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Makeup and Acne: Tricks, Tips, and What to Avoid
Having acne is never a joy, and as most acne sufferers can attest to, it is tempting to use make-up to camouflage the blemishes and scars caused by breakouts. The trouble with applying makeup to hide acne is that it exposes the skin to several new substances, some of which can aggravate existing acne or even trigger an acne breakout themselves. The trick to using makeup is to ensure that the products going onto your skin have no known acne-causing ingredients. Non-comedogenic makeup contains products that don't plug the skin pores or contribute to pre-existing acne, and are thus safe to wear even on skin that is prone to breakouts. So whether you're applying foundation, eye makeup, or any other makeup product, the first trick is to buy non-comedogenic products. The rest of this article provides other suggestions to help you choose makeup that will be healthy for your skin while providing you with the look you want.
Foundation is commonly used by even makeup minimalists to protect the skin and smooth the texture of the face. There are hundreds of different foundation colors, but choosing makeup simply by skin tone may not be enough. Depending on one's skin type, there are specific recommendations for the type of foundation that one should use. For instance, those with oily skin would do well to use an oil-free or matte foundation in order to avoid putting additional oil on their faces. Also, since oil-free foundations tend to rub off more easily than those containing oil, a loose powder should be applied over the foundation, reducing hourly wear-and-tear and minimizing shine.
Choosing a correct foundation for normal skin types is much simpler; semi-matte or moist products shouldn't cause acne problems providing they say on the label that they are non-comedogenic. For those with dry skin, however, foundation should have an oil or water base to help lock in moisture and prevent further moisture loss through sun and wind. Although these products are unlikely to cause acne for people with dry skin, shine control may be necessary, and a loose, transparent powder could easily solve that problem.
Of course, many of us don't fit into a single skin type, so for those with combination skin, proper skin preparation before applying foundation can make all the difference. Use a gentle astringent on the oily parts of the face, and moisturize the dry areas, giving the face time to dry properly before putting on foundation.
Some foundations have taken skin care to a whole new level by using ingredients that actually work to prevent acne. Salicylic acid is one of the most common acne-prevention ingredients included in makeup. By slowing cellular shedding within skin pores and follicles, it helps prevent the clogging of pores. It is also rumored to help heal blocked pores that are newly formed, before they even become irritated.
While choosing the right foundation for your skin is undoubtedly important in preventing acne, there are other makeup products that could be contributing to breakouts. A large number of blushes contain ingredients to make them sparkle, adding a healthy-looking glow to cheeks. What isn't so healthy is the reported reason behind the sparkle; these shiny minerals are thought to have sharp, spiky edges that can irritate the skin's pores or even block them off entirely. Rather than cream blushes that are generally applied more thickly on the skin and may contain minerals, it might be better to use a powder blush and then a tiny amount of non-greasy moisturizer for a similar glowing effect.
Lip gloss can be another product that triggers acne. This is due to the greasy ingredients that give it its shine, especially in the areas immediately surrounding the lips. To keep lips trendy and fun, try a matte-finish lipstick for a different type of look. Finally, while acne due to eye-makeup is rare indeed, the products used to remove the eye-makeup at night could easily be causing problems. Water-proof mascara is generally wiped off using an oil-based cleanser. The oil from the cleanser can get on one's pillows or bedsheets at night or even be smudged onto another part of the face, causing acne there instead. To avoid this problem, remove eye-makeup before washing the face, and use a gentle cleanser to remove all excess oil from your face.
As you can see, when it comes to covering up acne, it isn't as simple as just slapping on a layer of cover-up. Nor are other make-up products an easy buy without a quick scan down the ingredients list. Your face is probably the most noticed part of your body, so it is only fair to treat it right. By choosing products carefully, you can use makeup safely to cover up blemishes and acne scars, and sometimes even to heal existing acne. Combine that with good skin care and effective acne products, and your acne game plan is complete. All it takes is a little bit of research and a little extra consideration, and your face can be acne-free… or at least look like it!
About the Author: Author C. L. Jackson wishes the topic of acne was simply an academic interest ... but unfortunately that's not the case! You'll find much more information on this topic at the author's website http://www.acne-infosource.info/acne-scar-treatment.php
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