Is Wearing Foundation Makeup Every Day Bad For Your Skin?

Updated 11/1/2017. Many women shy away from wearing a full face of makeup every day. They often believe that wearing foundation daily clogs the pores and suffocates the skin and it’s good to let the skin breathe. Sound like you? Continue reading.

Is foundation bad for your skin?

In my profession as an esthetician, my #1 goal is to get my client’s skin clear and be free of blemishes and brown spots so they don’t feel as though they have to hide under makeup. However, I actually encourage all of my clients to never let their skin be bare and some sort of foundation or powder makeup should always be on the skin, day in and day out. Let me explain.

Why you should ALWAYS wear foundation

First, foundation makeup can come in the form of a moisturizing liquid (if your skin is dry and more mature), an oil-free liquid (if your skin is combination to normal) or a powder (if your skin is oily and acne prone). As long as you’re using makeup that’s appropriate for your skin type, you shouldn’t find that it clogs your pores.

Second, when it comes to makeup suffocating the skin and preventing it from “breathing,” the skin does not respirate as our lungs do. So there’s no worry there!

Foundation forms a protective barrier on your skin

The truth is, makeup (appropriate for your skin type) offers a much-needed barrier against harmful UV rays. This serves as an additional barrier, above and beyond your daily sunscreen. (You should always wear sunscreen as your daily moisturizer. Daily Protection SPF 30 is the one that I use.) The sun’s UV rays are the #1 cause of skin aging. The top cause is not genetics, smoking, or even really age! The sun is the skin’s WORST enemy. Therefore, foundation makeup or powder will act as an insurance policy to ensure your skin is adequately protected.

Safeguard your skin from harmful UV rays

If your makeup or powder doesn’t indicate an SPF number on the tube or bottle, it’s important to know that you’re still getting protection from daylight. This simply means that your product wasn’t FDA-approved as an official sunscreen. However, most makeup today contains titanium dioxide, which is a proven UV-protective ingredient. Based on these benefits, this is why you really should be using it.

For me, I will wear a mineral powder on my casual days. On days when I’m working and more in the public eye, I’ll use a regular foundation. Either way, I always have something layered on my skin over my sunscreen. Please do your skin a favor and start wearing makeup NOW. It will help your skin age in a smart and healthy way. Remember, it’s much easier to prevent wrinkles then it is to get rid of them once they appear.

Note: Foundation makeup IS NOT a substitute for wearing a sunscreen as your daily moisturizer. I recommend this sunscreen moisturizer for daily use under makeup. It won’t peel or ball up, and it feels very light on the skin. Of course, properly washing off makeup at night is essential. Read these 9 cleanser do’s and don’ts for the most perfect cleansing experience.

Which skin care products are best for you? See our nine skin types or take the Skin Type Quiz and get products recommended.

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Renée Rouleau

Celebrity Esthetician & Skincare Expert
As an esthetician trained in cosmetic chemistry, Renée Rouleau has spent 30 years researching skin, educating her audience, and building an award-winning line of products. Trusted by celebrities, editors, bloggers, and skincare obsessives around the globe, her vast real-world knowledge and constant research are why Marie Claire calls her “the most passionate skin practitioner we know.”