One of the latest trends in the beauty industry is the fusion of skincare and makeup. Offering more than just aesthetic enhancement, skincare-infused makeup is redefining the cosmetics landscape, but does it actually benefit skin health? Let's explore the claims made by skincare-infused makeup brands and find out the truth.
What is Skincare-Infused Makeup?
Skincare-infused makeup refers to cosmetic products that contain ingredients designed to benefit your skin health, whether you’re looking to boost hydration, fight aging, or protect your skin from the elements. These products aim not only to enhance your appearance but also to contribute to the health and vitality of your skin. Skincare-infused makeup is ideal for those who prefer a natural makeup look, as these products are meant to highlight a person’s natural features instead of covering them up. At the same time, skincare-infused makeup is not meant to clog pores or exacerbate acne breakouts; instead, it should plump, protect, and visibly improve texture for a no-makeup look.
Key Ingredients in Skincare-Infused Makeup
From hydrating hyaluronic acid to antioxidant-rich vitamin C, skincare-infused makeup formulations contain ingredients meant to nourish and support skin health. While each brand will have its own offerings, some of the big players you should expect to see in foundations, concealers, eyeshadows and more include:
- Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is a powerful humectant, which means it draws moisture into the skin and hydrates on the deepest level for dewy, radiant skin. In makeup, it is typically added to foundation formulas to achieve an overall glow.
- Niacinamide: Also commonly added to foundation makeup as well as concealers and highlighters is niacinamide. This ingredient helps to visibly brighten skin, smooth skin texture, and reduce the look of dark spots and large pores.
- Peptides: Known to stimulate collagen production, repair the skin barrier, and reduce inflammation, peptides are another ingredient making their way into makeup products. You might see them in foundation, eyeshadow primers, and facial oils.
- Vitamin C: Known to exfoliate and brighten skin while boosting collagen production and protecting against free radicals, vitamin C is highly versatile. It can be added to tinted moisturizers and serums, loose powder, concealers, and even blush and mascara.
- Vitamin E: Often found in lipsticks because of its conditioning effect, vitamin E can also be added to foundation, facial oils, loose powder, and eyeshadow. Like vitamin C, it has antioxidant qualities to protect against environmental stressors and support collagen production.
- Aloe vera: Some people use aloe vera as a makeup primer by mixing it with their favorite foundation product, although some makeup brands are including it in their formula. Deeply hydrating and soothing, aloe strengthens the skin barrier, protects against acne breakouts, and accelerates wound healing.
- SPF: We all know the sun can wreak havoc on our skin, which is why sunscreen is an essential component to any skincare routine. Now, many products, including foundation, blush, eyeshadow, and lipsticks are being formulated with SPF defense. But keep in mind that the ideal SPF is 30-50+, and many products will only offer minimal protection.
Potential Benefits for Skin Health
The allure of skincare-infused makeup lies in its potential benefits for skin health. Beyond the surface-level beauty enhancement, these products may contribute to hydration, protect against environmental stressors, and even boast anti-aging effects. Based on the common ingredients we mentioned above, you can expect the following benefits of skincare-infused makeup:
- More hydration
- Sun protection
- Reduced signs of aging
- Plumper skin
- Less hyperpigmentation
- Fewer breakouts
- Smaller pores
- Improved skin texture
Azelaic Acid 14% Cream
• Brightens skin, fades brown spots
• Unclogs pores, improves texture
Tips for Choosing Skincare-Infused Makeup
Selecting the right skincare-infused makeup is crucial to building a routine that works. This relies heavily on tailoring your choices to your specific skin type and concerns.
However, this can become costly if you need to source items from various brands at various price points. You also need to be sure that the ingredients in your makeup products complement each other rather than clash, maximizing their collective efficacy.
An alternative choice to using skincare-infused makeup is to follow a solid skincare routine that nourishes your skin on the deepest level, creating a healthy foundation on which to apply your favorite makeup products. With the right skincare routine, you may find that you need less and less of any makeup product as you will want to show off your natural glow.
Does Your Skincare Routine Before Makeup Matter?
Absolutely. Your pre-makeup skincare routine plays a pivotal role in how makeup interacts with your skin. A healthy skincare routine tailored to your skin type provides a radiant canvas, making makeup application a seamless enhancement rather than a cover-up.
Your skincare routine should include a gentle cleanser, serums and creams that target your specific skin concerns, a moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen. You should also invest in healthy lifestyle habits like minimizing your sunlight exposure, following a healthy diet, taking supplements that close nutritional gaps, getting regular facials, and even managing your stress levels.
Best Products to Use Before Applying Makeup
Foundation Skincare offers dermatologist-formulated products containing science-backed ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, and azelaic acid to nourish your skin health by promoting hydration, repairing the skin barrier, minimizing inflammation, and fading dark spots.
Our skincare products are suitable for all skin types, and can be layered together, whether you are dealing with current skin issues or trying to prevent them altogether. These products are ideal preludes to makeup application and set the stage for a flawless look. Here is what you can expect from the Foundation Skincare collection:
- Hyaluronic Acid Lotion: Locks moisture into the skin without leaving an oily residue.
- Azelaic Acid 14% Cream: Keeps pores clean with a medical-grade concentration of its active ingredient and reduces acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
- Niacinamide Lotion 10%: Reduces overall inflammation while balancing oil production and enhancing DNA repair. Is formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe leaf juice.
- Vitamin C Lotion 20%: Formulated with skin-nourishing vitamin E, this lotion protects the skin against environmental toxins while stimulating collagen production.
- Night Renewal Cream: Containing 2% Granactive Retinoid with essential peptide growth factors, this night cream minimizes signs of premature aging while protecting against acne breakouts and inflammation.
Skincare-infused makeup is meant to transcend traditional cosmetics by offering a dual-purpose approach to beauty. But it’s no match for a science-backed skincare routine that works. Choose wisely, embrace a nurturing pre-makeup skincare ritual, and let your beauty shine from within.
