It’s time to take makeup management seriously. by SONYA BILIANIS June 02, 2011
Feel naked without your makeup?
Without proper care, those sultry, smoldering eyes coated with eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara can lead to bacterial infections, skin irritation and — uh-oh— wrinkles.
Beauty consultants for the Bon-Ton in Stroud Mall — Neeru Chopra for Clarins and Connie Furey for Lanc?me — offer makeup tips:
- use baby shampoo to wash makeup brushes if they are made with real hair; lay flat to dry.
- Look for makeup in bottles with a pump. This will help prevent bacteria growth and contamination from fingers going into the bottles.
- Sharpen eye liner/eyebrow pencils after each use for proper hygiene.
- Never share makeup.
- keep makeup stored in a drawer, not exposed to sunlight.
- Never store makeup in the bathroom with heat and humidity.
It’s time to take makeup management seriously.
Women go to great lengths to enhance their beauty or cover skin imperfections, but according to Dr. Charles Herman, director of plastic and reconstructive surgery for Pocono Health system, first things first. before even considering makeup, use sunblock and avoid tanning beds.
Skip the sun and premature wrinkles altogether and get that golden glow with sunless self-tanner.
“Self-tanner has come a long way. you don’t have to worry about turning orange anymore,” said Neeru Chopra, Bon-Ton counter manager for Clarins makeup in Stroud Mall.
Tip: If your moisturizer does not contain sunscreen, apply moisturizer first, then apply sunscreen. “By nature, foundation and most makeup contain titanium dioxide which gives some sun protection, but not enough if you plan on being outside for a long period of time,” said Arkadia Dullek, owner of Arkadia Day Spa in East Stroudsburg.
“When applying makeup, there is the trendy way and the right way,” Dullek said. First off, use as little as possible. “People who use a lot of makeup generally have the worst skin,” she said.
Dullek’s favorite way to apply makeup is with her clean fingers. “Brushes and sponges hold a lot of bacteria,” she said. “Brushes should be washed often, and sponges should be thrown away after each use. They cost pennies and are a perfect environment for bacteria to grow.”
When the day is done, it is important to remove all makeup and then moisturize. “Our skin is catching free radicals all during the day, catching dust on top of the makeup and clogging the pores,” she said.
There is a reason night moisturizing creams are more intensive than a day cream. “At night, when the body rests, the skin breathes differently. We tend to breathe deeper, allowing the skin to take in the moisturizer deeper. Now imagine what happens to your skin if you do not remove the makeup at night,” Dullek said.
When removing waterproof eye makeup with a makeup remover, make sure to wash off the remover and any other residue left behind. Follow up with a toner.
“Toner will help balance the pH of your skin after using soap and water. it is a good second rinse,” Dullek said.
Tip: Do not wear makeup while exercising. The body detoxifies by sweating. Makeup will prevent the skin from breathing and will clog the pores.
The theory of “less is more” is especially true when using eye makeup. Less makeup, gentler removal, fewer wrinkles.
“The skin around the eyes is very fragile. We end up stretching that fragile skin around the eyes when removing makeup,” Dullek said.
Many products claim to reduce wrinkles. “The majority without a prescription doesn’t have any effect. in fact, the vast majority are bad for the skin,” Herman said.
“Over-the-counter products change all the time because they don’t work. People stop buying them and they don’t last on the market,” he said.
The answer? See your doctor for prescription-grade products, says Herman.
“Many woman use concealer to cover dark circles under their eyes, but what many do not know is that those dark circles are actually blood vessels showing through the skin due to poor blood circulation,” Dullek said.
“Concealer doesn’t allow the skin to breathe, leaving the appearance of dark circles under the eyes. many times if you go outside without makeup, this allows the skin to breath naturally, allowing oxygen to circulate through the blood into the skin, helping those dark circles to go away,” she said.
Tip: use a good eye cream to help the skin absorb the oxygen from the air.
“All makeup sold in the United States is tested for quality and purity, but what might be irritating for one person might not be skin-sensitive to another,” Herman said.
Makeup contains alcohol, which can cause drying and flaking of the skin, called skin dermatitis. Herman recommends using mineral-based makeup. “This product line has natural organic ingredients that are easier on the skin. it can even be used after surgical procedures when other makeup should be avoided,” he said.
Think about contamination all the time, warned Dullek. “If you have blemishes, make sure that the bacteria doesn’t contaminate your makeup by reusing and blending makeup with the same applicator,” she said.
Tip: Fingers off. Don’t squeeze your pimples. “The bacteria from acne is very strong and will spread. it will also cause unnecessary scarring,” Dullek said.
“Makeup doesn’t have an expiration date, but when makeup gets old, it tends to separate and becomes watery after one year. Mascara should be tossed after three months whether it’s good or not,” Chopra said.
“Lipstick contains lanolin, which can start to smell funny when it goes bad,” said Dullek. “Also, if you have any infections, throw all makeup away and buy new when healed,” she said.
Tip: “Buy inexpensive makeup. That way you can throw it away and buy new if it gets too old,” Dullek said.
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