If you’re planning on dressing up this Halloween, we want to help.
After all, you don’t want to suffer from post-Halloween dryness, redness, and acne, right?
To make sure your skin makes it through unscathed, try these tips.
Pre-Halloween Dress Up Skincare Tips
Start with some extra precautions before you dress up.
Begin with clean skin.
Wash your face before you start putting anything on it. If you don’t, you’ll trap dirt or debris against your skin and it will remain there all night, increasing your risk of acne or inflammation the next morning.
Moisturize your skin.
You’re going to be putting on a mask and/or makeup, so shore up your skin’s defenses first. The best defense is moisture. It will ensure your skin won’t be left feeling stripped or extra dry, while also helping to minimize any drying out and cracking of your makeup throughout the night.
Apply our Calming Moisture or your favorite nourishing cream and let it sit for 5-10 minutes before moving on to the next step.
Apply a good barrier cream.
A good barrier cream will seal off your skin so it’s less likely to absorb chemicals from the mask or face paint. You can use a quality barrier cream made for skin makeup, or use your favorite foundation primer.
Upgrade your makeup.
Sure, you can get some types of face paint for not much money, but some of the cheaper options contain harmful ingredients like heavy metals, formaldehyde, and petrolatum. You usually find these at Halloween stores or drugstores.
Check the labels for pore-clogging ingredients (including waxes, petrolatum, and mineral oil), and choose better-quality makeup products from brand names you trust. These will usually be labeled as “professional” or “theater” types and will be less harsh on your skin.
Use clean brushes.
When applying your makeup, make sure your brushes are either new or freshly cleaned. Dirty brushes deposit bacteria and debris on your skin, which will then be sealed in by your makeup and/or mask—setting the perfect conditions for acne breakouts and other skin problems. Be particularly careful with any brushes you use around the eyes. Don’t share your brushes, and clean them off well after you’ve finished your makeup.
After-Party Skincare Tips for Post-Halloween Recovery
Once the party is over and it’s time to take the costume off, follow these tips to help your skin look fresh and youthful the next day.
Don’t go to bed with your makeup on.
This is the most important step. No matter how tired you are, don’t go to bed with your Halloween makeup still on. If it sits on your skin all night long, it has a much better chance of clogging your pores, causing acne breakouts, redness, inflammation, and itching.
Remove the makeup carefully.
Using a quality makeup remover, gently take your makeup off. Try not to tug or pull on your skin. If the makeup is stubborn, allow the remover to sit on the skin for a minute before trying again. An oil-based makeup remover is best, as it will dissolve the makeup so it’s easier to remove.
Cleanse your skin.
Using a gentle cleanser—a cream-based one is often best—gently cleanse your skin once or twice. If you were wearing heavy makeup, twice is probably best. Rinse with lukewarm water.
Follow with micellar water, if you have it.
Micellar water is a combination of purified water, hydrating ingredients like glycerin, and low concentrations of mild surfactants (cleansers). These surfactants group together to form spheres called “micelles,” which act like magnets for dirt and oil. The product has become popular recently because of its ability to remove makeup and other debris.
To use, soak a cotton pad in the water and sweep it over your skin to remove any last bits of makeup.
Consider exfoliating.
Now, take a look at your skin. If it’s looking dull and feeling rough, it may be wise to do an exfoliating mask. If you’re normally acne-prone, a mask is also a good idea. Use a light, gentle exfoliant, one that contains glycolic acid or other fruit acids, and allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes. You may also choose a clay-based moisturizer if you have oily skin, as it will help absorb extra oils and reduce your risk of breakouts.
Rinse and apply our Rescue + Relief Spray. It will help calm any irritation and inflammation, so your skin feels comfortable and is less likely to react.
Moisturize with the best product you have.
Nourishing moisture is necessary to help your skin recover from a night of heavy makeup. Choose a nourishing product that will repair the skin barrier while you sleep. We recommend our Calming Moisture, which contains anti-inflammatory turmeric, deep moisturizing shea butter, and natural oils.
Avoid any retinol or other anti-aging treatments for the first night. Give your skin a chance to simply rest and recover.
Don’t forget your eyes and lips.
These tender areas are most likely to suffer from dryness after Halloween night. Apply your favorite eye cream to your eyes, and consider exfoliating your lips with a gentle lip scrub, then apply a nourishing balm like our Restorative Skin Balm.
Treat.
Watch how your skin reacts over the next few days. If your skin looks red or inflamed, apply our Rescue + Relief Spray a couple of times a day and try a moisturizing mask at night. Continue to gently cleanse and moisturize until your skin feels better.
How do you recover from Halloween?
Photo by Gantas Vaičiulėnas from Pexels.
