Does Makeup Age Your Skin?

Makeup can enhance your beauty and is a woman’s secret weapon, agree? But does makeup age your skin? Let’s find out.

With all these global trends and viral makeup hacks, can you really avoid aging? Well, aging is something inevitable, but a more concerning question popping here is: Does makeup age your skin before time? Some researchers believe that certain ingredients in makeup can age your skin.

Skin and makeup

Every makeup lover has probably grown up watching their mother apply lipsticks and then fawn over makeup stores in shopping centers.

Makeup and cosmetics are fantastic methods to express yourself and draw attention to your uniqueness. On social media, where people love to display their cosmetic looks, it’s not unlikely to come across a lovely makeup selfie.

Following social media trends can be a nerve-cracking experience sometimes! Even the slightest mistake can ruin your day (of course your skin too!) 

Using makeup on a routine basis will not make you look older. Excessive makeup, on the other hand, according to experts, can emphasize fine lines and wrinkles, making you appear older. As a result, improper cosmetics practices might harm your skin and speed up the aging process.

Does makeup age your skin?

Our genes often determine when things go wrong for us. There are numerous factors that contribute to the onset of the dreaded aging process in our skin. Some things are simply beyond our control. Even with amazing skincare, we can’t expect to look young when we hit 60. 

Over time, the skin develops wrinkles and loses its suppleness. It becomes loose and dry. With every decade, your body’s production of collagen, a crucial protein that provides your skin its structure and smoothness, decreases.

Your skin develops folds, creases, and wrinkles throughout time as a result of these changes, as well as the effects of facial expressions and gravity. Although there is no way to totally stop the natural aging process, various drugs, and skin care treatments can help to slow it down.

Regardless, as you get older, wrinkles will appear. Let’s look at the extrinsic side of aging now. This type of aging is caused by your lifestyle, skincare routine, and surroundings, not by your genes or internal body processes (So you can stop blaming your parents if you think you’re getting old too early!)

Your level of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from intense, direct sunlight is by far the most important element in extrinsic aging. UV rays damage your skin’s DNA, impairing its capacity to make collagen, elastin, and other vital structural proteins.

Extrinsic aging has a lot of people underestimating its impact. 

According to many experts, photoaging or aging caused by sun exposure accounts for up to 90% of the noticeable differences in your skin as you age. While UV light is the most significant contributor to intrinsic aging, it is far from the sole one. Smoking, nutritional inadequacies, are all examples of habits that can cause extrinsic aging along with air pollution being a major contributor.

Using makeup does not appear to have a substantial impact on the natural aging process, for the most part. Simply said, wearing cosmetics has no effect on your body’s ability to produce collagen, elastin, or any of the other natural components necessary for skin maintenance and healing.

Some components or ingredients like synthetic fragrance or formaldehyde in some forms of makeup, on the other hand, may contribute to extrinsic aging by directly harming your skin or exposing it to environmental harm.

At what age does your face change the most?

Even if your muscles are in excellent working order, repetitive motions contribute to the aging of your skin with lines and wrinkles, especially as you approach your forties and fifties. In adults, the most noticeable effects of aging usually appear when they are in their 40s and 50s, but they can also start as early as their 30s and persist into old age. 

In a baby’s face, you see those adorably round and rounded pockets of fat. That facial fat remains evenly distributed throughout your childhood, with pockets on your forehead, temples, cheeks, and even in the area around your eyes and mouth. 

The amount of facial fat in your mid-40s starts to shrink and drift downward, resulting in clumps around your throat, chin, jaw, and neck.

Previously smooth and taut skin may sag as the fat loss occurs, making the skin more translucent and prone to discolorations as blood vessels appear more prominent beneath the surface.

Does foundation age your skin?

The notion is that wearing makeup everyday would cause clogged pores, resulting in zits and acne. Additionally, many of us think makeup foundation would suffocate our skin and would prevent it from breathing. Could this be true? Let’s find out!

The makeup industry has evolved a great deal, and there are now fewer and fewer harmful ingredients in makeup. As a matter of fact, most of these ingredients are dermatologist-tested and allergy-free. 

As long as the foundation you choose is of high quality from a reputable brand, then wearing foundation is fine. Some foundations come with ceramides and serums that could even benefit your skin by providing moisture content.

Is makeup bad for your skin?

Many cosmetics have harsh chemicals that can disrupt the mess with your skin’s protective barrier, making it easier for microbes to penetrate. 

Talc-based makeup products when used, cause dryness of skin and early and faster wrinkling. Mineral make up products may contain bismuth oxychloride. This can cause dryness, irritation and peeling of skin.

Regularly wearing makeup can have a  can negatively impact your skin’s health and natural radiance.

Should you stop wearing makeup? No. You can wear makeup every day if you practice a few healthy makeup habits and use skin-friendly products.

Side effects of wearing makeup every day

It’s essential to understand how your current makeup is influencing your skin. Take care if you have one or more of the adverse effects listed below.

Increased oily or dry skin

Makeup that isn’t suitable for your skin type can cause your skin to become drier or greasier. If you use cosmetics that aren’t designed for your skin type, those with dry skin may experience acute dryness. Similarly, people with oily skin may produce more oil than usual because of utilizing improper products.

Allergy

While some makeup products look similar, the ingredients vary from one brand to the other. Your skin will thank you if you use products made with gentle ingredients.

Products containing dangerous compounds such as paraben and SLES (sodium lauryl ether sulfate) can induce allergic reactions. If you have an allergy to a specific ingredient, such products can flare up your condition. They might hurt and irritate your skin.

Discoloration

Avoid sleeping with your makeup on. Free radicals, which are produced by pollution and the sun, can degrade your skin’s collagen and cause changes in color. 

Long-lasting cosmetics, for example, lipstick, can darken the color of your lips when kept for more than 10 hours because it may contain substances that impede oxygen flow to your lips.

How to prevent these side effects?

Here are a few tips to prevent the side effects of applying makeup.

Application of sunscreen

Early skin aging is caused by sun damage. As a result, applying sunscreen before applying any makeup is vital. If you don’t want to apply sunscreen, try a sun-protective moisturizer and foundation instead.

Purchasing a quality product

Each skin type is special. As a result, you cannot buy a product simply because others do. Learn about your skin type and purchase products that are suitable for it and do not cause adverse reactions. Check the product’s label to see if any of the ingredients are allergens. 

Do a patch test with a tester product if you’re unsure.

Make it a habit to read the ingredients carefully before purchasing and check if the brand is a reputed and certified one!

Maintain cleanliness of the makeup products

When you’re done with your makeup, remember to wipe your brushes and sponge. At least weekly, wash them. This is necessary since harmful bacteria thrive on your makeup brushes due to dead skin cells and sweat. Bacteria can be killed by thoroughly cleaning your brushes.

Also make sure to always purchase a product which has a longer shelf life. Check the label of the makeup product for the expiry date. Never share your makeup brushes with anyone, unless you’ve washed and cleansed them. Clean the equipment after each use.

FAQs

Does makeup make you age quicker?

Using good-quality makeup products with organic ingredients can protect your skin from damage. However prolonged use of chemicals can make your skin weary.

Does makeup ruin your skin over time?

If chemicals come in contact with your skin for longer duration and regularly, they can be threatening for the skin’s natural texture. If you sleep with your makeup on, it can block your pores, causing acne, blemishes, and dry, dead skin. Makeup application brushes can also serve as breeding grounds for germs.

Is it better for your skin to not wear makeup?

On applying makeup, a layer builds up on the skin, blocking the pores from absorbing oxygen. Giving the skin a resting period will only improve the flow of oxygen through the pores thus helping with fewer breakouts.

Does not wearing makeup make you look younger?

Being gentle with your skin can help reduce the danger of premature aging, but some dermatologists believe that simply eliminating eye makeup will keep your skin seeming even younger.

What next?

1. Retinol vs Tretinoin. Which one is better?
2. Vitamin E for skin: Benefits and Side-effects

Wrapping up

While using makeup on a routine basis has certain negative consequences, you can still benefit from it if you follow a few smart makeup habits. Furthermore, using cosmetic products daily necessitates extra skincare. Cosmetics or skincare products will not hurt your skin if you use good quality ones that maintain your skin naturally moisturized and healthy.