Could wearing makeup be the key to eternal youth?
It’s no secret that at Fashion Quarterly we’re obsessed with makeup, and all it promises to deliver. We wear it because it makes us feel good; it’s fun, and the power of a great lippy cannot be denied.
And now we’ve got science on our side to justify our next must-have purchase.
According to new research presented this month at an Australasian College of Dermatologists conference, “cosmeceuticals” or “functional coloured cosmetics” are the second most important anti-aging products to use after sunscreen, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
On top of that, the paper by dermatologist Dr Phillip Artemi, highlighted another very important benefit: wearing makeup could reduce skin cancers around the eye.
“We now know that it isn’t just solar radiation such as UVB and UVA that is bad for the skin,” he said. “The sun also emits infrared radiation and visible light, which can lead to damage resulting in dull skin, wrinkles and unsightly pigmentation.
“Pollution, too, has been shown to cause wrinkles and skin ageing and, with increased urbanisation, traffic pollution is set to become a major skin toxin.”
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Dr Artemi claims that because functional coloured cosmetics contain SPF ingredients, pigments and reflectors of solar radiation, it’s valid to consider their use as as a way to help protect skin against aging and skin cancer.
But don’t think you can ditch sunscreen. “A combination of sunscreen, foundation, eyeshadow, and mascara can reduce the incidence of skin cancers especially around the eye better than the use of sunscreen alone,” says the doctor.
He also adds that while sunscreens do a lot to protect the skin, they can’t be relied on entirely; he advises that functional coloured cosmetics should be added to further reduce the risk of skin cancer, and to protect against air pollution.
With lipsticks, Dr Artemi recommends choosing darker, longer-lasting colours over gloss, which he says offer little protection.
We’re feeling a little splurge on some new makeup might be just what the doctor ordered.
