Doing your makeup is one thing. But doing your makeup and having dry skin is in a whole new ballpark. Whether you’re a makeup artist or someone who likes just a little foundation, navigating the world of makeup and dry skin is like making your way through a labyrinth. From clumping to smudging and everything in between, trying to apply makeup with dry skin can be a total headache. That’s why we’re here to help. If you’re having trouble making your makeup last because of your dry skin, try these skincare tips and tricks below.
Ingredients to Avoid
Before you begin using any makeup or products, it’s important to know which ingredients may be doing more harm than good to your skin. Many acne products contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which can cause dryness, redness, and irritation. So, make sure items containing these ingredients are never found in your cosmetics bag.
Additionally, avoid drying agents such as isopropyl alcohol, sodium, ethanol, and ammonium lauryl sulfate. These agents can also suck the moisture right out of your skin. Finally, stay away from artificial colors, fragrances, and preservatives that can cause dryness, flaking, and irritation. With this in mind, let’s get started!
Make Sure to Exfoliate
Exfoliating should be a routine habit if you have dry skin and knowing the ins and outs of exfoliating will help ensure your skin stays healthy. When you exfoliate, dead skin cells, debris, and grime are removed from your pores. Some people tend to exfoliate every day. However, if this becomes a daily habit, you can be damaging your skin by not giving it enough time to heal. And if you’re on the opposite side of the spectrum and never exfoliate, all of your dead skin cells and debris will remain trapped, resulting in acne and dry skin.
The happy medium is to exfoliate once or twice a week. Doing so will give your skin enough time to heal before it’s time to exfoliate again, which can help reduce flare-ups of dry skin. You can even use handy dandy tools such as the DermaFlash 2.0 Luxe Facial Exfoliating Device. This tool not only removes dead skin cells, but it removes peach fuzz as well, allowing your foundation to look smoother and stay on longer!
Use the Correct Tools
Using the wrong tools can be another reason you’re suffering from dry skin. When trying to apply makeup with dry skin, you may notice clumping and inconsistencies. Instead of using your fingers, which are breeding grounds for germs and dirt, to apply foundation, use a blending tool or brush. These makeup tools will help even out your foundation, resulting in an illuminating glow that lasts all day.
Use a Primer
A primer is essential if you have dry skin. Buying a primer for dry skin will seal in moisture while you begin to apply your makeup. Primers come in cream, gel, and powder, however, if you suffer from dry skin, the best primer to choose is either a cream or gel base. These types of primers will be able to hydrate your skin while smoothening out flakes.
Always Moisturize
Regularly moisturizing is the key to combatting dry skin. In order to moisturize correctly, you must apply a hydrating lotion within a few minutes of getting out of the shower or after washing your face. When taking a shower, it’s important to use warm, not hot, water, and to only stay in for about 5 to 10 minutes. This way, your skin won’t dry up as quickly. Then, wrap yourself in a plush bath towel to avoid irritation, and gently rub moisturizer across your face and neck.
The reason it’s important to moisturize immediately after a shower is because warm water causes your pores to open up. Once they’re opened, the moisturizer will be able to trap moisture in your pores before they close, resulting in hydrated, healthy skin. This way, once it’s time to apply makeup, you won’t have to deal with flakes, cracks, and irritation.
The Bottom Line
Applying makeup onto dry skin doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. There are numerous ways you can combat your dry skin so you can wear your favorite eye shadow, that bold lipstick, and subtle blush on your next night on the town.
