The Potential Effects of Halloween Makeup

Halloween is right around the corner—which means we are getting down to the wire with finalizing our costumes and figuring out how we are supposed to contour and highlight over our witchy green face paint. Speaking of face paint, we spoke with a top dermatologist to find out what potential effects Halloween makeup can have on our skin. See what all the fuss is about, below. 

THE POTENTIAL DOWNSIDE OF THAT PARTY STORE HALLOWEEN MAKEUP

Though inexpensive and convenient, party store Halloween makeup can wreak havoc on your complexion. According to board-certified dermatologist and Skincare.com consultant, Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali, party store makeup is similar to that of production makeup or face paint—which can unfortunately clog pores. In addition to making your skin susceptible to breakouts, party store Halloween makeup can be on the heavier side of the spectrum, which might make it harder for your skin to breathe throughout the night—and even harder to remove once All Hallows Eve is over.

HOW TO REMOVE HALLOWEEN MAKEUP

If you are dead set on wearing party store makeup, Dr. Bhanusali says that— fortunately— there are some things you can do to avoid breakouts. “Make sure to remove the makeup before hitting the sheets with a mild cleanser or oils,” he says. We recommend reaching for your favorite cleanser and a Clarisonic cleansing brush. A Clarisonic can clean your skin six times better than hands alone, giving your skin the deep pore- cleanse it will so desperately need after a night of rocking a ghoulish glam. If your Halloween plans include an all-night rager consider this tip from Dr. Bhanusali: “I generally recommend everyone to keep makeup remover wipes near their nightstand.” This way you can remove as much of the makeup as possible before hitting the hay.

After cleansing with a face wash, reach for a micellar water and then a toner. These steps will help you to further remove the remnants of party store makeup from your complexion. And, as always, use a moisturizer after washing your face. Cleansing without hydrating afterward can strip your skin of its necessary oils, dehydrating it in the process. When skin feels dehydrated, it can cause the sebaceous glands to overcompensate by producing excess of oil. This can then combine with dead skin cells and any leftover makeup from Halloween and in turnclog your pores, which can lead to breakouts. So even if you’re exhausted, make sure you at least cleanse and hydrate your skin before bed. 

WHAT TO USE INSTEAD

If you’re having second thoughts about that Halloween makeup kit you bought from your local party store, don’t worry, there are tons of other options available… even some with skin care benefits! Not sure where to begin? We share a full guide to Halloween makeup, here. The best part about using real makeup on Halloween is that you can find fun ways to incorporate these products into your regular beauty routine, too! 

Happy haunting!