Does wearing makeup age you?

   Many women are terrified thinking makeup ages them, as this is what they’ve heard from their moms and grandma’s from generation to generation. But in reality, makeup does not interfere with your own natural aging process. Makeup ingredients today are far more gentle and natural than what they were back in the day. Many contain vitamins and anti-oxidants which help the appearance of your skin. Although you do have to keep an eye out for certain ingredients, as some chemicals are not so great for your skin; but in general makeup is very safe to wear. It is recommended to avoid talc in cosmetics because it dries out your skin, resulting in more fine lines and wrinkles. The safest option ingredient wise for makeup is always organic and mineral makeup; just be aware they expire much faster than regular cosmetics.

   The main issue with wearing makeup is that having these chemicals/ingredients  on your face for long periods of time can clog your pores and cause break outs or allergies. To prevent this, look for cosmetics that are labelled as non-comedogenic (won’t clog your pores) or hyper-allergenic (won’t cause allergies).

 What some dermatologists believe happens with certain ingredients in makeup is that they that lead to negative effects in the production of collagen; which is what ultimately gives you the firmness and flexibility of your skin. It’s the decrease in collagen which begins the sagging and wrinkles on your face, and they believe some makeup ingredients speed the aging process. This has not been proven with research yet, so it is simply their opinion.

 Tips to prevent aging:

-Remove all your makeup and clean your face thoroughly at the end of the day. NEVER sleep with your makeup on.

-Use anti-aging moisturizers with SPF every day. 

-If wearing SPF makeup, make sure it contains both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide as they protect from both UVA and UVB sun rays.

-Use natural/mineral makeup for safer ingredients.

-Avoid alcohol, smoking, sun exposure.Do eat healthy and exercise.

-Apply makeup with clean brushes and never wear expired makeup.

   So do not fear ladies, as makeup is not a huge factor in how you age. It is more about how well you take care of yourself and genetics. Some women chain smoke all their life and look great, while others take great care yet do not have the best skin; and you can thank your family genes for this. But if you drink and smoke, sleep very little, tan regularly, don’t wear SPF, eat junk food and never exercise….you are most likely to have dull, dry, aging skin; so don’t blame cosmetics for aging you when you don’t take proper care of your body. You’ll see that a skin regimen and a healthy lifestyle will improve your skins appearance and prevent the aging process as much as possible.