It’s October, so you know what that means: It’s officially the best time of year, aka Halloween season. Whether you knew what you were going to wear three months ago or are still scrambling for costume ideas, it’s never too late to start planning out your fabulous Halloween look. Halloween is the perfect time to experiment with an extravagant makeup look that you’ve always wanted to test out but just haven’t gotten around to yet.
However, sometimes Halloween makeup can be heavy and can cause breakouts, which is the last thing that anyone wants. That’s why it’s important to have a regimen to refresh and soothe your skin post-Halloween. Here are skincare tips for taking off heavy Halloween makeup that I always practice religiously, especially after freshman year when I sort of overdid it on the face paint (I definitely learned my lesson the hard way).
- Remember to wash your face and take off your makeup before bed.
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Trust me, I know what it’s like to come home after a long night out and just want to curl up in bed right away without doing your 10-step skincare routine. But the aftermath is simply not worth it. Not only will you most likely smear all of your makeup over your bed, but also you have a higher chance of breaking out.
According to researchers at Neutrogena, wearing makeup at night prevents the skin from renewing itself while you sleep and could cause fatigue signs to start appearing. Tatyana Franklin, professional pharmacist and founder and owner of Skin Rx-Pert, recommends beginning your double-cleansing procedure with The Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water in order to dissolve waterproof makeup. Franklin then suggests following the micellar water with a rich, foamy cleanser like the CeraVe Hydrating Cream-to-Foam Cleanser to eliminate leftover dirt and makeup.
So no matter how tired you are, use some micellar water, wash your face, and then go to bed feeling refreshed and makeup-free.
- Use a face mask to prevent breakouts.
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Another way to protect your skin from acne breakouts is using a hydrating face mask the night of or day after to cleanse your pores and get rid of any excess buildup. Face masks can be really great for your skin and also function as a super relaxing form of self-care, too.
According to Healthline, depending on the face mask you use, they can be an effective way to deliver therapeutic skincare ingredients. That said, make sure you avoid harsher ingredients such as fragrances, alcohol, parabens, dyes, and essential oils. One of my all-time favorite face masks is the Innisfree Pore Clearing Face Mask. It’s only $15 and helps to minimize the look of pores, gently exfoliate your skin, and even cleanses pollution particles. Maybe turn on your favorite comfort show, grab your favorite face mask, and have yourself a fun-self care night!
- Moisturize!
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In almost every skincare article you read, most beauty experts and dermatologists mention that moisturizing is the most important step of your skincare routine. According to the UT Medical Center, moisturizing every day can help lessen your chances of developing dry or oily skin. So in other words, don’t skip this part of your skincare routine before putting your Halloween makeup on, and especially the morning after when your skin needs a little extra hydration.
Franklin suggests using the Vichy Aqualia Thermal Night Spa cream, which contains hyaluronic acid and functions as both a moisturizer and overnight mask (a two-in-one deal). My favorite moisturizer currently is The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors+ HA. It’s super lightweight and great for sensitive skin. After a busy Halloween night, your skin definitely needs a little reset with your go-to moisturizer.
- Try an ice roller on your face in the A.M.
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Once I saw people on TikTok raving about ice rollers, I knew I needed to give it a shot. So I hopped on Amazon and ordered one for myself — and looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Sometimes I wake up in the morning, especially after a crazy Saturday night, and my face is extremely puffy and swollen. But after I started using the ice roller, my face felt less puffy and it also gave me the burst of energy that I needed to get my day started.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD and Medical Advisor, says a cool face roller not only revives but also improves blood circulation, tones the skin, shrinks pores, and reduces swelling. Most people tend to stay out pretty late on Halloween, so what better way to wake yourself up and soothe your skin than with an ice roller? Not to mention, it makes you feel productive and more focused.
With the weather getting drier and Halloween coming up, it’s more important than ever to take care of your skin. Hopefully, you now have some incentive to get your skincare routine ready for before and after your Halloween festivities. Have some fun with your Halloween makeup, but don’t forget to take it off and moisturize at the end of the night!