No Halloween is complete without dripping blood, skeletal features or princess glitter. Finding makeup that provides just the right Halloween look, however, can be downright scary when sensitive skin is an issue. Paint kits sold at your drugstore are a fast tool for the last-minute costumes, but many are not FDA-approved. Kits can be filled with cheap ingredients and results may show that you get what you pay for.
Bargain cosmetics made with bargain ingredients threaten to peel, crack and fade. The most traumatic effect can be the impact on your skin. Too many chemicals and inferior ingredients can redden and irritate. Synthetic dyes and cheap perfumes can induce allergic reactions.
One solution is to look for theater makeup and water-based products that have staying power but won’t cause skin issues. Give yourself enough time before the holiday to research performance-based makeup made with high-quality ingredients. If your skin is not sensitive, heavy cream formulas and grease-paint may work for you. Cream makeup is often full of oils that clog pores and encourage breakouts. Often heavier makeup is difficult to remove.
If you are prone to irritation and breakouts, you might want to try a vegan and water-activated cake formula such as Mehron’s Professional Paradise Makeup AQ. Another option is to avoid Halloween makeup altogether and use mineral-based makeup like BareMinerals or Jane Iredale. Both brands are light enough to prevent irritating skin.
If you plan on using anything with glue or transfers or prosthetic appliances, don’t forget that you’ll want to use gentle and thorough care in removing makeup. Stay patient and don’t rush to use harsh solvents or pick at prosthetics. Hard rubbing will only further aggravate skin irritation.
Alcohol is an ingredient in many of the makeup wipes that people use to speed up removal, and alcohol can sting and make your face turn pink. Avoid such makeup wipes if your skin is sensitive.
Gory fake blood makes a fine touch for many Halloween costumes, but the cheap versions stocked at many Halloween store not only irritates skin but stains like crazy. The culprit is the formula, which is usually petroleum-based.
Use basic kitchen products to whip up your own fake blood to apply to your skin. The following recipe does stain, so avoid getting it on your clothes. If you want the effect of blood-stained clothing, mix dish soap with lipstick. Don’t use the dish soap version on your face, because it can irritate your skin.
Fake Blood Recipe
Measure and mix your ingredients in a blender:
- 1/2 cup (120 ml.) red fruit punch
- 1 cup (300 g.) corn syrup (or golden syrup)
- 2 tablespoons red food coloring
- 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cocoa powder