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Reading 2 min.
in collaboration with
Isabelle Gallay (dermatologist)
Is foundation your skin’s friend or foe? Can it harm your skin and cause pimples? We asked Dr. Gallay, dermatologist, the question.
Many stars today opt for no make up, this trend which banishes foundation and other tricks on the skin, under the pretext of letting it breathe. Other influencers reveal that they take a break from their week, for the same reason. But with the many new formulas developed today, is foundation so harmful to our skin?
Product coverage in question (but it’s not what you think)
To answer this question, Doctissimo contacted dermatologist Dr. Isabelle Gallay, who today admits that between foundations, tinted creams, and bb creams, there is something to be confused about. “What clients are looking for is good “coverage”. But for us, dermatologists, there is coverage (the result on imperfections) and coverage (the texture of the product used)”. And it is of course this second definition that the problem can arise.
“In dermatology, we call a product too covering when it prevents the skin from breathing, either because it is too thick for your skin, or because it itself contains comedogenic substances which will clog the pores, and therefore prevent skin respiration.
The skin thus carries out thermal regulation (we lose water through the skin) which is necessary for it. “In the case of a product that is too covering, there is a risk of water retention as well as sebaceous retention (the sebum no longer evacuates, Editor’s note), and consequently the sebaceous glands which swell, can burst under the skin, creating acne and blackheads and closed comedones. A great program.
A good foundation, on the other hand, protects the skin
However, foundation is not an enemy of our beauty and our skin. In fact, a light product that covers your imperfections will even have the advantage of protecting your skin.. “There must be mineral oxides in sufficient concentration to mask imperfections, but good news! Iron, zinc and titanium oxides also protect the skin from light radiation”, underlines the expert.
But to find the right product, one that covers without suffocating the skin, you will have to scrutinize the composition and do some research and not trust the tempting ads seen on the internet.
“For a good foundation, I do not recommend purchasing it online (unless you already know the product) or because an influencer “says that”… Better to go to a parapharmacya perfumery, or even its dermatologist to know the composition of the products and the presence of comedogens”, she concludes.
Slide: Foundation: 8 tips for flawless skin