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Whether you wear it to boost your confidence or as a form of self-expression, makeup is rumored to have a negative impact on your skin’s health if you wear it every day. This stems from the common belief that regularly layering on primer, concealer and foundation can potentially clog your pores, causing irritation and breakouts.
But does this mean you need to give up your daily makeup routine? We spoke with dermatologists and skin care experts to find out.
The makeup’s ingredients are not necessarily the cause of the problem.
The good news is that makeup and skin care products often share many of the same ingredients, though they can function differently depending on how they’re used.
For example, take hyaluronic acid, which has gained popularity in recent years for its hydration properties. “In skin care, it’s used more intensively as a treatment to keep skin supple, while in makeup, it helps the product glide on smoothly and provides an extra layer of hydration throughout the day,” said Yashi Shrestha, the co-founder and head of chemistry and sustainability at Novi Connect, a technology platform that helps retailers create sustainable products and packaging.
Another example is iron oxides. They’re used as pigments for foundations, eye shadows and lipsticks, while skin care products may use them as a shield against environmental stressors like blue light. “Broadly, these ingredients are more potent and effective when used as skin care rather than incorporated into makeup, though it’s certainly not detrimental to use makeup and cosmetics with skin care ingredients as additives,” Shrestha said.
It’s more about how you’re applying and removing your makeup.
Dermatologists largely agree that wearing makeup daily isn’t necessarily the problem, but that your habits may be causing the harm.
Dr. Zoë Indigo, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Skintervention Dermatology, said that holding on to makeup products for too long, especially eye makeup, can turn them into breeding grounds for bacteria, while using heavy makeup to cover up underlying acne, irritation or scarring can worsen these issues over time.
Then there are makeup tools, which Indigo recommended cleaning weekly. “Brushes and sponges collect oil, dead skin cells and makeup residue, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive,” she said. “Using dirty tools can transfer bacteria back to your skin, leading to irritation, clogged pores and even infections.”
Indigo added, “The worst habit by far is not removing makeup before bed.” During the day, the skin is in defense mode, shielding itself from sunlight, pollution, bacteria and other things in its environment. But at night it shifts gears, with collagen production, DNA repair and cell turnover ramping up to restore and rejuvenate.
“Wearing makeup to bed blocks these natural processes, leading to clogged pores, irritation and a buildup of dead skin cells that would otherwise be shed,” Indigo explained. Plus, since the skin is more permeable at night, it’s better at absorbing products like hydrating creams and retinols, but also more vulnerable if makeup is left on.
“Even if you can’t commit to a full nighttime routine after a long day, at least use a makeup remover wipe to take off the product, allowing your skin to breathe and go into repair mode,” Indigo suggested.
In some ways, makeup can actually help the health of your skin.
Because today’s makeup products are formulated with ingredients that do more than just enhance your appearance, there are a surprising number of skin benefits to wearing makeup every day.
“Makeup acts as a partial physical barrier that helps shield the skin from pollution and environmental irritants — especially useful in metropolitan areas, where air pollution levels can be significantly higher,” Indigo explained. Prolonged exposure to pollution can prematurely age the skin, leading to fine lines, pigmentation and dullness. Plus, many makeup products now provide extra UV protection with an SPF, along with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to support skin moisture and improve texture.
Wearing makeup can also motivate a healthier skin care routine. Since keeping your skin clear is key to achieving a flawless finish, makeup users often become more dedicated to cleansing. “This commitment to thorough cleansing can benefit skin health by ensuring pores stay clear and the skin remains balanced,” Indigo said.
Are there situations in which you shouldn’t wear makeup?
Even though dermatologists generally agree that wearing makeup daily is safe with the right skin care routine, you might want to skip it in certain situations to preserve your skin’s health.
“Be careful during periods of physical exertion that make you perspire,” said board-certified dermatologist Dr. Roger Kapoor. “On long airline flights, the dry, recycled air can dehydrate your skin, making makeup more likely to settle into pores and fine lines. And in very hot, humid or cold and windy conditions, poor-quality makeup can interfere with the skin’s natural barrier.”
Hot and humid weather ramps up sweat and oil production, while cold, windy conditions can dry out your skin. All of this can lead to clogged pores, resulting in blackheads, whiteheads and acne.
Here’s how to choose makeup with your skin in mind.
Shrestha recommended choosing products with skin-friendly ingredients when possible. People with sensitive or acne-prone skin should consider a primer or foundation with niacinamide. “It’s a powerhouse ingredient for reducing redness, calming irritation and improving skin’s overall resilience,” Shrestha said. Those with sensitive skin should also opt for fragrance-free formulas to avoid irritation.
If you have dry skin, consider makeup with ceramides to help prevent dryness or flakiness. And for anyone who wears makeup regularly, Shrestha suggested products enriched with antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E and green tea extract. “These help protect the skin from environmental stressors, which is especially important for those who wear makeup in outdoor or polluted environments,” Shrestha said.
When shopping for makeup for daily use, it’s important to consider not only the ingredients but also the type of product. Shrestha recommended tinted moisturizers, BB creams and CC creams as lightweight options that combine skin care benefits with makeup. They can provide hydration, sun protection and light coverage while being less likely to clog pores. Plus, they’re often packed with antioxidants and other skin-loving ingredients to keep your complexion healthy and glowing.
“Ultimately, choosing makeup with skin care benefits, combined with mindful habits — like thorough nightly cleansing and regular brush cleaning — helps ensure healthy skin even with daily makeup wear,” Shrestha said.
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Looking for a stellar SPF foundation? These ones are highly recommended.
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A viral color correcting full-coverage foundation
The It Cosmetics CC+ cream has been my exclusive foundation of choice for a number of reasons, namely that it makes my skin look absolutely flawless and makes any blemishes virtually imperceptible. I also have keratosis pilaris on my face and this is the one perfectly finished foundation that hides all imperfections without looking cake-y or unnatural in the slightest. Plus, the color-correcting formula is also infused with broad spectrum SPF 50 and a whole slew of skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, peptides and niacinamide so it never feels overly drying on the face. It comes in 22 shades.
And heads up: While it’s $47 at both Amazon and Ulta, you can grab it in mini sizes starting at $22 from Sephora so I suggest first-timers start there.
An SPF 50 antioxidant serum foundation
Intentionally formulated to for lightweight wear that won’t settle into fine lines, this concentrated serum foundation for mature skin promises a radiant finish, buildable coverage and broad spectrum SPF 50 protection. Available in 15 shades, this foundation also contains vitamin B3, an antioxidant that can neutralize environmental stressors responsible for premature skin aging.
Promising Ulta review: “I don’t know why this isn’t sold in stores! It’s absolutely fantastic! I don’t normally like wearing liquid foundation because it feels heavy but this one is so light and actually does provide good coverage without the heaviness. I have plenty of acne scars and discoloration and it makes my skin appear almost flawless – basically solid coverage without feeling like full coverage heavy foundation. I don’t even need to wear concealer under my eyes or elsewhere when I use this. I like to apply it by squeezing a few lines onto each area of my face directly from the tube and then work it in with a brush. I go back in with a dab of liquid bronzer to give my face dimension. If I have time I’ll let it dry 5-10 min and set very lightly by pushing in some setting powder. It ends up with a nice dewy finish but if you go heavier on the setting powder you can get closer to matte if that’s what you like. Lastly, I wear the ivory shade which works in combination with the bronzer but would otherwise be too pale (I’m a 2N1 in Estee Lauder powder in winter and 2N2 in summer). I just ordered the golden ivory in this product for summer but again, with bronzer the ivory still works for me all year.” — Amy
Sephora
A soothing and natural finish foundation
Perfect for skin types that are sensitive or acne-prone, Tower 28’s tinted sunscreen foundation has broad spectrum SPF 30 sun protection and is formulated with a few different ingredients to stave off redness and irritation, like white sage extract. Additionally, prickly pear extract helps ward off blue light pollution, which is the type of UV that emits from all your electronic devices. This foundation provides a lightweight feel, buildable coverage and comes in 17 shades.
Sephora
A long-wearing and high-coverage foundation
Giorgio Armani Beauty has a reputation for crafting some of the best foundation out there (does Luminous Silk ring any bells?) and this formula — the Power Fabric + — shares a lot of factors that make the famed Luminous Silk so great, but with the addition of SPF 25. This long-wearing and high-coverage foundation has a matte finish, without drying out the skin, and uses the brand’s patented “Micro-fil technology” to ensure that the foundation’s pigments lay seamlessly on the skin. Shop this in 30 shades, but also take note that additional sun protection might be needed since this level of SPF falls slightly below the suggested minimum presented by the American Academy of Dermatology.
A sheer-coverage dewy skin tint
It’s possible that you’ve probably already heard of this much-buzzed-about skin tint that’s perfect for anyone who is opposed to thick full-coverage foundations that mask your own skin. Ilia’s Super Serum is an all-in-one skin tint featuring a moisturizing formula that’s infused with mineral SPF 40, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and squalane — all really great hydrators.
As someone who owns this stuff, there is a learning curve with using this, however. It’s truly meant to give you a very dewy, your-skin-but-better kind of finish so I avoid putting on any thick face creams underneath this. Instead I just really work it into my skin until it absorbs almost like a face lotion, then apply a tiny dusting of my Coty Airspun powder on areas where I don’t want the shine. Find it in 30 shades.
A hydrating SPF foundation with brightening niacinamide
The Kosas Skin-Improving foundation claims to plump and hydrate with the help of peptides, smooth texture and brighten the complexion thanks to niacinamide — all while offering broad sun protection in the form of SPF 25, including against blue light pollution. This medium-coverage formula, which is also enriched with skin-protecting antioxidants, comes in 27 shades. It may need to be worn with additional sun protection since this level of SPF falls slightly below the suggested minimum presented by the AAD.
Promising Amazon review: “Love the smoothness of my skin and the perfect way it blends – no one would think I was wearing makeup– I’m 71 and finding that changes to my skin make a foundation like this so valuable- no caking or indication that I’m using it – and this one bottle will go a long way – love the sunscreen protection too!” — dakotareader
Target
An SPF 30 whipped foundation
This uniquely whipped foundation by Colorescience is packed to the gills with ingredients meant to improve and care for skin, such as collagen-boosting peptides, a nourishing vitamin complex and ceramides, which are the essential building blocks to a healthy skin barrier. It’s available in four flexible shades and uses a mineral complex to provide SPF 30 sun protection.
An all-in-one foundation to target premature skin aging
Available in 12 shades, this cream foundation by No7 claims to offer a medium coverage that blurs imperfections, conceals redness and leaves skin feeling hydrated. In addition to offering SPF 50 in broad-spectrum sun protection, the formula contains antioxidants to preserve the skin and fend off environmental factors that could cause premature skin aging.
Promising Amazon review: “This is my favorite foundation. It covers all my uneven skin tone without looking too heavy and provides the best sun protection of any foundation I have found. It’s actually a plus that it’s not particularly moisturizing; I can control the amount of moisturizer that I put on beneath it. Likewise, I’m not looking for a super lightweight formula, but rather for good even coverage.” — Janet in Seattle
Amazon
A moisturizing foundation with SPF 45
With this Estee Lauder moisturizing foundation, you’ll enjoy up to 12 hours or full-coverage wear, SPF 45 sun protection and a nourishing formula containing chia seed extract and soothing probiotics for the skin. It’s available in 28 shades and reviewers claim that it goes on smooth and won’t cake or settle into fine lines.
An antioxidant-enriched full-coverage foundation
The Maybelline Dream Urban Cover is the brand’s first protective foundation that contains broad-spectrum SPF 50 and antioxidants to shield skin against pollution and environmental stressors. Its lightweight texture leaves a natural-looking finish that claims to offer skin-perfecting coverage all day. Find it in 17 shades.
Amazon
A full-coverage cream mineral foundation with SPF 30
For anyone that’s in need of the fullest-coverage foundation around, Dermablend is a trusted source for fully opaque formulations that are often used for covering tattoos, scars, irregular pigmentation and more. The Cover Cream boasts this same type of high pigment but with the added benefit of mineral SPF 30 in the form of titanium dioxide. It’s available in 21 shades.
Sephora
A medium coverage serum foundation
This unique serum foundation by indie beauty brand Ciele is proving to be a sleeper hit among Sephora shoppers who claim that its performance is “earth-shattering,” “genius” and a “new favorite base product.” Not only does the second skin-like formula promise to hide imperfections and redness, the natural-finish fluid contains a whopping SPF 50 sun protection so you can skip the step of applying both products. Available in 13 shades, it contains soothing allantoin, redness-reducing bisabolol and antioxidant-rich niacinamide for strengthening the skin’s natural barrier.
Promising Sephora review: “I was a full coverage CC cream girl before I tried a sample of this stuff… HOOKED. The coverage is enough to mask my redness, and I love the liquidy consistency– it’s an absolute breeze to blend. I have large pores, & it doesn’t immediately get stuck in them like my CC cream did (yay for spending less time putting on my face/worrying about it looking cakey). This also gives you a really healthy looking glow– but if you want a more matte look, pat a little powder on top & you’re good.” — killerteeth
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