Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology’s 2003 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, dermatologist Zoe Diana Draelos, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, discussed dermatologists’ best cosmetic bets for keeping sensitive, acne prone skin looking and feeling its best.

Dr. Draelos writes, "Women should know what type of ingredients to look for when they’re purchasing products at beauty counters or drugstores, as well as know how to properly use those cosmetics once they bring them home."

To find your ideal makeup that will not induce acne, Dr. Draelos offers the following recommendations:

1. Think powder, not liquid

Powder cosmetics reduce shine and contain relatively few preservatives and other ingredients that can cause skin irritation. Moreover, powder cosmetics are much less likely to cause problems for women with sensitive skin than liquid foundations.

2. Do not over strip your skin's moisture with makeup removers

Removing waterproof cosmetics, like mascara, requires a special solvent. This solvent also removes sebum, the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands in the skin. Without this oil barrier, skin is exposed to potential irritants that can cause skin eruptions and pimples.

3. Keep your cosmetics fresh

"Women should keep track of cosmetic expiration dates and throw out any items that have passed their peak," cautioned Dr. Draelos. "Old make-up products may have spoiled or become contaminated, a particularly important point when it comes to eye products."

Typical freshness lifespan for cosmetics:

• 1 year for foundation and lipstick
• 3-4 months for mascara
• 2 years for powder foundations and eye shadows

4. Black eyeliner is skin friendly

Women with sensitive skin will find that dramatic black is best when it comes to eyeliner and mascara product colors. Dermatologists feel that black is the least allergenic of all colored cosmetics like eye shadow and mascara.

5. Pencil in your eyes

According to Dr. Draelos, "Pencil eyeliner and eyebrow pencils are wax-based and contain pigment and minimal preservatives. They are much less likely to cause problems than liquid eyeliners that contain latex and may cause problems in latex-sensitive individuals."

Also, pencil eyeliners are easily removed with water, making them gentler on the skin's surface.

6. Keep your eyes earthy

Lighter earth tones, such as tan, cream, white or beige, seem to cause less upper-eyelid irritation in women with sensitive or itchy eyes. "It is possible that the higher concentration of pigments in darker colors like navy blue can cause an adverse reaction in women with sensitive skin," speculated Dr. Draelos.

7. Sunscreen 15 and up..

Dermatologists recommend daily use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 or higher. Sun sensitivity can led to a skin reaction characterized by multiple small bumps. This expression of photo sensitivity is easily mistaken for acne.

8. Seek minimalist makeup

Simply stated, the fewer ingredients in a product, the less likely it is to irritate the skin.

9. Skip the nail salon

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. A foundation of 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 very low incidence of skin irritation.

According to Dr. Draelos, "Beauty products are a great way to enhance a woman’s appearance, but if you have sensitive skin and are finding that cosmetics do more harm than good, your best course of action is to consult with a dermatologist who can help determine the right beauty regimen for you."

Source:
Newswise

Naweko San-Joyz helps people look better. You can get started by using her natural beauty recipe ebooks located at http://www.noixia.com/blog