Ask An Expert: Can I Cleanse Just Before Makeup?

Here at NewBeauty, we want to make sure you get the beauty advice you need. Whether it’s about a troubling skin care concern or the latest makeup tricks, don’t be afraid to ask. Recently, we got a question from a reader via Twitter asking if using a pore-clearing mask before applying makeup was a bad idea.

“That’s totally fine,” says Prospect, KY, dermatologist Tami Cassis, MD. In fact, it’s actually a good idea. “Clearing your pores gives your skin a glow and your makeup will look the best it’s ever looked.”

Plymouth Meeting, PA, dermatologist Marlene Mash, MD, agrees, and adds that masks help degrease the skin, so it’s a good idea for those with oily skin. It can also help tighten the skin, shrink pores and can temporarily reduce fine lines and wrinkles. After a mask, “Makeup will go on nice and smooth and you will have no streaks,” says Dr. Mash.

But the key here is to avoid applying makeup right away. Dr. Cassis says to let your skin “calm down” for at least 10 minutes before applying your moisturizer. After that, wait two to five minutes before putting on your makeup.