Makeup and acne. It’s like a dance. Your makeup can trigger acne, so you use makeup to cover up breakouts. The good news is, you can choose products that don’t aggravate your skin and that help you create a clean beauty routine.
The makeup ‘condition’
Yes, there is an actual condition related to your use of makeup. Acne cosmetica, or acne that’s caused by cosmetics, is mild and fairly common. “Cosmetic” does not just mean makeup. Anything that touches your face can potentially cause it. That’s why this condition can happen to anyone, male or female, even those not predisposed to acne attacks.
Not surprisingly, acne cosmetica affects skin areas where you apply cosmetics the most – cheeks and forehead. The condition develops over a period of weeks or months and appears as small, itchy or rash-like pink bumps. It may persist indefinitely, especially if you continue to use the same stuff on your face. But there’s typically no scarring.
The easiest way to avoid acne cosmetica is to purchase makeup and skin care products that are non-comedogenic, and to avoid products that seem to be irritating your skin altogether if possible. Non-comedogenic products are less likely to cause irritation or clogging of your pores.
Steer clear of sweet smells
Fragrance is a major cause of allergic and irritant reactions on the face. Even products that claim to be ‘unscented’ may include fragrances added to mask the smell of other ingredients. Best advice? Stick with products labeled as ‘fragrance-free’ or ‘hypo-allergenic.’ Of course, reactions to fragrance differ dramatically, and you may find certain perfumes don’t affect your skin at all.
The most common offenders are fragrances in the ambrette, bergamot, cinnamate and musk families. If the derivatives of your favorite face cream or foundation’s scent are not easily determined from the product label, try a patch test on the skin behind your ear. If no irritation appears after three days of repeated application, you may continue usage on a larger area.
No comments:
Post a Comment