SUMMER can be rough on your skin, leaving it sweaty, greasy, burnt or flaky.
And these effects could be exacerbated if you’re slapping on a full face of makeup while its hot, leaving you with unwanted breakouts or rashes.
Foundation can clog your pores, but it can also leave your skin extra dry during the summer
Experts at at Contactlenses.co.uk identified the four key makeup and skincare mistakes you’re making in the summer and how they affect your skin.
But there are some cheap and easy ways you can ensure your skin remains in tip top shape, according to optometric consultant John Dreyer.
1. Wearing pore-blocking products
Acne is a common skin condition, often caused by hair follicles under the skin becoming clogged.
Excessive heat and humidity when wearing make-up can be a recipe for disaster, according to the experts.
Pores play a vital role in expelling oil and sweat from the skin – but slapping on a thick coat of foundation in the sweltering heat can mean your pores are more likely to be clogged with sweat, oil, bacteria, and dead skin, resulting in break outs.
To avoid pore blockage, John suggested you opt for make-up products labelled as ‘non-comedogenic’, as they’ll contain ingredients that don’t clog the pores.
2. Hanging on to your mascara
Eye infections are caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses getting into your peepers and they can be a particular problem in the summer.
Especially in extreme levels like those currently scorching Europe, certain make-up products can melt or smear easily on the surface on your skin, and get into your eyes.
According to John, this can lead to eye irritation, and even infection, especially if you’ve been hanging on to a crusty mascara tube for a good few months.
Bacteria can thrive in older mascaras, especially in warmer temperatures.
The optometric consultant advised you throw yours away after six months to avoid irritating your peepers and said contact lens wearers specifically should be extra careful when it comes to the products they’re using.
3. Wearing drying products
“When it’s hot, the heat sucks the moisture out of your skin, like a sponge drying out in the sun,” John said.
Most of us are concerned about our face makeup looking too oily as temperatures rise.
But according to John, foundation can act “like a mask on your face that holds in the oils and sweat, and wearing heavy make-up makes this even worse – it stops your skin from absorbing the moisture in the air, which can leave your skin feeling very dry”.
Typically, dry skin poses no significant harm, the optometric consultant said.
But not caring for your dry skin can potentially lead you to develop atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, he warned.
“Excessive dryness can trigger the activation of this condition, resulting in the development of a rash and the skin becoming cracked,” John said.
4. Sun exposure following retinol and AHAs
Aside from burning, sun exposure can also lead to discolouration and sun spots.
Even if you’re being vigilant with your sun cream use, certain makeup and skincare products might react with the sun’s rays, making it more sensitive to the them.
According to John, these phototoxic ingredients include citrus oils that contain a compound called furanocoumarin, retinoids made from vitamin A and AHAs (Alpha-Hydroxy-Acids).
“All these ingredients can increase the photosensitivity of your skin leading to more discolouration,” he said.
“Extended sun exposure can damage the deeper layers of skin and lead to enhanced wrinkles and lines and increase the risk of skin cancer.”
Summer safe makeup tips
John had a few tips for safely wearing makeup while it’s hot out, to reduce the likelihood of dryness, breakouts and discolouration.
His first was to actually wear a little less product.
Your “heatwave make-up mantra” should be ‘less is more’, the optometric consultant said.
“A heavy foundation can feel suffocating in the heat, so switch to a lightweight BB or CC cream instead,” he advised.
“These creams are not only lighter, but they also often come with added SPF and moisturising benefits. This will help your skin breath and regulate moisture levels.”
You should also be wearing SPF along with your makeup, even on cloudy days, John added.
“Apply a good layer of SPF before your make-up, don’t rely solely on make-up that claims to contain SPF,” he said, and use a lip balm with SPF before applying lipstick to keep your lips hydrated and protected from harmful UV rays.
“Reapply every 2 hours as sweat can bead the SPF away,” John added.
The secret to keeping your makeup in place in the heat and locking in moisture is actually a good setting spray, John said.
“It helps to keep your make-up in place despite the heat, providing a fresh and flawless look all day long.
“These sprays typically contain hydrating ingredients called humectants, which are ingredients that prevent moisture loss by holding on to moisture for longer, so your skin won’t dry out in the higher heat levels,” John added.
He advised you spray on a thin mist once you’ve applied your make-up.
It’s a good idea to opt for waterproof mascara to lessen the likelihood of it running and smearing – a surefire way to irritate your eyes – and John suggested you also opt for oil-free foundations and concealers to prevent your skin from becoming excessively shiny or greasy.
“These products can help control the additional oil your skin might produce due to the heat,” he said.
Finally, try having a few make-up free days to allow your skin to breathe and recover from any potential damage.
“If you can’t go completely without, even just lightening your make-up load will help,” the optometric consultant said.
“If you have worn thicker amounts of make-up during high heat days a good measure is to deeply double-cleanse your face afterwards, to make sure your pores are clear and free of any build-up of oil, sweat, dirt and make-up.”