified beauty experts, you can easily avoid damaging your skin for years. You’ve only got one face, so you might as well treat it well right?

1

You Go To Bed With Makeup On

This seems to be a no-brainer, but it's one of the more common makeup mistakes. Remember Britt from The Bachelor, anyone?) Going to bed with your makeup on can, "block pores, leaving oil trapped inside," dermatological surgeon Dennis Gross told Refinery29. "This leads ot bacteria buildup, breakouts, and enlarged pores." Once or twice won't ruin your complexion, but don't let it become a habit.

2

You Don't Wash Your Face

"Makeup wipes are quick and convenient, but not optimal for overall skin health," dermatologist Craig Kaffert of Amarte Skin Care said in an interview with the Huffington Post. Since the nature of a makeup wipe is that it has a few extra ingredients that add oomph to get rid of your makeup in a few swipes, those ingredients wind up resting on your face if you don't wash your face after you use a makeup wipe.

3

You Don't Moisturize

Applying makeup to a dry face might seem like the best route, especially if you prefer a matte route, but you're wrong. "Water based moisturizers are necessary to keep skin cells healthy and to discourage dead skin cell build up," esthetician Renee Rouleau. Make an effort to dab on some moisturizer before applying your foundation. Not only will it help your skim, but it gives you a little added glow.

4

You Don't Clean Your Brushes

Not only do dirty makeup brushes compromise proper application, they can irritate your skin and transfer germs. "Caked on product and weeks worth of dust and dirt can dry out bristles, making them brittle and abrasive to your skin," Deven Hopp, senior editor at Byrdie said. "Those bristles are also excellent at trapping pet dander and other common allergens that circulate in the air." Hopp recommends cleaning your brushes at least once a money to prevent them from irritating your skin.

5

You Don't Test Products

"When you're trying a new line, you're excited to dive right in and use everything, but if you have a negative reaction to something, you'll never know what it was," Rouleau notes on her blog. of Renee She recommends performing a patch test on the side of the neck, because the skin is most similar to the face. Not to mention it's easier to cover up if something goes wrong.

Images: Pexels; Giphy (5)