THIS HALLOWEEN IS PROMISING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS OF TRICK-OR-TREATING AND HALLOWEEN PARTIES. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, DUST OFF YOUR SCARY COSTUMES, AND DRAW YOUR BRUSHES FROM YOUR MAKEUP HOLSTER!
WE LOVE THE CREATIVITY AND TRANSFORMATION THAT COMES WITH THIS SEASON, BUT ALWAYS TRY TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO INFLICT TOO MUCH DAMAGE TO OUR SKIN.
TIPS TO AVOID SCARY SKIN MISHAPS THIS HALLOWEEN
TIP 1. WASH YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES.
How often do you wash your hair? Pretty often right? Why – because your hair holds oils, bacteria, skin particles, and sometimes odor after a while. It’s the same exact thing for your makeup brushes. Except the problem is that when you don’t clean them thoroughly, you transfer them back onto your skin. This can cause a myriad of skin problems like clogged pores, breakouts, rashes, and even infections. Makeup brushes are great at retaining product for application, but on the same token, it holds the nasties well too.
Now here’s the important information, how do you wash the makeup brushes thoroughly?
Here is the simple 4 step makeup brush washing process:
- Wet the bristles in lukewarm water
- Put a small amount of your choice of soap on the palm of your clean hand or on a textured cleaning surface (sulfate free shampoo, clean dish soap, or even a facial cleanser work!)
- Gently rub the bristles onto the surface, gently brushing it around. Avoid jamming or pressing har, to avoid ruining the integrity of the brush.
- Rinse thoroughly the bristles.
- Squeeze moisture out with a towel, then hang to dry with the bristles facing down, or let it hang off of a table for a few hours – but do not leave it flat on a surface or towel, to avoid mildew or trapping bacteria.
TIP 2. PICK YOUR MAKEUP WISELY.
Along with using clean makeup brushes on your skin, the quality of makeup is also crucial information to keep your skin at minimal risk. Buying cheap makeup isn’t always a great option, unless you know your skin is not very sensitive. Unfortunately, cheap Halloween makeup (like facepaint and the like), contain “harmful ingredients such as heavy metals, formaldehyde, or formaldehyde releasers, and petrolatum that may be unrefined and contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs),” Sejal Shah, a board-certified dermatologist (Allure). These heavy chemicals and metals render the colors brighter and more vibrant, which looks fabulous, but should be heeded with warning! Some of the most common heavy metals are nickel, cadmium, mercury, and lead, which are commonly known to cause adverse reactions to skin, especially for those of us with more sensitive skin.
Notorious Clean Standards on the market
The saying, “you get what you pay for” is all too accurate for shopping for makeup nine times out of ten. Investing in higher quality makeup is worth it in the long run, especially if you enjoy painting your face often! Nowadays, many of our well established and loved makeup brands offer Halloween lines, otherwise, Theater makeup is also a great alternative to the cheap drugstore face paints.
TIP 3. PREP.
After washing and drying your face, apply a good quality, non-silicone based primer. Primers are designed to create a protective barrier between your skin and the makeup, but also to hold makeup better. Depending on the look you’re going for, you can find matte primers, or glow-y ones. These keep your Halloween pigments staying on for longer, while preventing the onslaught of chemicals to your skin.You’re essentially preparing your canvas for the art! One way to find a good quality, and clean primer is by searching through the EWG database for cosmetics.
TIP 4. COCONUT OIL.
The secret ingredient to removing skin paint, waterproof makeup, and just generally stubborn makeup – coconut oil. When I found out about coconut oil, I stopped avoiding my waterproof mascara for those crazy nights out in the town! Not only does it displace the strongly-sticking makeup from your skin and eyelashes, but it’s full of Vitamin E, which is deeply nourishing to your skin and hair. Vitamin E is loaded with powerful antioxidants that prevent cell damage from free radicals, like UV damage.That way, you don’t have to worry about stripping your skin of too much of its healthy oils. It’s both moisturizing and soothing, and boasts antibacterial and anti-yeast properties. So really, it’s good for a lot, and the best part is that it’s chemical free and entirely natural!
TIP 5. CLEANSING.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, you should start your cleansing routine with a gentle cleanser that’s alcohol free. Rinsing your face with lukewarm, use your non-abrasive cleanser of choice to remove the remaining stubborn makeup, using your fingertips. Tree to Tub is one of my favorite cleansers, being made of soapberry and great for sensitive skin, and it’s free of harsh chemicals and alcohols that are really drying Then rinse off with lukewarm water as well, and to add a little pep in your step, do a final splash of cold water to firm and boost circulation to your skin surface. Afterwards, pat your face dry – no, not rub – with a soft towel. Follow this up with a deeply hydrating and nourishing moisturizer. ViLAU’s Dreamy Velvet Night Moisturizer (my favorite) is full of all kinds of vitamins and minerals that feed your skin and work overtime while you sleep, so that when you make up, you look and feel rejuvenated, and your skin is glowing.
TIP 6. RECOVERY.
After wearing all that makeup and paint, you won’t want to do an elaborate skincare routine. After your final step that night – moisturizer – you’ll want to let your skin breathe, rest, and reproduce all the essential oils by itself. Avoid heavy makeup for a couple of days, and reintroduce your regular ultistep skincare routine to get your skin back into the groove and routine. Serums, toners, oils, and moisturizers should all be incorporated to fortify your skin barrier, while nourishing within. Morning Dew Day Serum is a natural, deeply cleansing serum that absorbs rapidly, and feels refreshing in the morning.