Prepping Your Skin For Cons

Let's get our skin convention ready!

Hello all! We're gonna talk about skin prep for cons. During conventions, we wear more make up than usual for our cosplays. Foundation, concealer, fake lashes, body paint, I could go on and on. In order to keep our skin from breaking out from the make up OR even before the fact...who wants a pimple right before a con? I sure don't and neither do you. The con paparazzi will be taking pics of you and your friends and you will be taking selfies of yourself in the hotel bathroom (yes you will). We need to keep your skin healthy! Gentlemen, this applies to you too. Trust me :)

Since Otakon 2013 is a huuuuuuge convention and I am sure many of you readers are planning on going. It is a little less than a month away and the perfect time to start taking care of your skin. If you are not going to Otakon, this information will help you greatly.

Think of your skin as a canvas that an artist uses. It is blank until you begin applying your make up or body paint. You want to keep that canvas smooth and without blemish or darkness. If an artist's canvas has imperfections, they need to perfect it or get a new one. NO, that doesn't mean you get a new face, my God. 

Now you must ask yourself what skin type you are, as this is very important:

Is your skin oily/acne? This means literally you are oily all over and have blemishes.

Is your skin combination? Oily in the forehead and nose (aka the "T  Zone) and dry elsewhere.

Is your skin dry? Self explanatory.

Is your skin normal? Again, self explanatory and lucky you ^_^ 

Is your skin sensitive? You tend to break out easily when using facial products. 

All of the above is crucial to your pre-convention skin routine. Decide which skin type is you and go from there. I will help you along with suggestions for products for each type of skin.

Oily Skin/Acne

 When you have oily skin, you tend to have blemishes or breakouts. To prevent this from happening, you want to use a cleanser that has benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or beta-hydroxy acid. Big fancy words that mean good things are gonna happen to your skin. 

What steps do I use? 

1 Facial Cleanser

2 Toner

3 Oil Free Moisturzer

Do this in the AM and PM. Also, oil blotting paper are fantastic! Carry them with you at the con, you can blot the oil during the day. Also, they are just good to have on hand for everyday. When I wake up in the morning I use a blotting paper before I wash my face as I tend to get oily in my T Zone during the summer.

Here are some products to use for an oily skin regimen:

1. Clinique has a 3 step set just for oily skin. (cleanser, toner, moisturizer) It is available at Macy's, Bloomingdales, Beauty stores like Ulta or Sephora, and other stores.

2.Pro-Active has a set for oily skin.

3. Cetaphil, St. Ives Blemish Fighting, Clean & Clear, and Neutrogena are have some great cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Available at drugstores!

4. Oil Blotting wipes...I use green tea ones by a company called Boscia which is available at Sephora stores or online www.sephora.com. I have also seen ones by Neutrogena and Clean & Clear too.

Combination Skin

Combo skin ain't so bad. You have a little of both skin worlds: oily and dry. You have oiliness in your T Zone (imagine a big T on your face) and dry elsewhere. No worries...

 Steps for Combo Skin:

1 Facial Cleanser

2 Toner

3 Moisturizer only on the dry parts of your face, not the oily!

Wash your face in the AM and PM. Some products I recommend are:

1. I recommend a foaming cleanser...Neutrogena has a nice grapefruit one I like and Sephora has some nice cleansers in travel sizes.

2. Toners...get one that is alcohol free. The alcohol in the toner will dry your skin up even more and produce more oil. NO WAY. Try one from your drugstore by the top skin brands like my fave Neutrogena. Be sure to read the bottle.

3. There are some great moisturizers out there for combo skin. Try going to your local Sephora to try a sample of one or head to the drug store. I like Oil of Olay, it really smooths the dry spots. First Aid Beauty has fantastic moisturizers too and Clinque's Dramatically Different Gel is perfect for this skin type. Note, not the lotion, the gel if you are going to purchase this product.

Dry Skin

OH, dry skin. It is uncomfortable. Most people tend to have this during the winter months. Others have it all the time. There are great ways to combat this skin type!

Steps for Dry Skin

1 Facial Cleanser

2 Toner

3 Serum...this is optional but this extra step works remarkably well.

4 Moisturizer

Wash your face in the AM and PM...let's get to some products:

1. Yes to Carrots is a great cleanser for dry skin as well as Philosophy products.

2. For a toner, Kiehl's Ultra Facial Toner or Burt's Bee's Garden Tomatoes Toner.

3. Serum...this is the optional part...I cannot recommend enough Josie Maran's Argan Oil from Sephora. They have a travel size which is affordable and lasts a long time. All you need is two to three drops. 

4. A moisturizer that never fails is Oil of Olay, a classic for a reason! Check the Yes to Carrots moisturizer as well. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion by Clinique works so nicely too.

Normal Skin

Ah, normal skin...nice, but you still need to take care of it! 

Steps for Normal Skin

1 Facial Cleanser

2 Toner make sure it says for normal skin...you can dry your skin out if you use something else not specified for normal skin!

3 Moisturizer 

Wash your face in the AM and PM. Onto the products!

1. African Red Tea Cleanser is oh so lovely. It is from Sephora and comes in a travel size. Neutrogena and the Yes To Line have great cleansers for normal skin.

2. For a toner, make sure it says "for normal skin." The Body Shop and Aveda have nice toners. Also, check your drugstore...there are some many brands out there that do wonders!

3. Oil of Olay is a classic moisturizer that I recommended for dry skin...it feels so nice and available all over. Sephora brand moisturizers are great as well!

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin needs to be taken care of and gently. 

1 Facial Cleanser

2 Moisturizer

Wash your face only once a day. You can choose either AM or PM. I would do PM after a long day. I'd begin the day with a soothing moisturizer. Some products for sensitive skin:

1. Yes to Cucumbers is for senstive skin as well as a few Clinique products. Clinique is very good for people with sensitive skin. I recommend visiting a Clinique counter and checking them out.

2. Same as the above ^_^ Avoid cream based moisturizers. 

WOW. That was a lot of information! So now you have found what skin type you are (if you are having difficulty pin pointing it, feel free to ask me) and how to treat it to get that con ready skin. Not only is this a great routine for pre-cons, but think about carrying it over into your day to day life. Some of you may already do this, which is greatness. One thing I must stress is DO NOT use regular soap. It is just plain awful for your face. End Scene.

Another thing...at the end of the night at the conventions when you come in from the rave at 4am and feel like you're gonna face plant into the bed, please do so...but...keep a package of make up wipes (Products: Neutrogena, Sephora, Josie Maran, MAC) and wipe your face clean before passing out. You will thank me in the morning. You will destroy your skin if you do not take off your make up at night and you will break out from clogged pore. I am sorry, but it is reality. If you are covered in body paint...hope in the shower. Do not sleep in that and get the hotel's sheets looking like a rainbow. Not cool!

Another great way to con prep your skin are face masks! For those with sensitive skin, be careful and read the package or ask a consultant in the store you are buying from. Go and visit www.lushusa.com. They have a mask for every facial concern. They are all natural, smell great, and work wonders! Check the website for a lush store near you.  If you are feeling creative, there are manyyyy websites about making your own face mask at home. Sephora, Ulta, and drugstores have face masks as well. Just make sure you read the bottle well. A good idea is to do a test spot on your face and see how your skin reacts to the product. If it doesn't become irritated, you are good to go! Do a mask once a week...or you can start doing a mask two weeks before a con. I always do a face mask the night before the convention. It's a tradition I do while I pack!

 The same goes for exfoliaters. Use once to twice a week. There are even exfoliaters for the body and body lotion that will get your body convention ready...especially if you plan on wearing a revealing cosplay. Sensitive skin friends, try to steer clear of these unless you speak to a dermatologist or a beauty consultant. The grains in the exfoliant could give you a flare up. Exfoliation is an excellent way to get the dead skin off, plus your skin looks absolutely glowing afterwards! Be sure to check the bottle to see if it is suitable for your skin type and do a test spot! I feel like a parrot...lol.

Bring your skin care with you to the con. Do not stop just because the con is here. Keep it up. Sometimes when you begin a new skin routine you may see a little blemish here or there. Especially if you use a tool like the Clarisonic (I have the Mia Clarisonic, it's my best friend hahaha). This is because your skin is being purged of the toxins and dirt that are in your pores. It has to come out. Same with doing juice cleanses...just as you are cleansing your body, you are cleansing your face. 

There are other side products for cons I like to bring along with me such an under eye treatment.  Basically, it is a little roller ball that you run back and forth under your eye. It has caffeine in it and it reduces puffiness and under eye circles. Perfect for those morning after the rave or late night panel at the con. Brightens up your eyes like a charm. I either use one by Clinique, Ole Henriksen, or First Aid Beauty. There are some of these at drugstores as well ^_^

I hope you enjoyed the pre convention skin care.

It really helps get your skin ready for all the make up and body paint.

Enjoy using the products and getting ready for your conventions!

Until next time **^_^**