5 Ways To Care For Your Skin After Removing Halloween Makeup

Crunching leaves beneath your feet, the smell of apple cider in the air, and costumes hanging up in every store can only mean one thing: Halloween is almost here! Halloween is one of our favorite times of the year because it gives us another excuse to play dress-up. Whether you're going out on the town or taking the kids out to trick or treat, you have the opportunity to wear an adorable costume complete with hauntingly beautiful glam.

While we love Halloween makeup, our skin may not. Halloween makeup for many costumes is applied thickly and in large amounts. If you are using face paint and inexpensive palettes from the Halloween section at your local big-box store, they are likely to break you out. These products are often comedogenic, meaning that they block your pores and lead to acne, per Columbia Skin Clinic. It's also important to note that you should never recycle unused costume makeup and creams, as they can incubate bacteria and cause harm when you use them next Halloween, according to Dr. Purvisha Patel, creator of Visha Skin Care (via Teen Vogue).

Whether you're using makeup labeled as costume makeup or your everyday makeup x10, it's important to care for your skin after wearing so much makeup for so long. We have you covered with five ways to pamper your skin after the holiday activities have come to a halt.

A big no-no in the makeup world is sleeping with makeup on, but every once in a while, it happens! If there is one night to avoid this mistake at all costs, it would be Halloween. While it can be tempting, especially after a long night out, sleeping in your Halloween makeup can have a harmful effect on your skin. Use a makeup-removing solution, such as micellar water, on the face and eyes. Dermatologist Erum Ilyas tells Allure that she recommends solutions like micellar water over remover wipes because while they both break down waterproof makeup, she sees many more rashes from wipes usage.

After removing as much makeup as possible with a solution, you should follow up with a gentle cleanser. This will ensure that your skin is removed from dirt, makeup, and bad oils without stripping your skin of natural oils that keep it young and looking healthy (via Curel). CeraVe's Cream to Foam Cleanser is one of our favorites due to its blend of essential ceramides, amino acids, and hyaluronic acid. These will ensure your skin stays soft and hydrated rather than dry and irritated.

Toner is often forgotten but is essential in a great skincare routine. On Halloween night, toner is especially necessary. Toner removes the last remnants of dirt and grime after you wash your face, according to Neutrogena. It is inevitable that some thick Halloween makeup will be left behind after using both a makeup-removing solution and cleanser, which is why toner is a great way to ensure you have a truly bare face before bedtime. Toner is also known for its long-term effects of balancing the skin's pH level and tightening pores.

After wearing thick Halloween makeup for hours, your skin is ready for some much-needed R&R. Therefore, allow your skin to relax by hydrating. It's likely that your skin will be dry immediately after removing makeup, cleansing, and using toner, which is why it is great to apply moisturizer or hydrating night cream (via DCSI). Keeping your skin hydrated also has positive long-term effects as it keeps the skin's barrier hydrated and healthy, preventing wrinkles. Make sure your moisturizer or cream of choice is non-comedogenic as well to prevent clogged pores that cause acne.

Whether it is a bold red lip or an intense smokey eye, eyes and lips often take the brunt of Halloween makeup. Unfortunately, they're often forgotten when it comes to pampering. The skin on the eyes and lips is extremely delicate which is why extra care should be taken to ensure they are clean and hydrated. In fact, the skin on the lips is only about three to five cell layers thick, whereas the skin on the face is about 16 layers thick (via Jean Coutu). Therefore, you should apply a hydrating eye cream to the under eyes after removing your Halloween makeup. Meanwhile, for the lips, try an overnight lip mask such as the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask.