s thatIn our quest to achieve flawless-looking skin, the blurring effect has emerged as a popular trend.
Cosmetic companies have been quick to capitalize on consumers’ desire for that smooth look—or the “blurred” effect where fine lines, pores, and wrinkles fade as they might in a soft photo.
Already graphic design programs like Photoshop and Canva can apply the “blurred” effect with the touch of a button, making faces appear smooth and youthful. Since we all appear in pictures much more than we used to even a decade ago, we want to look our best.
Blurring makeup is designed to create an Instagram-like canvas, but here at CV Skinlabs, we caution users to be careful about what products they’re using on their skin. Some of them may contain harsh chemicals that over time, may exacerbate dryness and dullness, while triggering acne and sensitive skin issues —not what you want for that flawless look!
Instead, we suggest using clean beauty products to get a similar blurring effect without the harsh chemicals and without spending extra money on new makeup products.
What is the Blurring Effect?
The blurring effect, as a cosmetic trend, has its roots in the world of digital photography and photo editing. It started gaining popularity as beauty influencers on social media showcased their flawless, airbrushed skin using filters and photo-editing apps. These filters could smooth skin, create a soft-focused look, and blur imperfection, setting a new higher standard for how skin could appear in photos.
It wasn’t long before celebrities and beauty enthusiasts began to crave the same flawless appearance in real life. The cosmetic industry responded by developing products designed to mimic the digital blurring effect.
Unfortunately, these products—though they can help to create a blurring effect—may contain undesirable ingredients, particularly for sensitive skin.
Potentially Unhealthy Ingredients in Blurring Cosmetic Products
If you’re considering purchasing a new blurring product, it’s good to turn 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 cautious about what products you apply to your skin, as some may exacerbate your symptoms.
Below are some potentially unhealthy ingredients that may be found in blurring makeup products.
Silicones (e.g., Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane)
Silicones are a group of synthetic polymers widely used in cosmetic and personal care products. They are known for creating a smooth and silky texture, as well as for enhancing the spreadability of products.
Silicones can clog pores, however, and may 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 with other ingredients and may require harsher cleansers—which can strip the skin of moisture.
Silicones also create a barrier on the skin, which can help trap moisture but may 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, due to 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 sensitivities to parabens.
Fragrances (Synthetic)
Synthetic fragrances are artificially created scents that provide a pleasant smell. They are typically composed of a complex mixture of chemicals, which aren’t usually listed as the mixture is considered proprietary. That 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 fragrance can lead to redness, itching, and rash.
Alcohol (e.g. Ethanol, Isopropyl Alcohol)
In skincare products, alcohols are used for a variety of purposes, including as solvents, preservatives, and astringents. There are two main types:
Fatty alcohols: Derived from natural fats and oils and used as emollients, emulsifiers, and thickeners in skincare products. These 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 cetearyl 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’s 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 itchiness in those who have sensitive skin. It may also exacerbate itching in those with pre-existing skin conditions.
Using Clean Beauty Products to Create the Blurring Effect
The above list contains only a few of the potentially irritating or harmful ingredients you might find in blurring cosmetic products. You don’t have to subject your skin to these ingredients, though. You can still get that smooth, flawless, radiant look with clean beauty products like those from CV Skinlabs that will help keep your skin healthy and radiant.
CV Skinlabs formulas take a skincare-first approach with antioxidant, redness-reducing, skin-soothing, anti-inflammatory and nourishing ingredients—hydrating and smoothing imperfections to create a glowing, 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 our Rescue + Relief Spray to calm and hydrate the skin, providing a smooth base for your moisturizer and makeup products.
Rescue & Relief Spray won’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, antimicrobial benefits helping to prevent breakouts, soothe skin, and reduce redness and inflammation, while improving your complexion and giving skin a glowy, dewy finish.
Allow it to absorb fully before moving on to the next step.
2. Use a moisturizer with a soft-focus effect.
Next, use our CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture immediately after your toner (our Rescue + Relief Spray). Calming Moisture is regularly used by pro-makeup artists for its ability to both treat 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 out the skin’s surface and improving texture. This gives the skin a more even appearance. This unique moisturizer also leaves behind a natural radiant glow for a flawless looking complexion. It’s a non-comedogenic formula (meaning it won’t clog pores) and instantly helps reduce redness and inflammation, gliding over skin to blur imperfections.
Free of pore-clogging silicones or greasiness, this lightweight formula absorbs quickly to create a smooth, moisturized base.
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 blurred and luminous.
3. Apply a natural primer.
You’ve heard of applying a primer before your foundation to create a smoother canvas. Did you know that makeup artists use our Calming Moisture as a natural primer? It helps reduce puffiness and smooths the skin, creating an overall blurring effect. It’s perfectly okay to use Calming Moisture as your regular moisturizer, then before you apply your foundation, apply another thin layer of Calming Moisture to prepare the skin.
You can also mix a little Calming Moisture with your foundation to ensure a smooth application and flawless look.
4. Choose a clean foundation.
Your foundation can make a huge difference in the look of your skin. Some are too oily, others too drying. Some contain harsh chemicals that can dry out your skin over time.
Experiment until you find the perfect foundation. Choose those with clean ingredients that will work for your skin. Using a primer first will help your foundation last throughout the day and enhance 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 clean, light powder, that may work, but in many cases, it’s likely to dry out your skin.
Either way, makeup artists always recommend setting with our Rescue + Relief Spray. You can mist it lightly over your makeup to help keep it in place without that drying effect. It also helps meld all of the layers of your makeup together, enhancing the overall blurring effect while boosting radiance.
How do you get the blurring effect?
Featured image by Filip Rankovic Grobgaard via Pexels.