Makeup Allergies and the Sensitive Skin Solution
Every morning we spend up to an hour, maybe even longer, carefully and precisely applying a wide array of makeup to highlight and enhance our natural features and put our best face forward. After putting in so much effort, it can be aggravating when your eyes start to water or itch – smudging and ruining your eye makeup, and it seems counterproductive when foundations and concealers intended to cover up flaws, cause even more breakouts or redness. Sometimes it can feel like our makeup is working against us, not for us. So it’s wise to make smart swaps in your makeup drawer for hypoallergenic makeup.
Signs of Makeup Allergies
There are a number of signs that point to makeup allergies. Reactions can be the result of contact dermatitis which causes rashes, swelling, itching, and swelling; contact urticaria which results in itching, burning, and tingling sensations at the point of contact; or photocontact dermatitis which happens when ingredients reacting negatively to sunlight and appears as a bad sunburn or eczema. If you’ve dealt with these symptoms directly after applying makeup, or if you experience dry, peeling, or broken out skin that isn’t alleviated with moisturizer, it’s likely that you have some sort of allergy or sensitivity to one or more of the ingredients in the products you’re using. Although allergy symptoms vary between skin conditions, the best approach is to stick with a sensitive skin makeup brand.
Common Makeup Allergens
- fragrances
- parabens
- salicylates
- gluten
- chemical preservatives
- alcohols
- dyes
How to Test for Makeup Allergies?
Since we use so many different makeup and skin care products it’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly is the culprit that’s causing irritation. If you recently started using a new product and the symptoms start to arise, it’s safe to assume that’s what’s causing the reaction. Stop using it, and see if the problems cease, or try a self-patch test.
But sometimes new allergies or sensitivities can develop after using the same products for years. In this case it’s best to play around with your makeup routine and halt use of one product at a time to see where the problem lies.
That being said, irritation is not always from makeup itself, but what you use to apply it. Many makeup brushes are made from animal hair, and with about 10 percent of the population being allergic to animal fur, it’s more likely than you think that your brushes are the problem.
Hypoallergenic Makeup is the Solution
Luckily, if you’re in the market for a tear-free mascara, fur-free brushes, or a sensitive skin foundation, there is a wealth of hypoallergenic makeup products and brushes available. Avoid the aforementioned common allergens and lean towards fragrance-free makeup. Products with minimal ingredients (preferably ones you don’t have trouble pronouncing) and cosmetics for sensitive skin are what most dermatologists recommend for those with allergies.
It may feel like the end of the world when your makeup hinders your beauty routine rather than helps it, but natural, hypoallergenic makeup and brushes are there to turn your makeup routine around and put an end to blotchy skin, smudged eye makeup, and pesky breakouts.
