Women have been wearing makeup for centuries. In the Greco-Roman society, women wore white lead and chalk on their faces. Persian women used henna dyes to stain their face and hair. During the Italian Renaissance, lead paint was used to lighten the face, which was obviously very damaging to the wearer.
Fortunately, we have come a long way since those days and today’s women have access to an amazing range of safe, natural cosmetics to enhance their appearance.
Makeup empowers a woman to present herself in exactly the way she chooses. Who doesn’t want to look good and feel good about themselves!? However, just as makeup has evolved, so have the genetic and environmental factors affecting skin health. This is specifically a challenge for women with sensitive skin.
Your skin is considered sensitive if it becomes inflamed and begins to sting when you put something on it, which contains fragrance or has commonly irritating ingredients such as alcohol or harsh exfoliants. From watery eyes to sudden breakouts, makeup can cause a whole host of issues to sensitive skin.
That doesn’t mean that women with sensitive skin cannot have fun with makeup. You just have to make sure that you prep your skin properly and follow a few simple steps to protect your skin from any potential damage.
1. Prep your Skin
When prepping the skin, avoid soap based products. Additionally, avoid harsh toners as the astringent textures might cause irritation. After cleansing, a cold water cloth application will cool the skin, while preparing it for moisturising. Finally, use a soothing serum that will lock and retain hydration in the skin.
QNet’s Physio Radiance range of skincare products is natural, hypoallergenic, and perfect for sensitive skin.
The Physio Radiance skincare range consists of a cleanser (Comfort Emulsion Cleanser), toner (Remineralising Toner Lotion), serum (Extreme Anti-Oxidant Serum) and lotion (Radiance Enhancer Day & Night Fluid), everything that you need to take care of your skin. All products contain natural plant extracts and are free of parabens, preservatives, and alcohol
2. Check the Ingredients
Before you hand over your hard earned cash for that trendy new foundation or lipstick, check the list of ingredients. Your skin absorbs 60% of what’s placed on it.
Every makeup product has a list of ingredients, and there are a few red flags that should make you think twice about buying that mascara. Namely, ingredients like “phthalate,” “sulfate,” “paraben,” “triclosan” or “toluene,” listed as either a stand-alone ingredient, or as part of a longer-named ingredient, means you can be sure this product isn’t safe for your health, no matter how natural it claims to be.
If you have dry or irritated skin, steer clear of products with alcohol in the main ingredient list. Alcohols in your makeup can cause irritation, dryness, and in some cases, increased oil production. Do not buy any products without clearly labelled ingredients.
3. Avoid Fragranced Products
Sensitive skin can often react badly to perfumed or scented makeup products. Perfume allergies are common in those with sensitive skin and can cause redness, irritation and rashes.
Choosing foundations and cream products that are fragrance-free reduces the risk of aggravation or the flare-up of conditions such as eczema.
4. Consider Textures
The most important thing to consider when buying eye makeup is texture. Is it easy to work with or not? Does it blend easily into the skin and does the texture respond to your needs, such as extra hold, non-creasing, designed for contact lenses or for sensitive eyes?
Start off with soft, pigmented textures, as they will always be easier to handle than those beautiful tempting rich colours.
5. Always Test Products
Convinced that this is the right product to buy? Now do the patch test. Always test your products in a small patch on the face, for both colour selection and sensitivity. If this isn’t possible, test it on the back of the hand at least to get a feel for the texture. After a few minutes, if there are no breakouts or redness, you are good to go.
6. Don’t pile it all on
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try to avoid heavy, long-wear foundations as they tend to block pores. It is best to opt for formulas that are relatively light and ‘non-comedogenic’. Although you want to cover up any blemishes, you need to let your skin breathe and not aggravate it further.
Remember, makeup is just a cosmetic enhancement. To create the perfect canvas for your makeup, it is essential that your skin is clean and well maintained. That’s when you get the best results out of your makeup — radiant, even, and smooth. A beautiful and healthy skin is the result, above all, of good nutrition and other healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise, plenty of fresh air, and proper skin care.
This guide is brought to you by QNet’s exclusive skincare brand, Physio Radiance.
Read: Skin Nutrition is a Powerful Little Pill
