For many people, wearing makeup helps enhance their features, boost confidence and maintain a professional appearance. It can be fun to apply and is a means of expressing personal style. However, if you wear makeup daily, it’s important to be aware of its potential effects and what you can do to avoid them.
If you have skin concerns or allergic reactions to makeup, consult an experienced skin care professional at Berman Skin Institute. Book an appointment online to receive personalized advice for your skin type.
Is Wearing Makeup Bad?
Wearing makeup isn’t inherently bad, but using it every day without proper skin care habits can adversely affect your skin. Many makeup products contain ingredients that can irritate and disrupt your skin’s natural barrier, such as alcohol and formaldehyde preservatives. As you go out, you’re also exposed to dirt and pollution that gets caught on your skin with the makeup. This blocks oxygen flow to your skin and increases the risk of irritation, breakouts and developing dry skin.
For these reasons, dermatologists say makeup can be bad for your skin, especially when you don’t practice proper skin care and makeup removal. At the end of each day, you should maintain a consistent cleansing routine to remove any makeup thoroughly. Proper cleansing with gentle facial soap and water removes deeply-seated dirt and cosmetics like foundations and concealers. Exfoliating is also important to remove dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause acne. It prevents buildup on the skin, especially when you wear makeup regularly.
The Potential Effects of Wearing Makeup Every Day
The next time you feel like skipping your makeup removal routine, consider its long-term effects. Maintaining proper skin care habits will help you avoid preventable skin issues.
The following are reasons why makeup can be bad for your skin.
1. Clogged and Enlarged Pores
When makeup isn’t removed, it clogs pores and prevents your skin from breathing. This blockage restricts oxygen flow, leading to irritation that can cause breakouts, blackheads, whiteheads and other skin problems. You may notice these skin issues in your T-zone — the area on your forehead and between your eyebrows, nose and chin.
Over time, chronically clogged pores may also become enlarged, affecting your skin’s texture and appearance. If you have sensitive skin, certain cosmetics may also have unsuitable ingredients for your skin type. This can further weaken your skin’s natural barrier, making it prone to irritation.
2. Premature Aging and Dry Skin
Wearing makeup for long periods, especially without a proper skin care routine, can dehydrate and age your skin. Sleeping with makeup on can disrupt your skin’s natural rejuvenation process, limiting the production of collagen that keeps your skin supple and firm. This leads to noticeable fine lines and wrinkles.
Some cosmetics can also cause more dryness if they are unsuitable for your skin type. Prolonged use of cosmetics that dry your skin will increase the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Over time, these combined factors can accelerate into visible signs of aging.
3. Skin Discoloration
Another reason why makeup can be bad for your skin is because it can trigger skin pigmentation. Certain makeup products have ingredients such as preservatives, colorants and fragrances that can irritate skin, cause inflammation and increase melanin production. This causes dark spots, known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). Here are other ways PIH can occur from using makeup:
- Physical irritation: Rubbing or removing makeup harshly can irritate your skin and lead to inflammation, which triggers PIH.
- Sun sensitivity: Some makeup, specifically cosmetics with fragrances, contain ingredients that make skin more sensitive to sunlight. This can worsen pigmentation.
- Acne breakouts: Heavy makeup that clogs pores leads to acne breakouts. When they heal, they can leave behind dark spots and remain discolored due to PIH.
4. Aggravated Breakouts
Applying makeup daily can significantly aggravate acne, especially if you already have sensitive or acne-prone skin. Factors like hormones and diet contribute to acne breakouts, and since makeup can clog pores and cause irritation, wearing it daily leads to more frequent flare-ups. To help prevent this, you can limit your makeup usage and look for noncomedogenic cosmetic products that are less likely to trap dirt and clog your pores.
Giving your skin a break from makeup, especially heavy face powders and blushes, allows the skin to regenerate and repair itself. By letting your pores breathe and removing cosmetics for a while, your skin can reduce inflammation, heal and improve its texture.
5. Irritation of the Eyes
One of the potential effects of wearing makeup every day is eye irritation. Using cosmetics can irritate the eyes and the delicate skin surrounding them. Here are important factors to watch out for when using daily eye makeup:
- Dryness and irritation: Wearing eye makeup daily can impact the skin’s protective barrier, drying out your eyes and the skin around them. For example, talc and other particles in powdered eye shadows can flake off and irritate your eyes, causing itchiness.
- Allergy and chemical sensitivity: Ingredients like preservatives and pigments can cause allergic reactions such as redness, watery eyes and swelling. Other people may react to specific eye makeup formulations that can cause rashes around the eyes.
- Contamination: Using dirty makeup brushes or expired makeup can introduce bacteria into the eyes, leading to irritation and infections. Regularly clean brushes and check when your makeup expires.
Does Makeup Damage Skin Permanently?
When used properly with a skin care routine, makeup doesn’t permanently damage the skin. The key is to apply makeup mindfully, use quality products and thoroughly wash your skin at the end of the day. Don’t forget to exfoliate your skin gently to remove dead skin cells.
The most damaging habit is sleeping with makeup on. This can clog and stretch pores, causing inflammation, collagen breakdown and wrinkles. However, if you diligently cleanse and remove your makeup before bed, you can avoid its negative effects. With a balanced routine that considers your skin’s needs, makeup can enhance your beauty without compromising your skin’s health.
Prioritize Skin Health and Book a Consultation at Berman Skin Institute
Have questions and concerns about your skin? It’s best to seek advice from an experienced professional who is focused on your needs. Give your skin the best possible dermatologic care and consult a board-certified dermatologist at Berman Skin Institute — your trusted authority in skin care.
From common issues like acne, skin pigmentation and wrinkles to more serious skin concerns like melanoma, our providers offer personalized advice to help you achieve healthy and beautiful skin. For your convenience, we also have multiple dermatology practices throughout Northern California.
Schedule an appointment today at Berman Skin Institute and get the professional skin care treatment you deserve.
