Wearing makeup is freeing and confidence-boosted for so many of us. Not only can we enhance our natural beauty, but we can also express ourselves through creative applications. But unfortunately, no matter how much we prefer to deny it, wearing makeup is not that great for skin health.

But when following a suitable skincare routine, you can flaunt your favorite makeup trends and unique styles without anticipating an acne breakout or the development of other blemishes.

However, there are so many skincare routines out there that choosing the right one can be a bit overwhelming. So, we’ve detailed the essential steps you should take to protect your skin before applying cosmetic products.

Cleanse

There are different skin cleansers on the market; these include balms, cream/milk cleansers, and foaming cleansers. It’s recommended to steer clear of bar soaps, as these will strip the skin of natural oils and moisture.

When choosing a cleanser, consider your skin type. Sometimes an acne-prone foaming cleanser is best, while for others, a cream cleanser is essential to keep skin moisturized. It’s recommended to cleanse at least twice a day, especially if you have acne-prone or oily skin. Moreover, you should follow your skincare routine twice a day, whether you will be applying cosmetics or not.

Exfoliate

Exfoliation should be a lot more frequent than an occasional face mask treatment. Ideally, it’s best to exfoliate with a gentle product every time you want to wear makeup. But with that said, it’s vital to use a gentle product to avoid skin damage through micro lesions.

Adding the step of gentle exfoliation after cleansing will make a massive difference to pore health, ensuring pores are unclogged. Beyond that, you’ll also find some limp-plumping and smoothing effects, as dead skin will be removed. So, your plumping lip gloss will provide even better results simply by adding this step to your skincare routine.

Tone Or Apply Serum

Toning is an often overlooked step in our skincare routines. However, toning will support your skin’s pH level, reduce oiliness, and help prevent acne breakouts. Your skin will gradually appear smoother and healthier if you tone regularly.

However, if toners aren’t suitable for your skin, you can consider a vitamin C serum or another skin serum that assists with appearance. You can also opt to tone and then apply a serum; adding one extra step to your skincare routine can positively affect skin health.

Apply An Eye Cream

Eye creams are one of those skincare products that we assume are only necessary when the signs of aging start to appear. However, it’s much easier to prevent and slow the signs of aging instead of seeking ways to remove them; once wrinkles and fine lines appear, they can be pretty stubborn.

Applying an eye cream can make a world of difference to your skin health by preventing the formation of fine lines, dark under-eyes, and wrinkles. Furthermore, cosmetic product application will be more straightforward if your eye area is suitably moisturized.

Moisturize

Moisturising is crucial for skin health. After cleansing and exfoliating, your skin will be stripped of some moisture and natural oils; even sulfate-free and hydrating products will cause some dryness. And this can completely ruin a makeup look as the foundation can become cakey and uneven.

Choose a moisturizing product that compliments your skin type, and avoid using regular body lotion or other lotions that aren’t formulated right for facial skin.

Prime

If you want a flawless foundation, you should never skip the step of priming your skin. Priming products are excellent for evening skin texture, reducing the appearance of pores and leaving skin looking younger.

Your makeup application will be a lot smoother if you use primer, even though some feel this step is not entirely necessary. While priming can make a massive difference to skin appearance, this product is only suitable to use beneath foundations. So, you can remove this step from your skincare routine on days that you won’t be flaunting a trendy makeup look.

With that said, beyond protecting your health with a skincare routine, you must also keep your makeup products clean and sanitized. If you don’t, your products will be festering with acne-causing germs, and you will be dealing with breakout even if you have adopted a suitable skincare routine. Even so, you must still prioritize makeup product quality to give your skin the best. Not all makeup products are the same, and those of inferior quality are known to cause breakouts, blemishes, and even rash.