5 Beauty-Saving Tips for Halloween
Whether you’re planning a scary costume or just enjoy the novelty of dressing up, Halloween is all about deviating from your everyday look. As you reach for the heavy face paint, rubber masks and colorful hair dye remember that these costume pieces can leave behind blemished skin and damaged hair. Learn how to enjoy your treats while protecting your skin and hair with the beautifying tips below.
Halloween hazard #1: A frightful bout of blemishes
Whether you opt for heavy, oil-based face paint layered over your complexion, a pore-clogging rubber costume mask or the surge in sugary treats in your diet, there are many possible triggers for an acne outbreak during the Halloween season.
- Skin saving solutions: Be sure not to leave oily face makeup on for too long and definitely don’t go to sleep before you thoroughly cleanse your skin of every last trace. While Halloween is the season to indulge in a few extra sugary sweets, don’t go too overboard. To ensure that your skin and hair are getting the nutrition they need, balance the candy with a few extra fruits and veggies.
Halloween hazard #2: Heat or color damaged hair
Spray-on hair dyes are temporary and should wash out after a few shampoos, without leaving behind lasting damage to your locks. But when you pair chemical color with extra heat styling and heavy-duty products to hold your hair in place all night, your tresses may suffer some damage.
- Hair saving solution: Protect the luster of your locks by using a thermal protector when you style with heat. If you have fine hair or locks that are sensitive to chemical colors, skip the dyes and instead wear a wig or clip-in extensions.
Halloween hazard #3: Painful blisters
From sky-high platform heels that you borrowed from a friend or lace-up black boots that are just a teeny bit to small, you may find yourself with sore, aching feet and bulging blisters before the night is over.
- Feet saving solutions: Prevent blisters before they form by layering your feet with petroleum jelly, baby powder or Band-Aid Active Friction Block Stick to reduce the friction that causes blisters to form in the first place. And, consider slipping a pair of flip-flops or flats in your purse, just in case your Halloween shoes have you hobbling in pain.
Halloween hazard #4: Rashes and allergic reactions
From glitter and face paint to rubber masks and expired cosmetics, Halloween can expose your skin to lots of triggers for irritation, causing rashes, inflammation, itching and more. While those with sensitive skin are especially susceptible to irritations, everyone should be on alert with Halloween cosmetics.
- Skin saving solutions: When it’s time to paint your face for Halloween, it’s tempting to dig out the old neon eye shadows, outdated red lip colors and last year’s face paint from the bottom of your bathroom drawer. Before you start applying them, check expiration dates. Toss aside any products that have gone bad; using them can trigger a reaction.
Halloween hazard #5: Irritated eyes and lost lashes
Whether you’re a wicked witch from the west or an outrageous 80s rock star, many Halloween costumes call for eye makeup that’s heavier than usual. Glitter, glow-in-the-dark paint and false lashes can leave your eyes irritated, itchy and uncomfortable. Prevent eye irritation with a few easy tips.
- Eye-saving solutions: Avoid applying costume makeup - including glitter and glow-in-the-dark paint - near the eyes, and always use products that are meant for the face. Also, use lots of caution when applying false lashes - especially if it’s not a normal part of your routine. Using too much glue can cause your real lashes to fall out when you remove the false ones.