7 Makeup Products That Double As Skincare

If you can count on one hand the times you wore full-coverage foundation in the past 15 months, you’re not alone. Reality is, our attitudes toward makeup have shifted to “skinimalism.” See: a 180 percent increase in Pinterest searches year over year for “natural everyday makeup” and a quadrupling of searches for “glowing skin,” according to the service’s 2021 trend report. And as we’ve pared down our routines, one MVP category has emerged—skin-care/makeup hybrids. “We wear makeup 8 to 12 hours a day, so we should maximize these hours with skin care too,” says Lynnette Cole, a makeup expert, aesthetician, and PÜR global education director. What makes this new wave of cosmetics unique is that in addition to offering coverage or color, they also “act as a skin moisturizer or protectant,” says Ginger King, a cosmetic chemist of 26 years. Ahead, the benefits of wearing skin care infused makeup—plus products and at-home recipes that bring the glow.

Skin Actually Improves Over Time

The makeup-as-skin-care trend generally incorporates ingredients you might think you’d find only in a high-tech serum. “I’ve noticed a lot of products with extra boosts of moisture thanks to hyaluronic acid,” says Gabrielle Pascua, a Los Angeles–based makeup artist and skin-care therapist. She’s also starting to see more formulas for acne-prone skin that provide anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects with salicylic acid. For example, Clinique’s new Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25 has hyaluronic acid, salicylic acid, and vitamin C. That’s like five skin-care and makeup steps in one time-saving bottle—pretty awesome, right? Just one note: You want to make sure you’re not repeating ingredients with this type of makeup that you’re already using in your separate skin-care routine—you don’t want to accidentally overdo it with exfoliation or unknowingly aggravate your skin.

Your Face Gets A Break In Warm Weather

Wearing conventional makeup that’s heavy on skin can trigger irritation when you add humidity to the equation, because the moisture mixed with oil makes products penetrate deeper into the skin. On top of that, “heat can make skin more sensitive,” says Nechelle Turner, national makeup artist and educator for Jane Iredale. “Products that are more calming and lighter in weight are better.” No matter what makeup you wear, Pascua suggests prepping beforehand with a toner like Kiehl’s Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion to mitigate some of the oil.

Maskne Is Less Likely

Breakouts are sometimes unavoidable because friction from the mask rubbing repeatedly on certain areas can cause skin irritation, says dermatologist Allison Arthur, MD. Your skin is also trapped in hot, humid air (a breeding ground for bacteria). If coverage is still important to you, grab a tinted moisturizer instead of a matte foundation. “The moisture will provide more slip between the face and the mask and will actually help ease that friction from the start,” Pascua says. On top of that, Turner suggests looking for an ingredient like willow bark extract in skin-care/makeup products because it reduces inflammation and fights acne-causing bacteria. Consider Physicians Formula’s Super BB Powder for a face-covering-friendly pick.