Understanding the Long-Term Effects of Cosmetics on the Skin
Revealing The Effects of Long-Term Cosmetics Usage on Skin Health
Cosmetics of all types help give us smooth complexions, vibrant skin tones, and flawless appearances. But how often do we pause to consider the effects that frequent use of these products can have on the health of our skin? Join us as we lift the curtain on the most common long-term effects cosmetics can have on skin & what you can do about them.
The list of cosmetics products that are found in the average bathroom cabinet is quite long. You’ll likely find primer, foundation, concealer, blush, highlighter, bronzer, setting powder, finishing spray, and possibly many more. Of course, each product has a specific purpose and benefit, from evening out skin tone and hiding blemishes to adding color and highlighting cheekbones, and everything in between.
However, with each product made from a complex blend of ingredients, all layered on top of one another, you might be curious about how all these different mixtures can influence the health of the skin underneath. After all, not all of the ingredients used in cosmetics are naturally occurring, and even those that are can still react differently depending on the unique skin chemistry of any particular individual.
What Effects Do Cosmetics Have on The Health Of Our Skin?
Day after day, month after month, year after year of applying these products to the skin will undoubtedly have some type of cumulative effects on the health of the skin, but what exactly do these effects look like? Let’s explore how cosmetics can affect the appearance, texture, and overall health of the skin over the long-term.
Clogged Pores
This first entry in the list should come as no surprise to frequent cosmetics users. As many types of cosmetics are purposely designed to cover the skin with a film to smooth out imperfections and hide blemishes, this means that the pores of the skin can easily become clogged and plugged with cosmetic residue, dirt, oil, and bacteria. Clogged pores can lead to pimples, blackheads, and other uncomfortable and unsightly skin conditions. This is why thorough cleansing is necessary at the end of each day to fully remove any and all cosmetics from the skin and allow the pores to breathe again.
Dry Skin
The repetitious process of cleaning the skin in the morning, applying cosmetics, and then cleaning the skin again at the end of the day can lead to stress on the skin, especially if you’re using stronger cleansers or cosmetics with a greater ratio of artificial ingredients. This stressful repetition can accelerate the dehydration of skin leading to dryness, flaking, roughness, and discoloration. This often presents a cyclical problem, where the application of cosmetics products and frequent cleansing can simply exacerbate the dryness, making it progressively worse, thereby resulting in an increased desire on the part of the person to use more cosmetics to cover up the effects.
Acne Breakouts
Another common problem associated with frequent or heavy cosmetics usage is an increased likelihood to develop acne and have flare ups of greater severity. People who have chronic acne or sensitive skin are particularly prone to having adverse effects from frequent cosmetic application, as their skin is much more susceptible to experiencing stress and reactions to certain types of ingredients and cleansers. These individuals must take care to select cosmetics products that are specifically formulated for acne-prone skin to be gentle and minimize the likelihood of breakouts and flare ups.
Discoloration Or Allergic Reaction?
In some cases, wearing dark or strongly tinted cosmetics for extended periods of time can actually have a gradual discoloration effect on the underlying skin. Sometimes this is due to the way heavy cosmetics can prevent oxygen from contacting the surface of the skin, while in other cases it can be directly related to the presence of dyes or pigments in the cosmetics themselves that can leach into the surface layer of the skin.
In other cases, the persistent presence of certain cosmetic ingredients on the skin can cause allergic reactions. These reactions can include swelling, puffiness, redness, itchiness, or bumps on the skin that can worsen the longer the contact between the skin and the substance occurs. People with allergies should carefully examine the ingredient list of all cosmetics products they use to avoid these situations.
Potential For Infections
One of the more serious risks associated with long-term use of cosmetics is the chance of skin infections. If bacteria is allowed to build up inside the pores and on the surface of the skin underneath layers of cosmetics, it can spread and develop into an infection. Thorough cleaning on a regular basis is essential in preventing this, but if an infection does form on the skin or inside the pores, use of cosmetics on the affected area should be stopped immediately, and medical attention should be obtained so that the infection can be properly treated with antibiotics.
Accelerated Appearance of Visible Aging Signs
While each of the previous effects on their own are troublesome enough, the cumulative negative impact that they can have on the look and feel of our skin can be substantial, eventually leading to premature appearance of visible signs of aging. Wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and loss of elasticity in the skin can all come from the repeated and continuous stresses associated with long-term cosmetics usage. As our skin experiences repetitive application of cosmetics and frequent cleansing, it can struggle to repair itself quickly enough before the next round occurs. This can result in the outer layers of skin feeling continually dry and damaged, while the collagen and elastin deeper in the skin tissue can start to lose their structure and resiliency.
How Can We Counteract the Effects of Cosmetics on Skin Health?
Even though these long-term effects seem quite serious, that doesn’t mean that you need to forego all use of cosmetics. There are several things you can do to minimize the risks associated with long-term cosmetics usage and boost your skin’s ability to naturally repair itself so that it stays strong, healthy, and resilient day after day, year after year.
Prefer Natural Cosmetics & Match to Your Skin Type
There are so many options available on cosmetics shelves, you definitely don’t need to settle for anything less than the best for your skin. Every person will be a little different in what their skin will need to stay strong and healthy, so you’ll probably have to do at least a little trial-and-error to find the perfect match for your skin, but there are a few tips we can share to help narrow the field of choices down.
First, choose natural whenever you can. In general, naturally sourced ingredients will be gentler and less stressful on the skin, with many actually having beneficial effects such as having inherent moisturizing properties or being rich in skin-strengthening nutrients.
Next, you’ll want to look for products that are specifically formulated for your skin type. Oily skin will need very different types of ingredients than those used on dry or combination skin, so be sure to check the labels and, if possible, consult with beauticians or dermatologists. They’ll be able to provide guidance on specific ingredients to look for or to avoid, and which products would be best suited for your needs.
Nourish Your Body & Care for Your Skin
It’s also important to consider just how critical proper nutrition is to the overall health of your body, including the condition of your skin. Staying well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water is essential and is one of the best ways to boost skin health. You’ll also want to eat a balanced diet rich in skin-nourishing vitamins like A, C, and E, along with nutrients such as protein, fatty acids, zinc, and antioxidants.
Maintaining a sensible skin care routine with the right products can go a long way in fighting back against the visible signs of aging. Using a light moisturizer on a regular basis, applying sunscreen whenever you spend time outdoors, and cleansing with a gentle soap formulated for your skin type are all valuable tips that you can use to keep your skin in excellent condition. You always want to be sure that you’re giving your skin the support it needs so that when you do apply your choice of cosmetics, it’s able to resist the stresses effectively.
Anti-Aging and Microdermabrasion Treatments
In addition, some of the best ways to turn back the clock on the appearance of your skin and maintain a vibrant, youthful appearance are to take advantage of modern at-home aesthetic treatments such as anti-aging skin-tightening and microdermabrasion. In the past, you’d need to go to an expensive clinic and undergo a lengthy procedure to get the results you wanted. However, advancements in at-home anti-aging technology by Silk’n now allow you to get fantastic results right in the comfort of your own home, any time you want.
Silk’n Titan AllWays Skin Tightening Device
Using a combination of bipolar radio frequency energy, LED light energy, and infrared heat energy, the Silk’n Titan AllWays works to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and leaves the skin smooth, firm, and soft. As the energy waves penetrate the skin, they stimulate the skin's natural repair processes and strengthen the collagen and elastin fibers deep in the tissue, firming up the skin and restoring its contours. In as little as one easy treatment, you’ll notice an improvement in the look and feel of the skin on your face, cheeks, chin, and neck.
Silk’n ReVit Prestige Microdermabrasion Device
Exfoliation is one of the most effective ways to enhance the appearance and feel of the skin, while simultaneously boosting the skin's natural rejuvenation functions. The Silk’n ReVit Prestige Microdermabrasion Device makes at-home exfoliation easier and more beneficial than ever. With simple operation and automatic guided treatment functions, you’ll be amazed at how quick and easy it is to perform salon-quality microdermabrasion right at home. Choose from a variety of diamond-embedded microderm tips to customize your treatment for fine precision or all-over body massaging sensations, and enjoy how amazing your skin will look and feel with each use.
Keep Your Skin Healthy and Strong & Looking Great When You Use Cosmetics
At the end of the day, using cosmetics should be a positive self-care aspect of our daily lives, and they certainly can have a notable benefit to our feeling of well-being. The key is to use them in a way that avoids the potential long-term skin issues that can result, and to ensure that our skin is cared for in a way that counteracts the types of stresses that cosmetics can exert.
With the right combination of natural cosmetics, nutrition, skin care, and anti-aging treatments with devices like the Silk’n Titan AllWays and the Silk’n ReVit Prestige, you can be sure that your skin will look its best at all times.
