Make-up: the healthy way

Can you really use make-up without damaging your skin? Most people will say, “no.” To them, I say, “challenge accepted!”...

Can you really use make-up without damaging your skin? Most people will say, “no.” To them, I say, “challenge accepted!”
When you love make-up as much as I do, you have to find ways to get around its ill effects. I have spent years trying to figure out the right combination of makeup and skincare for a healthy, everyday make-up routine. Healthy make-up should be make-up that is anti-aging and anti-acne. It might sound too good to be true but if you really try, believe, focus, and follow the following steps, you could be on your way to your healthiest skin yet!

Healthy make-up routine

CleanserUse a face wash that is not overly drying but gets off all the oil and dirt effectively.
Recommendation: Bioderma Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel

Toner
Use a toner so it can soothe and nourish your skin and restore its delicate pH balance. You can also use micellar water for this step.
Recommendation: Bioderma Sensibio H20

MoisturiserBefore you can start applying your make-up you MUST moisturise your skin. You should moisturise even if you have oily skin, but do make sure you are using an oil free moisturiser in that case.
Recommendation: Bioderma Sebium Hydra Moisturizer.

You’ll notice that the first three products I mention and use personally are all Bioderma (and, no, they do not sponsor me). It’s always a good idea to make sure that all your skincare products are from the same brand because they are made to harmonise with each other and create a sort of symphony for your skin.

Eye-cream
One of the areas where age shows up most is around your eyes. It is of the utmost importance that you use a good eye-cream. Pat in the eye cream very gently, using your ring finger because your ring finger has the most delicate touch. Trust me, the moment you hit twenty, it is wise to go out and invest in a luxurious, hydrating eye-cream.
Recommendation: Dior Prestige Eye Creme. A good locally available alternative that I also like is the Image Skincare Vital C Eye Gel.
Once you are done with this healthy skincare regime, you should give your face at least five minutes to soak in all the goodness before you start applying your make-up.

Sunscreen
I always like to start with a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Although this is actually a part of your skincare routine, many make-up products have built-in SPF, which is acceptable and may allow you to skip this step, depending on your lifestyle and exposure to the sun.
Recommendation: Image Skincare Prevention + SPF 50

Primer
Halfway through the article, we come to the first actual make-up product. (See what a drag this healthy make-up thing can be? But it pays off, I promise.) So, as clichéd, as it is to say this, not to prime, is indeed a crime. The primer creates a barrier between your face and the rest of the make-up you apply, thus protecting your pores and your skin from anything alien, while also keeping your make-up in place so you don’t have to constantly reapply. Warning: Do not skip this step.
Recommendation: Primed and Poreless Pure Face Primer for Sensitive Skin by Too Faced

The Base (BB Cream/ CC Cream/ Foundation/ Powder)
Now, we all may want flawless looking, completely unblemished faces for special makeovers, but ask yourself, do you really need to look like a porcelain doll everyday? No. You don’t. Really. For your everyday, healthy make-up routine, I would recommend using a single layer of a light, semi to medium coverage foundation, or even a BB cream. If you are feeling particularly brave, just go for a light powder with some concealer under your eyes and/or other areas where you might need added coverage.

Blush/Contour/Highlight
Use whatever form of blush you are most comfortable with; tint, cream or powder. Also, on an everyday basis it isn’t entirely essential to look like a chiseled model with perfect bone structure, so contour only if you must. Since the rest of your face is pretty healthy at this point, you can allow yourself to have a little fun with the highlighter, and it really does make a world of difference.
Recommendation: The Mary LouManizer

Brows/Eyes/Lashes
Even when you’re downplaying the rest of your face, you can amp up your look with perfectly shaped brows. Then, just add a bit of shadow to darken your crease and perhaps some liquid liner, leaving the rest of your lid bare. For your lashes, use organic mascara or a mascara infused with argan oil so it can nourish your lashes and help them grow at the same time!
Recommendation: Physicians Formula Argan Oil Mascara or Rimmel Wonder Lash

LipsUse a good lip balm to protect your lips, then, go crazy!

Remember, beauty comes from within, so eat healthy and stay fit to look beautiful. At the very least, drink plenty of water and make sure you get a minimum of 7.5 hours of sleep at night. The results will surprise you! Heaven knows that’s all I’ve got going for myself.