For most women, putting on makeup is a daily routine. Although makeup can enhance your beauty and make you feel more confident about yourself, it can negatively affect your skin. You may not see it now but as years go by, your skin goes on a gradual decline as it loses its health and vigor.

If you’re the type of person who uses makeup everyday, knowing what exactly makeup can do to your skin can help you prevent your skin from being damaged and your overall system from being harmed. Here are some reasons why you should take a leaf from Alicia Keys’ book, and ease up on your makeup usage. Trust me your skin will thank you for it.

1. Clogged pores

This is the most common problem faced by women. Applying layers of makeup everyday can clog your pores. When your pores are clogged, your pores do not get the chance to breathe. Clogged pores are the number one cause of acne as grime and dirt from the makeup block the pores. This is what causes pimples to start forming on your skin. The pimples are pores that were infected and got inflamed. Pimples cause dark spots and destroy the overall look of your face.

2. Chemicals get absorbed in your skin

Most makeup contain a lot of chemicals. These chemicals can be extremely harmful to your skin and your body. As you apply makeup on your face, your skin absorbs those harmful chemicals into your bloodstream. As you keep applying makeup, it creates a buildup of those chemicals in your system. Some of the chemicals found in makeup are sodium benzoate, propylene glycol, parabens and carcinogens.

3. Applying makeup everyday may cause some parts of your face to wear away

Constant use of makeup will start thinning down sensitive parts of your face. For example, regular use of mascara can cause your eyelashes to thin down and break even though mascara is expected to make your eyelashes look longer and more pronounced. The reason why this happens is because of the type of chemicals contained in the mascara. In order for the mascara to be more effective, the level of those harmful chemicals is enhanced and this causes negative effects on your lashes.

4. May cause you severe allergies

We all have different skin types and different kinds of makeup affects us in different ways. Prolonged use of makeup could cause your skin to grow sensitive and you may end up with a rash with each application of makeup. When not checked, this rash will get red and inflamed which will cause more harm to your skin. What causes the allergic reaction is the level of harmful chemicals contained in that particular makeup brand. The more you use it, the more your allergies will aggravate.

Now I am not saying you should not wear makeup. That will be hypocritical because I do wear makeup a few times a week, and I would have worn it everyday if I had an office to go to but since I work from home, I can’t be bothered to look glam half the time. What I am saying is make sure you wear your makeup safely and give your face a day or 2 each week to breathe without makeup. Also make sure you wipe every trace off and moisturised properly before going to bed, no matter how tired you are.

Thanks for reading and have a fab day wherever you are.