s that In our quest to achieve flawless looking skin, blurring has emerged as a popular trend.
Cosmetics companies have been quick to capitalize on consumers’ desire for this soft look – or the ‘blurred’ effect where fine lines, pores and wrinkles fade as much as they might in a soft photo.
Already graphic design programs like Photoshop and Canva can apply the “blur” effect at the click of a button, making faces look smooth and youthful. Since we’re all appearing in photos a lot more than we used to a decade ago, we want to look our best.
Blurry makeup is designed to create an Instagram-like canvas, but here at CV Skinlabs, we caution users to be careful about the products they use on their skin. Some of them can contain harsh chemicals that over time can worsen dryness and dullness, while causing acne and sensitive skin—not what you want for that flawless look!
Instead, we recommend using pure beauty products to get a similar blurring effect without the harsh chemicals and without spending extra money on new makeup products.
What is the blur effect?
Blurring, as an aesthetic trend, has its roots in the world of digital photography and photo editing. It started gaining popularity as beauty influencers on social media showed off their airbrushed flawless skin using filters and photo editing apps. These filters could smooth skin, create a soft-focus look and blur imperfections, setting a new high standard for how skin could appear in photos.
It wasn’t long before celebrities and beauty lovers began to crave the same flawless look in real life. The cosmetics industry has responded by developing products designed to mimic the digital blur effect.
Unfortunately, these products—while they can help create a blur—can contain undesirable ingredients, especially for sensitive skin.
Potentially unhealthy ingredients in cosmetic products that cloud
If you’re considering buying a new blurring product, it’s a good idea to flip it over and read the ingredient list. You may want to avoid products that contain any of the following. If you suffer from dryness, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, acne breakouts or other similar skin conditions, be extra careful about the products you apply to your skin, as some may make your symptoms worse.
Below are some potentially unhealthy ingredients that can be found in makeup products that blur.
Silicones (eg dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane)
Silicones are a group of synthetic polymers widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. They are known for creating a smooth and silky texture, as well as enhancing the spreadability of products.
However, silicones can clog pores and trap sweat, bacteria and dead skin cells, potentially leading to clogged pores and breakouts, especially if you have acne-prone skin. They can also be more difficult to remove from the skin compared to other ingredients and may require harsher cleansers – which can strip moisture from the skin.
Silicones also create a barrier on the skin, which can help trap moisture but can also prevent the absorption of other beneficial ingredients.
Parabens (e.g. Methylparaben, Propylparaben)
Parabens are a group of synthetic compounds used as preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care products. They help prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast, extending the shelf life of products.
There is some concern, however, that parabens can mimic estrogen, a hormone in the body, because of their chemical structure. This potential hormone-disrupting effect has raised questions about their role in hormone-related health issues.
Some sensitive individuals may also experience allergic reactions or sensitivity to parabens.
Fragrances (Synthetic)
Synthetic fragrances are artificially created fragrances that provide a pleasant smell. They usually consist of a complex mixture of chemicals, which are usually not listed as the mixture is considered proprietary. This means you don’t know exactly what you’re putting on your skin.
Synthetic fragrances can cause irritation, allergic reactions or sensitivity in many people. For those with sensitive skin, even a small amount of perfume can lead to redness, itching and a rash.
Alcohol (e.g. ethanol, isopropyl alcohol)
In skin care products, alcohols are used for a variety of purposes, including as solvents, preservatives, and astringents. There are two main types:
Fatty alcohols: It is derived from natural fats and oils and is used as emollients, emulsifiers and thickeners in skin care products. They are often considered beneficial for the skin because they provide moisture, but there are much better moisturizers to use! Common types include cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetaryl alcohol.
Simple (or drying) alcohols: These alcohols are often used as solvents to help other ingredients penetrate the skin. Common types include ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and alcohol denat (denatured alcohol). They can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation.
Bismuth oxychloride
Bismuth oxychloride is a chemical compound that appears as a white or off-white powder. It is often used in its fine, micronized form in cosmetics to create a pearlescent effect that reflects light. It also improves the application of powder products.
This ingredient can also clog pores, however, and can cause irritation and itching in those with sensitive skin. It can also make itching worse in people with pre-existing skin conditions.
Using pure beauty products to create the blur effect
The above list contains only some of the potentially irritating or harmful ingredients you may find in blurring cosmetic products. However, you don’t need to subject your skin to these ingredients. You can still get that smooth, flawless, glowing look with pure beauty products like those from CV Skinlabs to help keep your skin healthy and glowing.
CV Skinlabs formulas take a skincare-first approach with antioxidant, redness-reducing, soothing, anti-inflammatory and nourishing ingredients – hydrating and smoothing imperfections to create a radiant, soft-focus effect.
Follow these steps.
1. Start with a clean, hydrated base.
Cleanse your skin with a gentle, creamy cleanser that won’t strip it of its natural oils. Then immediately apply Rescue + Relief Spray to soothe and hydrate skin, providing a smooth base for your moisturizer and makeup products.
The Rescue & Relief Spray doesn’t clog pores, so it’s great if you have oily or acne-prone skin. This vegan formula contains antioxidants, plant extracts and glycerin to lock in moisture and keep skin supple all day. It’s full of nourishing, healing ingredients that provide anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial benefits, helping to prevent breakouts, soothe skin and reduce redness and inflammation, while improving your complexion and giving skin a radiant, dewy finish.
Allow it to fully absorb before proceeding to the next step.
2. Use a moisturizer with a soft focus effect.
Then use CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture right after your toner (our Rescue + Relief Spray). Calming Moisture is regularly used by makeup professionals for its ability to condition skin and blur the appearance of wrinkles, large pores and other imperfections.
It nourishes and replenishes the skin with natural ingredients while helping to smooth the skin’s surface and improve texture. This gives the skin a more even appearance. This unique moisturizer also leaves behind a naturally radiant glow for a flawless complexion. It’s a non-comedogenic formula (meaning it doesn’t clog pores) and helps reduce redness and inflammation by gliding over the skin to blur blemishes.
With no pore-clogging silicones or greasiness, this lightweight formula absorbs quickly to create a smooth, hydrated foundation.
Use it alone for a fresh face or as a primer for a perfect canvas for your makeup. With or without makeup, your skin will look dewy and glowing.
3. Apply a natural primer.
You’ve heard of applying a primer before your foundation to create a smoother canvas. Did you know makeup artists use our Calming Moisture as a natural primer? It helps reduce puffiness and smoothes the skin, creating an overall blurring effect. It’s perfectly fine to use Calming Moisture as your regular moisturizer, then before applying your foundation, apply another thin layer of Calming Moisture to prep the skin.
You can also mix a little Calming Moisture with your foundation to ensure a smooth application and a flawless look.
4. Choose a sheer foundation.
Your foundation can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. Some are very oily, others are very drying. Some contain harsh chemicals that can dry out your skin over time.
Experiment until you find the perfect foundation. Choose the ones with pure ingredients that will work for your skin. Using a primer first will help your foundation last all day and improve the look of your skin.
5. Set your makeup.
You may have been told to set your makeup with powder. As long as you choose a sheer, light powder, this can work, but in many cases, it’s likely to dry out your skin.
Either way, makeup artists always recommend setting with Rescue + Relief Spray. You can dab it lightly over your makeup to keep it in place without that drying effect. It also helps to bind all the layers of your makeup together, enhancing the overall blurring effect while boosting shine.
How do you get the blur effect?
Featured image by Filip Rankovic Grobgaard via Pexels.
