MARIA'S NOTES

I remember my first makeup product was a double-ended Maybelline eyeliner pencil. I was doing winged eyeliner like it was going out of style! Even though those lines were toooo thick and crooked; it made makeup is fun. Not only is it an awesome way to express yourself, but in many people’s lives it’s a gateway to their femininity and inner self expression. It’s so essential to their everyday lives that in most cases, it feels irreplaceable. I was in that same position; but lately I’ve grown very weary of foundations and concealers in place of my newfound skincare routine. But the real reason is because the texture of my skin appeared less appealing and I was eager to find out why. Considering I wore makeup seven days a week, I chalked it up to just that–my makeup was causing my natural appearance and complexion to look older, and I found out why.

Makeup is composed of chemicals and liquified content that work together to perform a particular function on the skin. It is no secret that some of these chemicals can impact the skin; in both good and bad ways. A major drawback of makeup is it tends to age skin tremendously. According to an article published by the Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery Institute, although makeup products do pose the ability to age skin, it isn’t directly the cause of older, more wrinkled appearing skin. Check out the article here:

Bad practices contribute to an unpleasant, dull complexion and physical appearance. One of these bad practices is wearing makeup to bed before cleansing! I am so guilty of this–after a long strenuous day, completing my 15-step makeup routine is the farthest thing from my mind. According to EveSleep.com, 96% of poll takers admitted to sleeping with makeup on! (My people, I see you). This is a tremendous statistic. I’m fully aware that this feels tough to break, but not impossible. Here are the ways you can stop the clock and potentially reverse your aging skin.

1. Develop a skin care regimen!

It is no secret that collagen is the building block of smooth, radiant healthy skin! Our bodies naturally produce collagen, but an increase of collagen production is entirely dependent on what we consume. This is integral in order to improve skin elasticity, which declines rapidly once we reach 25. Many cosmetologists and skincare professionals encourage chicken, fish, and egg which boost the body’s natural production of collagen. Purchasing high quality collagen products can also be highly effective! This is going to be especially useful after wearing makeup for hours on end. Your skin needs to be nourished after absorbing free radicals and chemicals throughout a 24hr day!

2. Buy clean makeup products

Now I know this is a tough one–believe me I quite literally CRIED when I purged my closet of my longwear foundations and transfer-resistant eyeliners. I highly encourage you to inspect your makeup products. This is largely because many products still on the market contain harmful ingredients like Parabens, formaldehyde, and Fragrance which all pose the chances of rapid skin aging, skin cancer, and even fertility issues. I get it, it’ll be tough to part with your tried and true;  but there are many promising clean products on the market as well. Many makeup retailers make them easy to identify; just look for the “clean at Sephora” icon in the description!

3. Know your skin

Your skin is a very personal aspect of your life, and you should be able to take pride in it. It is something that contains unique properties that no one else’s skin can replicate. This is why before even curating your own routine, you’ll need to understand your skin type, and what it requires to flourish. Many dermatologist centers are able to help you identify whether your skin is considered normal, oily, or combination, which will be helpful in determining what your skincare regimen will look like, as well as makeup products that will compliment your skin type. Your skin is the most beautiful part to you, spend some quality time with it and learn what it takes to nurture and support it.

4. Perfection doesn’t exist

Now you’ve done all the leg work, but still see a fine line or two, or maybe there’s some discoloration left behind. And that is totally okay! Skin is not something that will ever remain consistent! Your skin is ever changing; and is very prone to experience a break out from time to time. These steps will contribute to having healthy radiant skin in the long run, so be patient! Good skin days are on their way to you if you really want to find them.