Makeup Tips for Sensitive Skin

Tell me if this sounds familiar…You’re doing well with your skin care routine, staying consistent, and your sensitive skin is pretty well-managed and calm. But then you and your friends have a night out on the town or you have a hot date where you treat yourself to a full glam makeup look, and the next day, boom – all that irritation and sensitivity is back. 

The unfortunate truth is that your makeup might be to blame. Makeup can contain ingredients that are harsh on your skin, and whether you’re wearing it daily or it’s just an occasional look, it’s not great for your skin. 

If your skin is sensitive, you don’t have to miss out on the fun of makeup, you just have to be a bit more strategic about it. Try these makeup tips for sensitive skin so you can look stunning before, during, and after your makeup use. 

Make Prevention Consistent

Looking amazing in your favorite makeup doesn’t just depend on what you’re doing on that particular day. In fact, one of the most effective ways to make sure your sensitive skin doesn’t get in the way of your makeup (or vice versa) is to have a consistent routine that keeps your irritation and inflammation generally under control. This includes things like:

• Wearing mineral sunscreen daily
• Moisturizing every morning and night
• Choosing skin care products designed for sensitive skin
• Stopping any product you use that’s irritating your skin 

The better managed your sensitivity is on an ongoing basis, the less it will impact your makeup routine. 

Always Start with Moisturizing

We’ve all had those days when you’re in a rush to get out the door, whether you’re heading to work or running late for your dinner reservation, and you just need to get a quick face of makeup done. But no matter what the clock says, always take those few extra seconds to apply moisturizer before your makeup.

It's good advice for anyone, but for sensitive skin, it’s non-negotiable. Moisturizer will make your skin smoother and softer so that your makeup has a better finish. It protects your skin too, though. Moisturizer fortifies your skin’s protective barrier instantly, so your makeup is less likely to irritate your skin. 

Try a Color Correcting Primer

A primer is a great way to create a protective barrier between your skin and your makeup, and to give your skin a smoother finish so your completed makeup look is seamless. While moisturizer alone can be an effective primer for many people, if your sensitive skin has some redness that you want to camouflage, you might add a color correcting primer to your makeup prep. 

A color correcting primer is specifically made to neutralize blotchy red and pink areas of your skin, sometimes by using green tints to counteract the redness. 

Know Which Foundation Texture is Right for You

When it comes to foundation, getting a shade match is only the half of it. You also want to pick the texture that’s most flattering to your skin. 

For sensitive skin that’s dry, a lightweight liquid foundation will be your best bet, and not one that’s mattifying. The matte finish can really accentuate any dry spots, so a nice liquid foundation will be hydrating and will blend nicely with your skin. 

If your sensitive skin is more oily, you’ll probably be better served with a powder foundation. This will help to neutralize oily areas. 

While those suggestions are great starting points, keep in mind that you might need some trial and error to see what types of foundations your skin seems to like best. 

Have a Blocked List

As you’ve probably already experienced, a big part of managing sensitive skin is just knowing what not to put on your skin. That’s true for makeup too. 

Certain ingredients are common irritants that it’s safe to stay away from. For example, when you’re shopping for makeup, choose products without:

• Alcohols
• Fragrances
• Essential oils
• Menthols, mints or their derivatives
• Capsaicin, a “spicy” compound that’s popular in lip plumpers 

Along with these known troublemakers, if you come across any ingredients in skin care products or makeup that your skin reacts to, add those to the blocked list and steer clear of them when you’re makeup shopping. 

Finish with an Alcohol-Free or Hydrating Setting Spray

Setting spray is an essential step to make sure your creative work lasts all day or all night. But did you know most setting sprays have alcohol in them? They use the alcohol to help the spray dry quickly, but sensitive skin usually isn’t a fan. 

Fortunately, there are setting sprays out there with alternative formulas that either minimize or skip the alcohol, because our sensitive faces deserve to keep their makeup in place like everyone else. 

Take It All Off Sensitively

Sometimes your skin and your makeup get along just fine, but it’s your makeup remover that’s causing the trouble. Makeup removers can contain ingredients like alcohols or oils that your skin doesn’t respond well to, but there are gentler options. 

Micellar water is a popular alternative. It’s amazingly gentle yet still effective at clearing away your makeup. Another options might be makeup remover cloths, which don’t use any products except for water and are formulated to grip your makeup but not your skin (P.S. standard washcloths aren’t the same…just don’t do it). 

Having Your Fun Without Compromising Your Skin

Your skin doesn’t have to hold back your ability to rock as much makeup as you want, nor does your makeup have to do damage to your skin. You really can have it all with just a little strategy and some smart product shopping. Arm yourself with these tips and enjoy your makeup freedom.