Halloween is creeping upon us which means one thing – it’s time to get experimenting with some terrifying makeup techniques to really celebrate the spooky season. For many, an impressive Halloween makeup is the pinnacle of all things scary and a must to bring together your costume to elite status. Although, your costume is not the only thing that can turn scary, it’s a well-known fact that heavy Halloween makeup can often end with even more horrifying breakouts that leave you questioning “was the extravagant makeup even worth it in the first place?!”
The good news is, it’s still possible to celebrate Halloween in true spooky style without the worry of ruining your skin! Here are all the top tips on how to protect your skin from heavy Halloween makeup, to minimise the chances of skin troubles!
How to protect your skin from heavy Halloween makeup
Protecting your skin from Halloween makeup is possible, providing you follow a few steps to keep your skin fresh! Abide by these Halloween makeup do’s and don’t so you don’t end up with too many scary surprises.
Stay away from cheap Halloween kits
Cheap Halloween kits that you find in the supermarket of fancy dress stores are a MASSIVE no-no for your skin. It may seem all fun and games but it’s almost inevitable that the ingredients included in these cheap face paints will have your skin screaming for some TLC.
Face painting kits produced cheaply often have only one goal in mind – upping sales! This usually means the ingredients are heavier and more artificial than your usual make-up products found in cosmetic shops.
Instead of cutting corners and purchasing purely for ease, opt for specially created face paints that have your skins welfare in mind. Brands such as Mehron and Ben Nye create face paints that are less intrusive to the skin and are often the brands used in theatre makeup. Purchasing better quality products will mean that harsh ingredients are less likely to be included.
However, when using any type of face paint it’s important to be mindful, these products are usually much heavier on the skin than your usual beauty product. It’s important to keep this in mind and ensure you adhere to the following steps.
Mehron Makeup Paradise Face & Body Paint
Skin test before you apply
If you’re using any new products, patch testing it on your skin will allow you to find out if you will have any adverse reactions before plastering it all over your body and face.
Skin testing is simple, just blot a small amount of product on your skin and wait 24 hours to see if any reaction is caused. If you find no redness or rash left behind, then you are likely safe to experiment with your Halloween makeup.
Apply a base to protect your skin
Just like any other makeup application, it’s important to use a moisturiser and primer before applying you Halloween makeup. This will create a protective veil over your skin to shield your face from thick makeup clogging your pores.
An added bonus is that this creates a smooth canvas for you to lay your makeup on top of making your makeup application much easier. A primer will also benefit your skin by making your makeup last longer by creating a tacky base for your making to adhere to, so it doesn’t slip and slide throughout the night. Pore filling primers are best as they will create a barrier between your skin and makeup to stop product settling into your pores which may lead to breakouts.
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer
Remove makeup thoroughly before bed
If you’re going to take anything away from this list of dos and don’ts, then abide by the important rule of removing your Halloween makeup before conking out. Even if it’s been a heavy night, removing your makeup thoroughly before you sleep is a must.
You may not feel like religiously sticking to your skincare routine after celebrating Halloween, but by cleansing your face and melting the makeup away, you’re more likely to escape any breakouts. It may seem excessive, but triple cleansing your face and ridding away any lingering makeup will be extremely beneficial when it comes to fighting against skin irritation.
Start with a gentle cleanser to clean away the majority of the makeup, lather up the product and rinse away with water and a damp cloth. Next it’s time to break down hard to conquer residue go in with an oil-based cleanser to break down the makeup components. Third times a charm, cleanse your face once more using your usual cleanser for squeaky clean skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser
Lastly, go in with a chemical exfoliate to really unclog those pores. Salicylic acid works wonders here. You can then continue with the rest of your skincare routine before going to bed without the worry of waking up with breakouts.