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You’ve got in all probability used calamine lotion earlier than to assuage irritated pores and skin and rashes brought on by sunburns or poison ivy or to deal with pesky insect bites and stings. However some TikTokers have been utilizing the pharmacy staple throughout their faces as a make-up primer. Sure, actually.
Movies with the hashtag #calamineprimer have racked up a collective 4 million views and relying on the app. In a single video with greater than 35,000 likes and 600 feedback, person Tia Samuda applies calamine lotion throughout her face with a make-up brush earlier than making use of basis, displaying off easy, even pores and skin afterward.
In one other video, person @a_banik duets with Samuda, describing how the calamine lotion seems to be and feels on her self-described oily pores and skin. After making use of the pink lotion utilizing a basis brush, she does her normal make-up routine over the DIY primer. “I’ve to say, my pores and skin seems to be stunning,” she says, together with pictures from three and eight hours later to show how the approach offers long-lasting outcomes.
The budget-friendly purchase is garnering followers who love that it offers a long-lasting base and a easy canvas for basis and different magnificence merchandise, particularly for these with oily pores and skin. Whereas it would appear to be a stable answer to sliding make-up woes, some TikTok customers who’ve tried it did not expertise such glowing outcomes. What’s extra, this skin-care hack might not be value making an attempt, particularly you probably have delicate pores and skin or current pores and skin circumstances like rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema, in response to a dermatologist. Maintain scrolling for all the main points.
What’s calamine lotion?
That mild pink lotion in your medication cupboard is definitely chock-full of substances and has many makes use of, says Geeta Yadav, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the founding father of FACET Dermatology. “Calamine lotion, which is made up of calamine, iron oxide, phenol, and zinc oxide, works by briefly soothing irritation, flippantly numbing discomfort, soothing itching, and drying out any oozing or weeping,” she explains.
In the event you’ve obtained minor itching, irritation, ache, or discomfort from toxic vegetation (together with poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac), having calamine lotion available is a stable transfer to assist soothe your pores and skin. It is also useful for insect bites and stings, and it may possibly relieve discomfort from hives and rashes brought on by circumstances, reminiscent of chickenpox, warmth rash, and shingles, in response to the Cleveland Clinic.
Does utilizing calamine lotion as a make-up primer work?
Given its drying properties, calamine lotion will draw out oils from pores and skin to create a easy canvas, explains Dr. Yadav. Whereas it could be okay for infrequent use on regular and oily pores and skin, it actually should not be used as a make-up primer on the common, she provides. “Utilizing merchandise outdoors of their supposed use is at all times a danger,” she says. “Since it’s a topical drug, calamine lotion is robust, and long-term use can compromise your pores and skin barrier [i.e. damage the skin’s top layers]. It will strip your pores and skin of its pure moisture and result in sensitivity and irritation.”
Individuals with dry, delicate, and reactive pores and skin positively should not use calamine lotion as a primer, provides Dr. Yadav. It’s because long-term put on everywhere in the face will seemingly solely irritate or inflame these pores and skin varieties.
Is utilizing calamine lotion as a make-up primer protected?
There are some questions of safety with utilizing calamine lotion as a primer. “Calamine lotion is closely fragranced and is full of substances that dry out pores and skin. You shouldn’t apply this product close to the attention space,” says Dr. Yadav. “Not solely is the pores and skin right here thinner and extra liable to irritation than different areas, the mucosa of the attention [the moist, inner lining that protects your eyes] will simply be irritated and doubtlessly broken by calamine lotion,” she continues.
Together with its doubtlessly irritating perfume, calamine lotion incorporates phenol, a “potent exfoliant,” explains Dr. Yadav. Meaning it may be extraordinarily drying and worsening and will exacerbate pores and skin circumstances, reminiscent of rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema. (Learn extra: Pure Eczema Treatments You Have not Tried But)
You additionally should not apply it to an open wound, close to the nostril, or near the mouth. “In the event you do get calamine lotion in your eyes, flush them with water instantly,” she says.
You need to use calamine lotion as a make-up primer: True or false?
Polina Kovaleva
Whereas calamine lotion would possibly work as a primer for some and could also be protected to make use of often, Dr. Yadav does not suggest making an attempt it, particularly when there are such a lot of make-up merchandise out there at many various value factors designed to lock make-up in place — with out compromising your pores and skin’s delicate barrier. One budget-friendly purchase that Amazon buyers love is the E.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer, which supplies customers that coveted blurring impact for simply $10.
With this in thoughts, it is best to carry onto your calamine lotion for pesky bug bites and rashes.