Halloween Make-Up Without the Breakouts

Face paint, glitter, fake blood and a long night out: Halloween is fun, but heavy costume make-up can be tough on acne-prone skin. Thick, long-wearing textures stay on the skin for hours, mix with sweat and sebum and, if they are not removed properly, can leave clogged pores and new spots behind. A few simple habits before and after the party make all the difference.

Before the party: patch-test new face paint

Costume make-up is often worn only once a year, so your skin has never met it before. Choose products intended for use on the face, and test them first: apply a small amount behind the ear or on the inside of the elbow 48 hours before Halloween. If you notice redness, itching or stinging, do not use it on your face.

• Start with a clean base. Cleanse, then apply a light, non-comedogenic moisturiser such as the Anti-Acne Skin Balance Cream before the make-up. It keeps the skin comfortable without adding a heavy layer.
• Keep the heaviest products where you need them. Full-face paint is not always necessary: a few well-placed details often look just as good.
• Use clean brushes and sponges, and never share them.

After the party: remove everything, then cleanse twice

Costume make-up is designed to last, so a quick splash of water is not enough.

1. Remove the make-up first. Gently dissolve face paint, glitter and long-wear foundation with a make-up remover suited to your skin. Press and wipe softly, without rubbing.
2. Cleanse a first time to wash away the remaining make-up and residue.
3. Cleanse a second time to clear sebum and sweat from the pores. A soap-free gel designed for oily, blemish-prone skin, such as the Anti-Acne Purifying Gel, cleanses without stripping. In a study on 20 volunteers, it reduced sebum by 45.1% after 28 days, and the skin was mattified in 95% of volunteers.
4. Finish with your usual moisturiser to restore comfort.

Skinormil tip: however late it is, never sleep in your make-up. Put your remover, cleanser and a soft towel by the sink before you go out, so the routine takes two minutes when you get home.

The days after: keep it simple

• Wait a few days before exfoliating. Skin that has worn heavy make-up and been cleansed thoroughly needs a break. After two or three days, a gentle exfoliation with the Anti-Acne Mask-Exfoliant helps remove dead cells and refine the skin, without the irritation of harsh scrubs.
• Stick to your basic routine: cleanse morning and evening, moisturise, protect. This is not the moment to try several new products at once.
• Hands off. Picking at a spot pushes inflammation deeper and increases the risk of marks.

Your Halloween gift

Until 1 November, every order from €30 comes with a free Anti-Acne Purifying Gel 50 ml, the ideal after-party cleanser. Discover the Halloween selection or the full Anti-Acne line.

If a reaction to face paint does not settle within a few days, or if your skin becomes painful, swollen or blistered, see a pharmacist, a dermatologist or your doctor.