Have you ever wondered why women wear make-up and are particularly crazy about it? Before embracing western civilization and its beauty products such as powders, lipsticks and foundations, African women used Camwood powder and khol for facial and body decorations.
Imma Nkong
They patterned their faces with the red powder and the black khol for their lips and eyes. This was a woman’s only adornment; African men did not do skin designs.
Research published by Journal of Cosmetic Science (March 2008),on why women wear makeup, revealed that beyond simple application of colorful products on the face, makeup could support two opposites:”camouflage” where women are more anxious, defensive, and emotionally unstable as opposed to “seduction,” where they appear to be more sociable and assertive. Make-up stimulates three of our senses: touch (from the body surface) which encompasses all sensations, smell (fragrance), and sight (process of looking beautiful). The positive stimulation of these senses by makeup can induce sensory as well as psychological pleasure.
But makeup can damage the user’s skin. Some eye infections such as pink eye, acne, premature aging, skin allergies, and skin discoloration have been linked to make-up, says the Fox News health page.
Make-up itself may not be the danger, but rather the habits we keep with makeup. Sleeping in makeup can clog your pores and invite acne onto your face. It also can irritate your eyes and cause bumps on the skin close to your eyes.
Leaving makeup on your skin overnight can accentuate wrinkles and aging. Should you choose to wear foundation, you’re not harming your skin and but likely helping it. However, if you’re using a heavy, oilbased foundation on oily, acne-prone skin, it will likely clog your pores and cause breakouts.
Dr. Michele Green, MD, a cosmetic dermatologist, agreed that giving skin a rest from makeup can help reduce and improve breakouts. “There’s more oxygen that’ll be delivered to your face; your skin will have more time to repair itself and regenerate its elastin and collagen,” says the female doctor. Following are CEM’s useful tips on how to care for your face:
Before Make-up
- Make available your facial care products.Choose products carefully. Scan through the ingredients. Do not use products blindly just because they were well marketed to you. Some may actually have harmful ingredients to the skin such as hydroquinone. Avoid products with fragrance, oil, and parabens. Look for products that are Nonacnegenic(products that won’t cause acne), Noncomedogenic (they won’t block pores) and Hypoallergenic (less likely to cause reactions).
- Clean your brushes. Usepersonal brushes even when getting a professional make-up application. Sharing brushes which are often unwashed between users can lead to the spread of contagious infections. Personal brushes must be washed often to keep them clean and free from bacteria and fungi.
- Know your skin. Watch out for indications of allergies, itches, dry skin and remove the culprit product from your make-up routine. Do not use products borrowed from others; know what your skin likes and stick to it.
During Make-up
- Prevent skin discoloration: Your face looks dark when your skin gets oxidized after makeup. Using a silicone-based primer acts as a barrier between your skin’s natural oils and oils in foundation. Use foundations that have non-comedogenic ingredients.
- Do not workout with make-up. When you work out, your pores and sweat glands open up in order to cool down your body ;take off your makeup for free transpiration and breathable skin
After Make-up
Face cleansing. Wearing a full face of makeup can block your pores and glands, hindering your skin’s ability to breathe, which can result in breakouts, blackheads and skin irritation. Also, make-up residue can cause imperfections when left unclean for hours. Hence, cleanse!
- Start with a double-cleanse, to prep the skin. Aestheticians recommend a double cleanse, starting with oil-based cleanser to melt away makeup and remove unwanted, dead skin cells while still keeping the lipid barrier intact and then continuing with a foam- or cream-based cleanser to keep pores cleaner.
- Exfoliate. Use a chemical exfoliant and remove dead skin cells to clear out your pores. Physical exfoliants that have gritty scrubs in them can damage your skin’s top protective layer.
- Apply a facial mask to hydrate the skin and prevent dull dry skin. There are lots of DIY home mask that are very nourishing to the skin of the face.
- Apply a serum for brightness, plumb and glow. Those with vitamin C in them help brighten the face.
- Finish off by sealing in all the effects of the good stuff you just used on your face with a coat of alight-weight or a thick, rich cream moisturizer that is best for your skin type and concerns.
While make-up may seem indispensable to many women know, you can glowwithout makeup, by maintaining simple skin care habits.According to AMA KWARTENG on Cosmopolitan,drinking a glass of lemon and honey water can be great for your skin. It helps in flushing out harmful toxins from your body and helps in weight loss. While honey keeps your skin moisturized from within, lemon has vitamin C which gives your face that natural glow. Home remedy packs that can keep your skin nourished and hydrated:
- Mint and turmeric face pack. …
- Cucumber and sugar face pack. …
- Lemon and honey face pack. …
- Curd and gram flour face pack. …
- Strawberry and lemon face pack. …
- Egg and honey mask. …
- Banana face mask. …
- Sandalwood and rosewater pack.
Follow with the following simple habits:
- Cleanse regularly
- Exfoliate your skin
- Look for brightening skincare ingredients such as vitamin C and Vitamin E
- Hydrate always
- Use shimmery lotion to boost glow
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods
- See a dermatologist for any skin problems.
