A two-week experiment of going makeup-free made zero difference to my breakouts, pores, or redness.Makeup isn’t the villain. Many modern formulas actually support the skin and offer protection during the day.Removal matters most. Using the right products—and washing them off nightly—is more important than going makeup-free.
I’ve always been acne-prone, but the last couple of months, my skin has been particularly annoyed with me. I’ve been breaking out more than normal, the pores on my nose are perpetually clogged, and the redness around my cheeks and nose lingers no matter how many barrier creams I slather on. To hide all of this, I’ve been wearing more makeup than normal, which begs the question: Is this added makeup making me break out? Or would my skin be doing this regardless?
I’m meticulous about my skincare routine, and I’m mindful of lifestyle things (sleep, diet, stress levels, etc.) that could negatively impact my skin, so my gut feeling is that my foundation, concealer, and blush and bronzer could be the triggers.
So I decided to do a little experiment with myself: I wouldn’t wear any makeup for two whole weeks (!!) to see if going makeup-free would make my breakouts less frequent, my pores smaller, and my redness a little less noticeable.
Fast-forward two weeks (which honestly felt like two years) and guess what? My skin literally looks exactly the same. Same breakouts, same pores, same redness. My no-makeup experiment had zero impact on my skin. So I went to the experts, hands in the air, and got some answers on the whole “no makeup for clearer skin” thing.
Makeup-free skin doesn’t automatically mean clearer skin
I know this probably contradicts everything you’ve ever heard, but the truth is that most makeup isn’t intrinsically “bad” for your skin. “So many foundations and even blushes and highlighters have skincare benefits now,” says dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD. “Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, niacinamide, SPF—some makeup ingredients can actually do wonders when it comes to hydrating, smoothing, and clarifying your skin.”
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Makeup also forms a protective barrier on your face, kind of like an insurance policy against pollution and dirt. And its iron oxides (the stuff that gives most tinted moisturizers and other products their color) are one of the best ingredients out there for shielding skin from the inflammatory effects of blue light (aka the visible glow emitted from phones, tablets, and laptops that leads to inflammation and premature aging), says Dr. Marchbein. Also important: Most face makeup contains some sort of SPF, which is clutch for protecting your skin from the aging effects of UVA and UVB rays.
I know that sounds like a lot of…layers, and you’re probs saying, “But doesn’t my skin just need to breathe?” Okay, but skin doesn’t actually “breathe,” and for the record, it doesn’t “detox” either (that’s your liver’s job). It can get dry, congested, or irritated, though, which is why it’s so important to use makeup that’s designed for your skin type and free of oils, fragrance, and formaldehyde, says dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD.
So if you’re wearing the right kind, makeup can actually help your skin—during the day, at least. At night, having anything but clean skin can be hugely detrimental. “That’s when skin renews and regenerates itself, and makeup impedes that critical process,” says Dr. Rabach. So pls remember to wash it off before bed (check out my favorite cleansing oils and face washes, below).
If you just can’t bring yourself to consistently wash your face and remove your makeup, then it’s true that, for you, going bare during the day is going to be better for your skin in the long run.
The takeaway
The bad news, as my experiment proved, is that going makeup-free isn’t a one-size-fits-all secret recipe for clear, glowing skin. The good news is that if you want to continue living your best life, go right ahead. And TL;DR: Make sure your makeup is formulated to work with your skin type—and you always wash it off before bed.
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Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan with more than 12 years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories that range from the best skincare routine for your 30s to a comprehensive Glossier blush review. She regularly tests and analyzes new beauty products and treatments while working with the industry’s top experts to assess new brands, trends, and technologies.
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Lauren Balsamo is the beauty director at Cosmopolitan where she writes, edits, and produces all types of beauty content—from product reviews to personal essays and trend reports. She has covered beauty for more than a decade at Cosmopolitan. Follow her on Instagram.
