It's that time of year again when the costumes come out, the parties start, and all of a sudden, your acne decides to make an appearance; but with these 10 tips you can keep your acne-prone skin clear to prevent a Halloween nightmare.
October is here, which means one thing: Halloween is just around the corner!
While most people are focused on what costumes they're going to wear, what parties they are going to attend or which haunted houses are the scariest to visit, acne-prone skin types have an entirely different set of concerns; especially because skin flare-ups can be particularly bad in the autumn months.
It's frustrating when your skin decides to rebel right before a big event, so if you're worried about a breakout ruining your Halloween and are looking to avoid a cosmetic disaster this year, we've put together 10 tips to help you keep your acne-prone skin clear and looking its best this Halloween season.
Here are 10 tips that will help you keep your skin clear to prevent a Halloween nightmare:
1. Cleanse your skin.
Before you even think about applying any makeup, the first step to keeping your skin clear to prevent a Halloween nightmare is to make sure you're cleansing it properly.
Use a mild cleanser that won't strip your skin of its natural oils; otherwise, your sebaceous glands will go into overdrive by overproducing oil to compensate for the lost moisture, which clogs pores and worsens and leads to more acne breakouts.
There is little evidence to support the commonly-held recommendation that washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser prevents acne.
However, a study found that those who washed their face twice a day saw significant improvements in open comedones and total noninflammatory lesions.
While those who only washed their face once a day saw their acne worsen, with significant increases in erythema, papules, and inflammatory lesions.
So, cleanse your face twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to remove any oil and dirt that has built up on your skin throughout the day. My current favorite cleansers are the CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser and the Mario Badescu Gentle Foaming Cleanser.
If you're looking for a cleanser that's efficient yet gentle at targeting acne, the Geologie Salicylic Acid Face Wash is just what you need; read the full review here.
2. Exfoliation is key.
As we age, our skin's ability to protect and repair itself diminishes.
And while cosmetic procedures can help improve specific aspects of aging skin, like deep wrinkling, sagging, and volume loss, they don't address the overall quality of the skin, which is why exfoliating your skin is key.
Not only does it remove dead skin cell build-up from the surface of your skin that can clog pores and lead to breakouts, but it also stimulates cell turnover to promote a more smooth and even complexion.
It allows your skin care products to work more effectively by clearing the way for them to penetrate deeper into the skin.
With that being said, there are two types of exfoliation: physical or mechanical (such as scrubbing with a washcloth or brush) and chemical (using an exfoliating cleanser or serum); read this guide to learn more about physical and chemical exfoliation.
Both are effective in their own way, so it's really up to you to decide which one you prefer or which one your skin responds better to.
If you have sensitive skin, it's best to stick to physical exfoliation, as chemical exfoliants can be too harsh.
3. Moisturize your skin.
One of the biggest mistakes acne-prone skin types make is skipping moisturizer because they believe it will make their skin oilier, which will lead to clogged pores and, ultimately, more breakouts.
But moisturizing is an important part of any basic skin care routine, especially if your skin barrier is damaged or you have a reduced amount of water content in your skin.
Using moisturizer promotes healthy skin by preventing dry skin, smoothening and reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and treating various conditions associated with a weakened skin barrier; here's what happens if you don't use moisturizer and 10+ Best Halloween Skincare Face Masks to get your skin into the Halloween spirit.
Acne-prone skin is more susceptible to dryness and irritation, so if you don't moisturize your skin, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive producing even more oil to try and compensate for the lack of moisture, which then actually leads to clogged pores that cause breakouts.
Use a light oil-free and non-comedogenic moisturizer that won't clog your pores but will still give your skin the hydration it needs.
Look for products that contain ingredients like, hyaluronic acid or glycerin to draw moisture into the skin and apply it while your skin is still damp from cleansing to help lock in the hydration.
4. Prep your skin.
Another important step in your pre-makeup routine is to prep your skin to achieve an even application of makeup products, keep your makeup in place all day long, minimize the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles, and prevent your makeup from creasing or looking cakey to maintain the overall health of your complexion.
Primer controls shine, evens out your complexion, creates a smooth and even canvas for your makeup, and helps it last longer throughout the day.
For acne-prone skin, I recommend using a silicone-based primer to smooth out the appearance of pores and fine lines to create a smooth surface for your makeup while also providing a barrier between your skin and your makeup.
Make sure to apply the primer evenly all over your face, focusing on areas where you tend to get breakouts or where your pores are more visible.
5. Choose the right makeup products.
Once your skin is prepped and ready, it's time to choose the right makeup products; here's why and the best tips to prevent makeup-induced acne.
6. Avoid touching your skin and picking or squeezing your pimples.
Touching our face is a natural part of everyday life; however, our hands are one of the dirtiest parts of our body.
We touch our faces an average of 23 times per hour, transferring dirt, germs, and bacteria from our hands to our face, which is harmful to our skin because our hands carry an average of 3,200 different germs and 1,500 bacteria on each square centimeter of skin.
It's tempting to touch and pick your skin, but resist the urge when you see a pimple starting to form. You should follow this rule year-round, but it's especially important during events like Halloween when your face is covered in makeup.
To avoid contamination and further skin irritation, use a skincare spatula instead of your hands to apply your skincare products.
And if you need to touch your face, wash your hands first to avoid transferring and remove any dirt, oil, and bacteria that could cause breakouts.
On the other hand, when you pick or squeeze your pimples, you push the content of the pimple deeper into the skin, worsening your acne by causing infection and inflammation and leading to permanent scarring.
To avoid picking or squeezing pimples, keep your hands away from your face; if you feel the urge to pick or squeeze, try to distract yourself by doing something else with your hands.
Hydrocolloid patches, such as the Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch, are a good alternative for acne-prone skin because they act as a physical barrier, absorbing the oil and pus from pimples without irritating the skin and speeding up healing to prevent picking or squeezing pimples.
Another good alternative are spot treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid to dry up your acne and prevent further and future breakouts.
7. Keep your hair off your face.
According to The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), shampoos, conditioners, and styling products cause whiteheads and papules that appear along your hairline, forehead or the back of your neck.
With that being said, it turns out that not only greasy hair but build-up of hair products are both the culprits behind your acne breakouts because oil, dirt, and bacteria from your hair find their way to your skin to clog your pores and cause acne.
Keep your hair pulled back away from your face, and be sure to wash it when needed to remove oil build-up.
8. Choose your costumes wisely.
Avoid wearing costumes that require you to cover your face and are too tight-fitting because it can worsen your acne by trapping oil, sweat, dead skin cells, and bacteria on your skin and rubbing your skin, leading to chafing and irritation.
9. Don't forget to cleanse your skin at the end of the night.
After a long night of Halloween festivities, cleansing your skin is a must to remove all the oil, bacteria, dirt and makeup accumulated on your skin throughout the night.
Even if you're tired and just want to collapse into bed, take a few minutes to thoroughly remove your makeup before going to sleep; here's what happens when you sleep with makeup on and how to remove all traces of makeup.
10. Take care of your skin after Halloween.
Don't neglect your skin just because Halloween is over, continue your skincare routine to keep your skin looking its best for years to come; here are 10 best skincare tips for acne-prone skin.
Halloween is a fun time of year and it doesn't have to be a nightmare for those with acne-prone skin.
By following these tips, you can keep your skin clear and blemish-free so you can enjoy Halloween!
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