9 Must Know Make Up and Skin Care Tips

Make up and skin care may have once been considered separate topics for discussion, but no longer. As science has increased our understanding of human skin over the past several years, the cosmetics and skin care industries have understood they must keep pace to create and manufacture make up and skin care products that meet the growing skin care needs of today’s women.

The cosmetics industry has had to come face to face with the concerns that have arisen regarding some of the ingredients used in their products. Studies have shown that certain chemicals used in cosmetics can cause damage to skin.

As a result of the greater scrutiny these products undergo, make up and skin care are, of necessity, linked together and should be part of your thinking when purchasing or using any make up products.

Here are nine make up and skin care tips to help get you started:

1. Always test any make up product before you use it. A good way to do this is to ask the manufacturer or company for a free sample. You might even be able to get free samples from those pretty young ladies in the mall who are always asking people to try their products. Apply a small amount behind your ear and leave it on a couple of hours to see if you develop a rash or allergic reaction to the product.
   
   
2. Become a make up and skin care ingredients expert. It’s easier than you think. Just copy the ingredients of the product you’re interested in (you can do this from the product listing on their website) and do a Google search on each of the ingredients. Don’t be afraid of those weird scientific names. Many of these odd-sounding ingredients have been used safely and effectively for decades. Keep in mind that not all natural ingredients are always good for your skin type or condition. Likewise, not synthetic ingredients are necessarily bad for your skin and may help your skin. (See our article, Can Natural Skin Care Products Contain Parabens?)
   
   
3. Make sure you check the expiration date on the packaging or container of your cosmetic or skin care product. Do not use products whose expiration date has passed. Many all natural skin care products, in particular, are effective for short terms only and should be refrigerated to keep them from spoiling prematurely. Seal containers properly and store as directed on the accompanying directions.
   
   
4. Proper make up and skin care procedure requires an emphasis on cleanliness. Keep all your cosmetics kit supplies and equipment clean at all times. Sharpen eye-liners regularly. You want to reduce the possibility of germs or bacteria being transferred from your equipment to your make up and then onto your skin.
   
   
5. For the same reason, you should always keep your hair and nails as clean as possible. If your hair is not clean, and you can’t wash it right away, pull it back or pin it away from your skin. For your nails, be sure to use high quality nail polish. When you have finished cleaning and polishing your nails, rub in cuticle oil in and around the edges of the nail.
   
   
6. Always consider your skin type and condition as part of your make up and skin care approach. You may want to avoid any heavy or chemical based make up products if you have acne or highly sensitive skin, for example. Talk to your dermatologist if you are not sure about the make up products that you are considering. He or she should be able to tell you if that product is a good choice for you.
   
   
7. Here is a little known but valuable make up and skin care tip: women with deep-set eyes are better served using a liquid eye liner rather than a pencil liner to avoid smudging along your eye-lid’s deep edges.
   
   
8. Remove your make up before going to sleep. When removing make up, rather than washing it away with soap and water, use a mild natural make up remover like jojoba oil or virgin coconut oil.
   
   
9. If you use spray deodorants, be sure to read the directions before applying. Each product will have a recommended distance that should be observed between aerosol spray can’s nozzle and your skin. Try to be as precise as possible to avoid getting the deodorant anywhere near your face.

Make up and skin care are complementary and you should always practice common sense and good skin care habits to enjoy better skin and to improve your quality of life.