The Benefits of Wearing Less Makeup: Michael Kurzman, MD: General & Cosmetic Dermatology (2024)

FAQs

Is wearing less makeup better for your skin? ›

Dr. Michele Green, MD, an 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 Dr. Green.

Being gentle with your skin will cut back on prematurely aging your skin, but less makeup will have your skin looking younger. You'll have less bacteria on your face. Bacteria is all around us but you don't want it on your face. Every single time a makeup brush touches your face, you're adding bacteria to your skin.

However, dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say it's okay for acne patients to wear makeup. The key is to select cosmetics that don't cause acne and establish a skin care routine that works for your skin type.

A brighter, healthier complexion, as well as fewer clogged pores and potentially even less blackheads, pimples, and breakouts. The longer your skin goes without makeup, the better it will be able to stabilize sebum or oil production, hydration levels, and its natural mechanism for exfoliating dead skin cells.

We found that, while makeup did make faces more attractive on average, it only accounted for around 2 percent of the entire variation in attractiveness judgments. In other words, when someone makes a judgement of your attractiveness, makeup will only contribute to around 2 percent of that judgement.

Your lashes will look fuller.

Dr. Kihiczak agrees, stating that if you forego mascara for a month, you'll be stopping the irritation and rubbing, where less lashes will fall out and the density of the lashes can normalize—your lashes will appear to be thicker.

Whereas makeup made faces of all ages look more attractive, its effects on apparent age were more complex: middle-aged faces looked younger with makeup on, 20-year old faces looked older with makeup, and 30-year old faces looked their real age whether wearing makeup or not.

Sleeping with Makeup On Leads to Premature Aging

Sleeping with makeup prevents the skin from this much-needed renewal, resulting in healthy collagen breaking down. Light is unable to reflect off the skin, making your skin appear old and rough. As makeup interrupts cell turnover, fine lines and wrinkles can occur.

Makeup artist Helena Olivares advises swapping vampy plum or brown tones for more neutral shades, as they can look a bit harsh on aging skin. Neutral tones and subtle pinks, she explains, can help you achieve a more youthful appearance, as they instantly give the skin a brighter and cleaner look.

According to board-certified dermatologist Michele Green, MD, makeup itself doesn't age your skin. However, certain ingredients in makeup can certainly work against your skin's natural aging process. Among others, these ingredients include: parabens.

What not to say to a dermatologist? ›

Avoid wearing makeup and nail polish to your skin screening

Come to your skin screening without wearing makeup or nail polish. Because they cover up areas of your skin where cancer can occur, it's best to avoid these products the day of your exam to ensure your dermatologist can do a thorough screening.

Did you know taking just two days a week off from wearing makeup can make a difference? According to the information skincare extraordinaire Lena Sgambati shared with StyleCaster, by ceasing to apply makeup for that short amount of time, you can help enhance the overall color and tone of your skin.

Your skin cells take about 28 to 40 days (the length of one month!) to shed and be replaced by new cells. This makes way for brighter, healthier skin with less clogged pores and unnecessary breakouts. Inevitably, the longer you go with this no makeup movement, the better it is for your skin.

Some people feel prettier without makeup, because fresh clean skin gives them happiness and the glow. However, some people like using makeup as art. As an expression.

Going without makeup can really have benefits to your skin, particularly if you were regularly wearing heavy, comedogenic makeup that was clogging your pores and causing acne—time away from that sort of regimen will be great for your skin.

DON'T wear mascara on your lower lashes. Playing up your lower lashes can make your eyes look droopy and draw attention to dark circles. It makes the eyes look older and accentuates the under eye wrinkles.

What makes a face look younger? ›

Wear a cap or hat when you're going to be in the sun for a longer period. Use skincare diligently. Serums and creams can moisturize dehydrated skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Cyspera is also a treatment cream that can reduce the appearance of pigmentations.

Typical youthful features: high cheekbones, full cheeks, and a defined jawline. Generally as we age, facial bone changes, soft tissues (like muscles) fall due to gravity, and skin sags and droops downward.

A thick and heave foundation can age you quickly. Caking on the foundation all over your face can also cause that dreaded line of demarcation on your jawline. Remember, foundation serves to even out your skin tone, NOT to cover flaws.

Leaving all that on your face overnight is like an open invitation for bacteria, clogged pores, breakouts, and blackheads. Even if you're someone who wears non-comedogenic makeup (we love a good comedogenic foundation), it can still clog your pores and cause acne if left on the skin overnight.

Untimely Aging

Leaving makeup on for a longer period along with sun damage can result in premature ageing signs like wrinkles, fine lines and age spots. Also, when you don't remove your makeup before you sleep, it can get into your pores, break the elastin and cause wrinkles.

About 57% of global makeup consumers are aged between 18-34 years. This statistic is significant in the context of a blog post about Makeup Statistics because it reveals the age demographic that is most likely to purchase makeup products.

Clothes with gray undertones can wash you out and make you seem older, says Natalie Jobity, an image consultant and author of Frumpy to Fabulous. “This is especially true about the colors you wear closest to your face, like those in scarves,” she says.

Darker colors can also make you look younger

Also, darker eye makeup will make your eyes look bigger, which will also make you look younger. You just need to choose a color that will go well with your skin tone, eye color and hair color.

Black (not graphite, grey, or faded black) is one of the most basic but fab shades to have in your wardrobe since it will always make you look younger, more beautiful, and more powerful. A black maxi dress is a perfect fit to make an impression and look younger at the same time!

What makes your face look older? ›

They're the result of facial muscles continually tugging on, and eventually creasing, the skin. Other folds may get deeper because of the way fat decreases and moves around. Finer wrinkles are due to sun damage, smoking, and natural degeneration of elements of the skin that keep it thick and supple.

Avoid Powder

Powder on mature skin can accentuate texture and dry out the skin even more. Many people use powder makeup to help their skin look more youthful. However, applying powder all over the face can actually age your skin faster.

It is always best to give your dermatologist a clear view of your skin. Take a shower before your appointment. Wear comfortable clothing so you can slip easily into an examination gown. Do not use nail polish or makeup, which can hide potentially critical evidence your doctor needs to find.

In order to make the examination reliable, you must be well-prepared for the first visit you are going to pay. This means that you shouldn't wash the hair at least a day before the arranged visit so as to help the specialist assess how your sebaceous glands work and what the degree of epidermis keratinization is.

You will be asked to remove all clothing excluding undergarments. You will be given a paper drape to cover you. Your dermatology provider then will come into the exam room, greet you and will ask if you have any moles, spots or areas of concern.

At your full body skin check, your doctor will look over you skin from head to toe. You will be asked undress down to your underwear. It is preferable to remove your bra. Please be prepared to remove your makeup.

Some dermatologists do a full-body exam in every sense of the phrase, including genital and perianal skin. Others address these areas only if a patient specifically requests them. If you've noted any concerning spots in this area, raise them.

If you've ever thought your makeup makes you look more wrinkled, it might be by virtue of dehydrated skin. Makeup has a way of leaching the moisture from the skin, accentuating pores, and highlighting fine lines and wrinkles. So if your skin looks worse with foundation, this could be a major culprit.

Look for non-matte products that do double, triple, even quadruple duty—say, by adding a dewy glow, intense moisture, sunscreen to ward off spots and wrinkles, retinol and even a filter-like finish. “Dewy foundations give you a more hydrated, youthful look than matte foundations,” says Duque.

Why do I feel prettier without makeup? ›

Some people feel prettier without makeup, because fresh clean skin gives them happiness and the glow. However, some people like using makeup as art. As an expression.

Does short or long hair make you look younger? Long hair can enhance facial features by diverting attention away from wrinkles or age spots and adding volume to your hair. Short hair does not need to age you, though, as the style and texture of shorter hairstyles can add a youthful appearance.

A skincare routine can bring a big impact on the skin and make a woman look younger naturally. Facial massage improves blood circulation and improves skin elasticity. Daily massage is a part of the skincare routine. Including Vitamin C-rich fruits, vegetables and supplements improve collagen production.

What foundation does not settle into wrinkles? Powder foundations are great, but not for those with aging skin, since they usually settle into wrinkles. Thick, full-coverage foundations can do the same. “A liquid foundation that's on the thinner side is usually preferable,” says celebrity makeup artist Beck Wainner.

Best Overall: Chanel Ultra Le Teint Flawless Finish Foundation, $65. Best Matte Finish: Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, $40. Best Dewy Finish: Nars Light Reflecting Foundation, $50. Best Drugstore: L'Oréal Paris Age Perfect Radiant Serum Foundation, $17.

Older women should opt for hydrating, light-reflecting makeup products. Using warmer tones for foundation and concealer, softer colors for eyeliner, and brighter colors like peach or pink can bring a youthful glow.

Opt for a lighter eyeshadow rather than a dark, smoky shade on your eyelids and around the eyes, like Jenna Dewan Tatum. "Highlighting the corners makes eyes look brighter and fresh," says Ahnert. "Use a light color shadow in matte or shimmer to inner corner, lower lash line in outer corner, and the inner lid."

Who looks most beautiful without makeup? ›