How to do neon festival make-up without harming your skin
Neon is on trend, but some make-up products pose a serious risk to your health. Here's what to check for, and how to dazzle.
Festival season is in full swing, with neon make-up dominating the scene. This year's hottest beauty trends include bright graphic eyeliner, vampy lips, and holographic highlighter. However, some of these products, sold by third-party sellers on online marketplaces like TikTok Shop, may contain toxic chemicals. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute warns consumers to be cautious.
Make-up artist Dominic Skinner, a judge on the BBC show Glow Up, has some tips for achieving the perfect festival look. He suggests using a white eye pencil on the skin before applying bright eyeshadows to make bold colors pop and last all night. Skinner also advises avoiding products that are not meant for cosmetic use or have banned colorants such as Solvent Yellow 172, CI 45161 (Basic Red 1:1), and CI 45174 (Basic Violet 11:1). He warns against cheap products from unknown sellers, as they may contain harmful substances.
Fairycore-inspired make-up is trending, featuring sparkles, face gems, and glitter. Skinner encourages embracing a child-like quality with playful colors and crystals. He suggests using glitter in hair partings or shoulders to stand out, and recommends gems as they are bigger and more impactful, plus they can be peeled off at the end of the night.
Dr Emma Wedgeworth from the British Skin Foundation advises against using glitter near the eyes to avoid scratches on the cornea. She also recommends using biodegradable, eco-friendly products that are softer on the skin. When it comes to lips, Vogue suggests trying juicy and blurred lips with textures over colors. Skincare specialist Wedgeworth emphasizes the importance of using high-protection sunscreen - at least SPF 30 - as a base before make-up, and reapplying every two hours.
For accessories, Who, What, Wear recommends scarves, crochet beanie caps, and eye-catching hair clips, charms, or cuffs. InStyle suggests mermaid waves or thin Baby Braids if your hair is long enough. Before trying any color change with a spray or dye, Wedgeworth recommends doing a patch test to check for allergies.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
