Makeup Tips For Girls with Sensitive Skin

1. Choose powder when possible. Powder cosmetics have few preservatives and contain minimal ingredients that can cause skin irritation. This means powder cosmetics are much less likely to cause problems for teenagers with sensitive skin than their liquid counterparts.

2. Avoid waterproof cosmetics. While waterproof cosmetics, such as mascara, require a solvent to remove them that also removes sebum, the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Without this oily barrier, skin is exposed to potential irritants that can cause a break out.

3. Throw out old cosmetics. Keep track of cosmetic expiration dates and throw out any items that have passed their peak. Old make-up products may have spoiled or become contaminated, a particularly important point when it comes to eye products. A few standard product life spans include: one year for foundation and lipstick and two years for powder and shadows. It is also important to wash make-up brushes and sponges regularly since they can harbor bacteria that will aggravate sensitive skin.

4. Use black eyeliner and mascara. Women with sensitive skin will find that black is best when it comes to eyeliner and mascara product colors. Dermatologists feel that black is the least allergenic of all colorants.

5. Use pencil eyeliner and eyebrow fillers. Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow pencils are wax-based and contain pigment and minimal preservatives. They are less likely to cause problems than liquid eyeliners that contain latex and may cause problems in latex-sensitive individuals. The pencil forms of these cosmetics are also water removable, making them easier on the skin surface.

6. Stick to earth-toned eye shadows. Lighter earth tones, such as tan, cream, white or beige, seem to cause less upper-eyelid irritation in women with sensitive or itchy eyes.

7. Check sunscreen ingredients. Dermatologists recommend daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 or higher. For women with sensitive skin, this sunscreen should only contain the sunscreen ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Unlike chemical sunscreen agents which absorb UV rays, it is impossible to be allergic to physical sunscreen ingredients since they deflect the rays rather than absorb them.

8. Use products that contain no more than 10 ingredients. Simply stated, the fewer ingredients in a product, the less likely it is that the product will cause a problem.

9. Avoid nail polishes. In addition to being easily smudged and chipped, wet nail polish can be transferred to a person’s eyes and face before it dries. This casual transfer can cause problems for women with sensitive skin if they find the polish irritating or have an allergic reaction to any of the components of the polish.

10. Use foundations based on silicone. While powder is preferred to protect sensitive skin, women choosing a liquid foundation should look for one with a silicone base. Liquid facial foundations based on silicone do not cause acne, and silicone has a low incidence of skin irritations.