A little bit of makeup is a great way to enhance natural beauty, but most people let insecurity get in the way of letting their natural beauty shine through their makeup. We've all heard the phrase “less is more” and it couldn’t be more true in terms of makeup. However, skin issues can get in the way of your confidence and a flawless makeup application. Everyone is beautiful, but not everyone’s skin is healthy.
Ditch the Full Coverage
Most people have dealt with some kind of skin issue in their lifetime. Oftentimes when something doesn’t look right, our first instinct is to cover it up. That’s why many people who deal with skin issues will gravitate to a full coverage foundation. The issue is that most full coverage foundations tend to be very heavy and cakey, especially over top of skin that is experiencing acne, flakiness or general texture from enlarged pores, wrinkles, or scarring.
People who struggle with acne for example, might want a full coverage foundation to cover their red acne spots, but foundation will only cover the color, not the texture. In most cases the cakey creams will just draw more attention to skin texture and look worse. Full coverage foundations are often too thick for the skin to breathe, most highlight wrinkles and dryness, and the heavy products can clog pores causing new or worsening acne. Covering up your skin will usually just make any skin issue worse. The best way to help your makeup look better is to fix the root cause - your skin health.
First Steps to Healthy Skin
Hydrate:
Hydration is key for healthy and nourished skin. To be properly hydrated, skin needs a good balance of both water and oil. A good moisturizer will have both something to hydrate with water, and a lipid based hydrator to cover all the skin's needs. Did you know excess oil production can be a result of poor hydration? When dehydrated, the skin will produce more oil in order to compensate, which can lead to greasy skin, blackheads, sebaceous filaments, and breakouts.
Additionally, using a moisturizer can help soothe and calm inflamed or sensitized skin. It helps protect and enforce our natural lipid barrier, and prevents premature aging. Everyone’s skin is different, meaning the moisturizer your favorite influencer or best friend uses might not be right for you.
Exfoliate:
Exfoliation is the act of using physical or chemical means to remove the top layer of dead cells from our skin. As we age, our body processes begin to slow, and our skin is no exception. Dead skin cells called keratinocytes will begin building up, which can cause flakiness, dullness, and even acne. To combat this, our skin needs help exfoliating off those dead skin cells. This is why you should have a gentle exfoliant in your skincare routine. There are so many exfoliation options out there, but not all are designed for every skin type.
Protect:
Our environment is full of things that can damage our skin. A good sunscreen will help protect your skin from sun damage, pollution, premature aging, and even skin cancer. There are two types of sunscreen: physical and chemical. Physical SPF blocks and reflects UV rays, while chemical SPF absorbs and diffuses them.
Usually dermatologists and estheticians consider physical sunscreen to be safer and more effective since it prevents the UV rays from making contact with your skin. To find a good physical sunscreen look for at least SPF 30, with the active ingredients “zinc oxide” and/or “titanium dioxide.”
Treat:
Once a good skincare routine is established, you can continue to improve and correct your skin to keep it strong and healthy for graceful aging. The best way to do that is by treating your skin to facials or advanced treatments that can target your specific concerns, or just provide a nice refresh to the skin.
In the case of targeting skin texture, a dermaplaning facial is a great way to remove dead skin cells and peach fuzz. This helps skin care products penetrate deeper and makeup go on smoother. However, if you are struggling with acne or sensitivity, a gentler facial or chemical exfoliation would be a better option.
There are so many options when it comes to hydrating, exfoliating, protecting, and treating our skin, that it can be hard to know what is best for your specific needs. Estheticians are trained to give you skincare feedback and suggestions based on your skin type, medical history, lifestyle, and preferences. Start your journey to healthier skin by booking a consultation with one of our dedicated team members!
Final Tips + Tricks
General Housekeeping:
Wash your makeup brushes! Though it may seem tedious, it is recommended to deep clean your brushes once a week, especially if you are using them every day. If left unwashed they can be a means of spreading bacteria, putting you at risk of acne and staph infection. Washing your brushes will also help keep any bacteria from getting into the makeup products themselves, which would be an even bigger problem. If you are someone who likes to wear makeup on a daily basis, set aside time to make washing your brushes part of your weekly routine.
Keep it Light:
If you do opt for some coverage or face makeup, keep it light! The best option is a tinted moisturizer or sunscreen. These will be beneficial to your skin, evening out the skin tone, while still letting your natural skin shine through. Especially if you are struggling with texture, a moisturizing SPF will help hydrate and avoid drawing extra attention to small blemishes. For areas that warrant extra coverage like under the eyes, a mineral based concealer is a good option.
Pro-Tip:
If you want to conceal a blemish, don’t put concealer directly onto the skin with the bottle applicator! This can contaminate the product, and will often leave too much product on the skin causing the blemish to stand out even more. Apply a small amount of concealer to the back of your clean hand or a pallet. Take a fluffy but sturdy eyeshadow brush, and get a small amount of concealer on the brush. Lightly feather the concealer over the blemish, blending out the edges. This will help provide more coverage to a specific spot, while still keeping the application light enough to be less noticeable.
For example: This brush is fluffy but still dense and structured enough to blend cream.
Makeup should be an accessory - not a necessity! A little bit of makeup can help enhance your features, draw more attention to your natural beauty, and build confidence. If you have skin concerns or issues, covering them up is only going to make them worse. The only way to truly have good looking makeup is to focus on the foundation of healthy skin.
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