How to Keep Your Skin Looking Its Best Despite Heavy Halloween Makeup

Creating the perfect Halloween costume can take a lot of effort and planning. You need the right clothing and the perfect accessories. You’re likely transforming your face to get in character with heavy costume makeup. One thing you might not expect? The effect your iconic Halloween look could have on your skin. Staining, irritation, and breakouts are all potential adverse effects.

Luckily, if you get ahead with your skin care, you can avoid that peril altogether. And if you unfortunately fall victim to post-Halloween skin issues, there are remedies. Here’s how to keep your skin looking healthy this Halloween despite heavy costume makeup.

1. Stick to What You Know

While your Halloween look could call for painting your face green and gluing on prosthetics, you might tone it down. That’s especially true if you’re already dealing with skin issues. If you can, avoid waxy cream makeup that clogs pores and prosthetic-heavy costumes that can trap sweat and irritate your skin. Instead, choose makeup and accessories that you know your skin can tolerate.

Stick to familiar brands and products that you’ve used before without any adverse reactions. You might be surprised how much of your normal makeup can be used to create a spooky look. Add spider webs with your eyeliner and dip your eyeshadow brush into more drastic colors. This way, you can enjoy your Halloween transformation without the worry of unexpected skin issues.

If you still want to try a few new products, prioritize prepping your skin for the night out. A gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and acne treatment should do the trick for skin care. Keeping your routines consistent will keep your canvas ready for your Halloween masterpiece. And if you have a reaction, you’ll have a smaller list of potential culprits to choose from. That can make remedying the situation that much easier.

2. Keep Your Skin Hydrated

When you put the finishing touches on your Halloween makeup, you want it to last. While it’s great for your costume to have long-wear makeup, it can be drying for your skin. Having a blast on October 31 doesn’t mean you have to live with dry, crusty skin forever. There are a few key ingredients to incorporate into your recovery routine to boost hydration.

Hyaluronic acid will be an essential. It naturally binds to water molecules to provide ample hydration for your pores to absorb. This replenishes the lost moisture from heavy makeup. The best part is it’s readily available and comes in serums, gels, and creams, giving you plenty of options.

For those dealing with intense dryness, slugging may be your best bet. This skin care process involves applying a thick product like petroleum jelly all over your face before bed. Its ointment-like consistency and oil base create a film over the skin that locks in moisture. It also protects against potential irritants because of the barrier it creates. A few nights of slugging could be all your skin needs to reach its normal hydration levels.

3. Incorporate Acne Prevention Products

Staying out late at night with heavy makeup and a less-than-ideal cleansing routine is a recipe for breakouts. Add new products and the acne-causing tendency of Halloween costume makeup to the mix, and you’re facing an uphill battle. That’s why it’s crucial to prioritize products in your recovery routine that fight back against blemishes.

Start with salicylic acid. It’s potent, available in many forms, and is an easy product to incorporate into your daily routine. Simply cleanse your face and apply it as a toner or serum every morning. Follow it up with SPF to protect against UV rays and further damage, and you’re well on your way to clearer skin.

Have acne that just won’t budge? Pick up some hydrocolloid patches and apply them to particularly pesky zits overnight. They work to protect your breakout from new bacteria and help puss and other blemish gunk seep out of your pores. When used consistently, they can help decrease the size of your zit and improve healing time. That will help any spooky skin reactions be a thing of the past.

4. Prioritize Gentle Ingredients

It’s natural to want to fix any skin troubles you may be dealing with. You hope to heal your acne, remove dead skin, and get back to glowing skin. While that’s totally understandable, you’ll want to take a more gentle approach post-Halloween.

When your skin is irritated, breaking out, or recovering from costume makeup, it’s sensitive. So, using active ingredients like retinol or exfoliants may cause more harm than good. They’re likely too strong or abrasive for your routine as your skin recovers from the festivities.

Instead, prioritize gentle products with simple ingredients. A foaming cleanser with antioxidants like niacinamide and vitamin B is a great option. These ingredients have restorative properties that help calm the skin and reduce inflammation. Once your skin is back to normal, you can reincorporate stronger products with peace of mind.

Hauntingly Beautiful Skin

Soon, the excitement of the spookiest night of the year will begin to give way to the holiday season. And as much as you may love a good scare, your skin will be grateful for the recovery routine you established. That is until you start planning for next year’s costume.