How you use something is very often the precursor to how safe and effective it is, and it should come as no surprise that makeup is no different. It would be irresponsible of us to ignore the potential issues that could arise from putting chemicals on your face as - just like any other cosmetics – using the wrong products in the wrong way can cause problems.

The application of makeup itself is not damaging, which is why we pride ourselves on the high-quality ingredients making up our range – and the accompanying content (like this blog!) – to ensure you’re only getting the best when you choose War Paint For Men.

Ingredients to avoid

There are a few well-known ingredients to avoid when choosing makeup – especially if you are prone to acne - such as lanolin. This is because – while soothing on other areas of the body – can lead to clogged pores and irritating sensitive skin when used on the face. Needless to say, all our products are free from this!

Good habits

The truth is, while knowing what you are putting on your face is obviously important, how you do so is equally – if not more – so. By this we mean:

1. Have a good skincare routine

Makeup has many benefits but prolonging the life of skin is not one of them (sorry – even we have our limits!). It is necessary, therefore, to take the right steps both before and after your makeup routine. (We wrote a whole blog about it a while back which you can catch up here!)

In short, you want to make sure you’re washing your face EVERY night (sleeping in makeup is a big no-no), to prevent clogged pores, breakouts, dullness and premature ageing. Neglecting to do this also means you’re getting up close and personal with dead skin cells and environmental pollutants on your pillow (yes, really.).  Reusable bamboo remover pads are the future – read why here.

2. Say ‘yes’ to SPF

Speaking of premature ageing, this is another good habit you will want to form when introducing makeup for men into your routine. Don’t make the mistake of mixing your foundation and/or tinted moisturiser with sunscreen before application, as this can disrupt the effectiveness of both products; instead, apply sunscreen before makeup, to ensure you’re getting both protection from the sun and the most out of your products.

3. Clean your brush and sponge

The Warpaint For Men application brush and face sponge might be the top dog of makeup tools, but if you don’t wash them regularly you will be inviting bacteria and other nasties onto your face (yup, we’re looking at you sweat, dead skin cells and facial hair dirt – not to mention the germs that will inevitably come from the products after regular use – or the fact that this build-up will get in the way of a smooth makeup application.). Deep clean the brush at least once a month and give the sponge a quick rinse after every use, ideally replacing every three months. Here’s a quick video demo on how to clean your sponge.

4. Don’t share makeup

While it’s true that our makeup is specially formulated for men, another reason to not just sneak the missus’ concealer is that it’s the easiest way to spread bacteria. In this case, sharing really is not caring; buy her a box of chocolates instead and invest in your own makeup!

So, why War Paint For Men?

We thought you’d never ask!

Not only are we cruelty-free (not tested on animals) and vegan, we are also not a white label product. This means that every single thing you see with our name on is our own formula and the result of extensive testing to ensure only the highest quality. And when we say testing we don’t just mean the men in white lab coats, either; our founder Danny is constantly improving what goes into each and every single product to ensure it both looks and feels good – giving the perfect coverage while allowing your skin to breathe.

Can makeup damage your skin? With Warpaint For Men by your side, not a chance*.

 *in as much as there’s always a slight chance, but we’re as confident as we can be!