By: Olivia Munson
For some, their makeup routine would not be complete without a coat of foundation. In today’s era of experimental and dramatic makeup trends, the step is seemingly essential for a flawless face.
But for me, I have not worn foundation in over a year. In fact, I rarely wear makeup on a daily basis. This was not always the case though.
My Makeup Journey
I went to an all-girls high school so I did not wear makeup to school. That led me to naturally over-compensate in other situations. Every time I went out, even if it was just hanging out with friends, I would oversaturate my face with makeup. This included enough foundation to clog my pores for days.
Around junior year, I became more conscious of my skin. I never truly struggled with acne but when I had flare-ups, they were bad.
I used foundations for the same reasons everyone else does- to color correct, cover imperfections and create a flawless canvas.
In contrast to these ideas, I started noticing how my skin would get progressively worse every time I wore foundation. I would have breakouts on chin and blackheads on my nose popped up more frequently. Tiny bumps, known as milia, would occur in clusters on my forehead and they never seemed to go away.
I did not know what to do, so during junior year, I drastically changed my skincare routine to a K-beauty regime. This led me to switch out my makeup products as well. In K-beauty, they often swap out foundation for products, such as BB cream, since they are less heavy in comparison and are better for your skin.
I began to wear BB cream instead of foundation for day-to-day events, and I only brought out foundation for special occasions like proms and formals.
From that point on, the quality of my skin began to improve and I would only break out when I was stressed or overwhelmed.
The last time I wore foundation was for my winter semi-formal during senior year of high school. Even after I removed it from my routine, I held onto my bottles of foundation for a while. Not until last year’s winter break did I finally give send off to the product I used to love.
Realizing the Truth
According to New York City-based makeup artist Rebecca Casciano, “wearing foundation isn’t the best for skin if it contains ingredients, such as mineral oil or silicone, that can clog your pores, irritate your skin, or keep it from breathing.”
Personally, I learned the less face makeup you use, the less you will need. When you remove the use of a specific product, your skin will adapt in response its absence. It is important to note, the process does not happen the day after you stop. It will definitely take time for your skin to adjust.
By no means am I saying you have to remove foundation from your routine. But, what I am suggesting is for you to consider the possible benefits.
How to Make the Swap
The first piece of advice I would give would be not to go cold turkey. By completely cutting yourself off, the journey will only seem longer and harder. Start yourself off by working on whatever you have to cover up. Foundation’s primary purpose is to cover imperfections. If you find a way to combat them, be ready to say goodbye to foundation.
If you do not already know your skin type, now is the time to do some research. Whether it’s oily, dry, or combination, formulate a skin care routine that will naturally give you the perfect base. Find alternate products that function the same as certain foundations. For example, if you have hyper-pigmentation or discoloration, invest in a quality toner in order to brighten and even your facial features. Treat your skin to some nourishment and hydrate it with mud or face mask.
Once your feeling good from the inside out, wean yourself off using foundation. Take it day-by-day and weekends are a great time to go all natural. Do not freak out when your
skin acts up. It happens to all of us and everyone has their bad days. During these times, feel free to use BB or CC creams and concealer to remove all traces of stress from your skin.
The less you wear makeup and the more you take care of your skin, the better its quality will be. Soon enough, you will find that you do not need makeup as much as you thought.
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