Halloween is so much fun, even as a grown-up. You get to dress however you want, decorate the house any way you want, eat as much candy as you want, and nobody can tell you what to do because you’re an adult.

Why does everything fun seem to take a toll on sensitive skin?

Think about everything your skin goes through on a typical Halloween night: Face paint you don't normally wear, or a mask rubbing against your skin…a costume made from unfamiliar fabrics…accessories sitting against your face and neck…old makeup pulled out of a drawer…a lot more sugar than usual…crowded parties…and plenty of opportunities to touch your face without realizing it.

For your skin, Halloween can be surprisingly demanding. But none of that means you need to skip the fun. A few extra “rules” can help you enjoy Halloween while keeping your skin comfortable.

1. Disguise Yourself With Skin-Safe Face Paint

Face paint is one of the biggest Halloween skin triggers because it can involve ingredients and textures your skin isn't accustomed to.

Heavy pigments, fragrances, preservatives, adhesives, and other ingredients can be irritating for some people. And because face paint often stays on for several hours, your skin has plenty of time to react.

A few ways to make face paint more skin-friendly:

• Choose products specifically labeled for use on the face rather than using craft paint or other products not intended for skin.

• Check the ingredient list if you know you are sensitive to particular ingredients.

• Patch test a new product before Halloween night.

• Avoid applying paint over already irritated or compromised skin.

• Don't share face paint, brushes, sponges, or applicators.

• At the end of the night, remove it thoroughly before going to bed.

And don't forget about glitter. Cosmetic-grade glitter is designed for use on skin. Craft glitter is not. Final warning: Even if you use cosmetic-grade glitter, it’s still going to end up getting everywhere. That’s unavoidable.

👉 Not sure if a specific face paint or makeup is safe for your skin? Use our free Ingredient Checker to scan the label and find out in 2 seconds.

2. Don't Mess Around With Old Makeup

If your family was like mine, you had a box of Halloween makeup you unearthed only once a year.

You’d sift through old tubes of foundation, scrape out the last remnants of old face paint, a mascara you can't remember buying, and sponges that've been sitting there for who knows how long.

Before putting any of that on your face, take a really good look.

Makeup and applicators can accumulate bacteria over time, particularly when they’ve been opened, used, exposed to air, or stored somewhere warm and damp (like under a sink or out in the garage).

If you can't remember when you opened it, it smells different, has changed texture, or simply looks questionable, it's probably not worth the risk.

Don’t gamble with mystery makeup.

Stick to the rules you’d use for your everyday beauty routine. Use clean brushes and applicators, avoid sharing products, and wash your hands before applying makeup.

3. Watch Out for Strange Costume Fabrics and Dyes

That costume looks great, but your skin might not necessarily know what to make of it.

New synthetic fabrics, dyes, finishes, adhesives, and rough textures can cause friction and irritation, especially around the neck, shoulders, waist, and underarms.

You don't necessarily need to buy an expensive costume.

Wash new clothing before wearing it (if you can; some costumes can’t be washed). And, when practical, consider wearing a clean layer underneath your costume. 

Pay attention to any areas where the fabric repeatedly rubs against your skin.

If something feels scratchy, hot, or uncomfortable before you even leave the house, that's a good reason to make an adjustment.

4. Beware of Masks and Accessories

Masks, wigs, fake facial hair, and even hats, glasses, costume jewelry, and other accessories can all introduce new points of contact with your skin.

The problem isn't necessarily the material itself. Sometimes it's the combination of friction, pressure, sweat, and prolonged contact.

A mask rubbing the same spot for four hours can be very different from wearing it for five minutes.

Masks are often made of latex, which can irritate your skin even if you’re not allergic. Prolonged exposure can make you feel dry and itchy. If you do have a latex allergy, just stay far away from it.

Before Halloween, clean anything that will touch your face. If an accessory is uncomfortable, adjust it rather than assuming you'll get used to it.

And if you're wearing a mask, remember to take occasional breaks. I know it’s tempting to never break character, but your face will thank you later.

5. Be Mindful of Spoooooky Sweat

Halloween costumes usually aren't designed with ventilation in mind. They get hot quickly.

Add that to warm indoor spaces, dancing, walking around the neighborhood, and layers of clothing, and you can end up much sweatier than expected.

I grew up in Colorado, and October was often a cold, wintry month. Even then, I still remember sweating under my mask and costume as I trudged through the snow from house to house. Good times.

Sweat isn't inherently bad for your skin. But leaving sweat, makeup, and costume materials sitting against your skin for hours can create an irritating combination.

Bring what you need to freshen up if you're going to be out for a long time. And once the festivities are over, give your skin a chance to breathe.

6. Don't Let Sugar Invade the Entire Week

Halloween comes with an obvious temptation: candy.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying some. That's part of the fun.

But Halloween can easily turn into several days (or weeks) of unusually high sugar intake, especially when there's a giant bowl sitting on the kitchen counter. I’m speaking from personal experience here.

If you notice your skin tends to look or feel different when your diet changes, Halloween can be tricky. But you don't need to deprive yourself to take care of your skin.

While you enjoy your favorite treats, remember these tips: Drink plenty of water. Eat regular meals. And when the candy is gone, go back to your normal routine.

7. Keep Your Hands Off Your Face

Halloween involves a lot of touching.

Doorbells. Candy bowls. Phone screens. Car doors. Handrails. Other people's hands.

Then, at some point, you’re gonna touch your face.

It's almost impossible not to.

The goal isn't to become hypervigilant about every surface you encounter. Just make handwashing part of your Halloween routine, especially before applying or touching makeup and before eating.

If you’re taking the kids trick-or-treating, you may want to keep a bottle of skin-friendly hand sanitizer handy 😄.

And if you're wearing makeup, try to avoid rubbing or scratching your face throughout the night. (My record is about two hours. How long can you go?)

8. Be Careful With Candy Wrappers

I don’t want to sound paranoid, or make you feel that way, but you have no idea how many hands have touched those candy wrappers before they reach yours.

Halloween candy passes through a lot of fingers. The person stocking the shelves. The person putting it into a bowl. The person handing it to your kids. Other trick-or-treaters digging through the same pile. And you have no idea what else those hands have touched along the way.

All those wrappers end up together in your kid’s candy haul, rubbing against each other as they carry them home… 

You don't need to be afraid of Halloween candy. Just be mindful of what you're touching.

Wash your hands before eating, especially after handling large amounts of candy and wrappers. And while you’re digging through a communal candy bowl, remember rule #7.

It's a small precaution, but Halloween is full of small things that can add up.

9. Take Everything Off Before Bed

This might be the most important Halloween skincare rule of all.

After a long night, going straight to bed can be tempting. (For me, falling asleep in front of a horror movie in a candy coma is not a rare occurrence).

But leaving your face paint, makeup, sweat, and whatever else accumulated throughout the evening on your skin overnight isn't doing your skin any favors.

Take the time to gently cleanse your face and any other areas where you wore makeup or body paint.

Don't scrub aggressively to get everything off ASAP. Aggressive scrubbing can leave skin feeling even more uncomfortable.

Cleanse gently. Rinse thoroughly. Then you can pass out wherever you like.

10. Don't Play “Mad Scientist” With Your Skincare Routine

Halloween is already introducing plenty of variables.

It's probably not the best night to test five new skincare products, try an aggressive exfoliant, or completely change your routine.

Stick with products your skin already knows.

If your skin is feeling dry or uncomfortable after removing your makeup, follow up with the moisturizer or other familiar products you normally use.

Sometimes the best skincare strategy is simply keeping things simple.

 

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Halloween Doesn't Have to Be Hard on Your Skin

Halloween gives us plenty of reasons to think about skin safety, but you don't need to spend the evening worrying about every ingredient, surface, or piece of candy.

Remember: Choose products intended for use on skin. Clean your makeup and accessories. Wash new costumes when possible. Pay attention to friction and sweat. Keep your hands clean. Enjoy the candy without turning it into your entire diet. And, at the end of the night, take everything off and give your skin a clean start.

If You Want to Give Your Skin a Halloween Reset…

Once the last piece of candy has been claimed and the costume is back in the closet, your skin may appreciate a little extra attention.

Our Face Relief System is a simple way to do exactly that. It brings together a coordinated cleansing and moisturizing routine designed to help you wash away the day's buildup while leaving your skin feeling clean, comfortable, and refreshed.

Think of it as a little reset button for your skin after a season of Halloween fun.

Rest while you can…the holidays are rushing toward us now!

Happy Halloween! 🎃

-Thommy S., Dermazen Staff Writer