The Best Makeup Routine for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin is the ultimate drama queen. One wrong move, and it’s all redness, irritation, and flare-ups for days. And let’s be real—even the thought of long-lasting makeup can send shivers down your spine, because traditional longwear cosmetics typically use harsh ingredients, guaranteeing clogged pores and a breakout that’s just waiting to happen. 

But what if we told you that you can take your dermatologist off speed dial for this makeup routine? From soothing eyeshadow primers for sensitive eyes, and hypoallergenic face makeup that’s lightweight and breathable, we’re breaking down the best makeup routine for sensitive skin, so you can glow without the woe.

A Routine Built for You

Whether you have oily or dry skin, finding the right makeup products for sensitive skin is nothing short of a balancing act. Compromising on either formula or pigment while prioritizing gentle ingredients is not ideal, since it keeps you from unleashing your inner artist to create colorful makeup looks. 

But that doesn’t mean you have to skip wearing makeup altogether—you just need a routine that treats your skin like the VIP it is. The good news is, it just got a whole lot easier to find long-lasting, pigmented makeup products suited for sensitive skin. When you’re shopping for makeup products, keeping a checklist of the following few parameters can help you choose wisely.

• Gentle on All Skin Types

  Look for makeup that’s gentle and suited to various skin types, without being either too oily or too drying.

• Breathable Formula

  If you’re someone who wears their makeup for longer periods, a breathable formula feels more comfortable for your sensitive skin.

• Vegan Ingredients

  Vegan cosmetics with natural ingredients are less harsh on your skin if you struggle with sensitivities and allergies.

• Paraben-Free

  While parabens preserve the shelf-life of your makeup products, they can prove to be harmful to your health with long-term use.

5 Essentials for a Sensitive Skin Makeup Routine

Step 1: Anti-Breakout Base

When you’re preparing for the battle against breakouts, your base is your armour. So it makes sense to prep any makeup look for sensitive skin with nourishing serums and hydrating moisturizers. Using a lightweight sunscreen is essential to protect your skin from UV rays. If you have skin texture and want a smoother makeup application, a primer can be helpful. 

For those that struggle with clogged pores, it’s important to buy foundation that’s lightweight and breathable. This allows you to enjoy longer hours of wear out of your makeup without aggravating your sensitive skin.

Step 2: Save Your Tears

Ever created an eye makeup look that had you tearing up—but not in a good way? Your makeup should never bring you to tears. So, keep the redness and irritation at bay with hypoallergenic makeup that’s designed for sensitive eyes. 

When shopping for long-lasting eyeshadow, look for paraben-free formulas and make sure to read the list of ingredients to avoid any other harsh chemicals around your sensitive eye area. 

Step 3: Say Cheeks!

We love a long-lasting blush—but when you have sensitive skin, shopping for cheek makeup feels like a challenge. There’s a fine line between a pretty flush and a full-blown flare-up. So stick to gentle, non-comedogenic blushes with buildable color that let you control the glow without inviting redness or irritation to the party. 

A tip to avoid ‘blush blindness’ is adding some green color corrector underneath your foundation to neutralize any redness from breakouts or allergies. 

Step 4: Kiss Dry Lips Goodbye

When choosing longwear lip makeup for sensitive skin, it’s a good idea to pick creamy, hypoallergenic lip products packed with moisture and free from harsh chemicals. Because when you have sensitive skin, even your lips could use a bit of TLC. Not addressing your dry, chapped, or peeling lips can detract from your appearance. So always layer a hydrating lip balm underneath your lip products.

Pass over the drying, heavy formulas and enrich your makeup routine for sensitive skin with hydrating, colorful lipsticks, pigmented tints, soothing balms, and glosses with nourishing ingredients like shea butter or aloe. 

Step 5: Wipe Off the Excess

Even if you’re using hypoallergenic makeup for sensitive eyes, using too much of anything can cause clogged pores, leading to acne and flare-ups in sensitive skin. So, wiping off excess makeup is a step that permeates each stage of your beauty routine. 

Use a Q-tip to clean excess concealer out of the creases under your eyes, and a paper napkin to absorb extra lipstick off of your lips. For your face makeup, a beauty sponge blends things well while also picking up any excess product from your skin. 

Hygiene Do’s and Don’ts for Sensitive Skin

While paraben-free makeup and hypoallergenic eye products for sensitive skin can enhance your makeup routine, there are a few additional do’s and don’ts that can help boost skin health.

• Clean Brushes and Tools

  With sensitive skin, hygiene is non-negotiable. This means going the extra mile to ensure that you’re regularly washing and disinfecting all your makeup brushes and tools. It helps to set up a rotating reminder every fortnight or once a month, depending on your skin’s reactivity. 

  If you tend to procrastinate tasks, or don’t have the time in your schedule to do multiple cleanings every month, get a couple of clean brushes that can act as your backup if you’re running behind on cleaning. Find a system that works for you instead of tailoring your habits to a universal system.

• Don’t Double Dip

  When using stick or jar-based makeup products for sensitive skin, avoid touching the entire product with fingers or tools that have been on your skin. This helps prevent transferring bacteria, which is especially important if you’re dealing with active acne or frequent flare-ups.

• Cleanse Well

  For many people with sensitive skin issues, it’s not the makeup products or application that cause problems, but the lack of a proper cleansing routine. After a long day of wearing a full-face of makeup, clearing out your pores is necessary. Failing to properly cleanse your skin can lead to build-up which becomes a common cause of many skin sensitivities.

These tips can help you build an effective sensitive skin makeup regimen for a healthier, glowing face. In addition to following these steps, it is a great idea to simply let your skin breathe, without any products, from time to time.

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