Halloween Makeup-Skin Tips

*This post is sponsored by Target  

It’s almost Halloween, and I’ve been itching to do a cool Day of the Dead skeleton look this year. If there’s one thing I know in my line of work, it’s that heavy makeup can equal skin nightmares for weeks. Dryness, breakouts, dullness—none of it is pretty. Before tackling my test runs with my spooky makeup, I visited the Target Beauty Concierge to get her recommendations on what to prep my skin with. (Nothing is scarier than a breakout that won’t go away!)

It’s such a relief to have an expert on hand (for free!) at Target. She helped me find products that work with my skin type and sensitivity, and also stayed within my budget. The winners? CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Olay Fresh Effects Wipes, Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream, and Biore Pore Strips. CeraVe is now my bargain cleanser of choice. Side note: I did an interview with a well-respected dermatologist recently who recommends CeraVe to all her patients, so I know it’s great stuff. The cleanser is incredibly gentle, but gets the heavy makeup out of all my pores. I use it with my Foreo Luna and it really cleans deep. It doesn’t burn my eyes, which is a major bonus when trying to remove detailed eye makeup.

The Biore Pore Strips are handy to have after wearing layers of makeup because they pull out the remaining blackheads that my cleanser didn’t quite reach. The strips are still gentle and won’t cause redness, which I like. I got the combo pack with strips that work on the bridge of my nose, chin, and forehead. To keep my skin from drying out, Olay Regenerist keeps my skin hydrated and has amazing things like hyaluronic acid, amino-peptides and vitamin B3. It’s like a crazy awesome moisturizer and anti-aging product in one. If I can stave off wrinkles in this process, why not?

The Olay Fresh Effects Wipes are helpful to remove my stubborn eye makeup, and also to keep in my purse to clean up makeup mishaps on the go. They smell so nice, and have already come in handy when touching up my makeup after work. Anyone who is planning on wearing Halloween makeup needs these in their bag!

When planning your look for the scariest night of the year, go make friends with the Target Beauty Concierge for all kinds of Halloween makeup tips from skincare to makeup. When you do, share your experience. Find your style @TargetStyle.

Photography: S. Jackson