Can You Wear Makeup After Botox? A Beauty Editor Answers

Simply put, Botox is an injectable neurotoxin that temporarily reduces fine lines and wrinkles. It’s called “Botox” as a sort of nickname for the neurotoxin’s longer, more scientific name—which is botulinum toxin. Essentially, Botox works by paralyzing your facial muscles and preventing them from moving. This, in turn, is what prevents fine lines and wrinkles from becoming more prominent. To ensure the best results post-injections, there are a few things you need to do. One question that comes up a lot is, “Can you wear makeup after Botox?” Here, we take a look at just that.

Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about beauty. You see, I’m a beauty journalist who reports on hair care, skin care, and—you guessed it—cosmetic treatments just like Botox. I’ve built strong bonds with estheticians and dermatologists who are always happy to answer skin-related questions. Keep reading to get my insight on whether or not applying makeup after Botox is a good idea and the best tips for doing so.

Can You Wear Makeup After Botox?

The short and long of it is yes, you can wear makeup after Botox—but not immediately after. While it’s true that wearing makeup is one of the easiest and most time-efficient ways to cover up the redness or bruising at the injection sites, your skin is so sensitive that you shouldn’t apply makeup immediately after your Botox treatment.

Additionally, the Botox injections slightly puncture your skin to deliver the neurotoxin into the facial muscles. Since that is an abrasion to your skin, makeup application is risky because bacteria can get into the treated areas. I know this isn’t the best news. Makeup is part of my self-care routine, too, but some things just aren’t worth it. This is one of those things, especially since applying makeup too soon after Botox may move the filler around to areas where you didn’t want it.

Not wearing makeup for a day so that my face can heal appropriately? That’s a small price to pay, if you ask me.

How Long After Botox Can You Wear Makeup?

Ideally, you need to wait at least 24 hours after your injections to apply makeup. Because the Botox injections basically irritate the skin, it’s best to leave your face alone for a full day. This way, your skin barrier will heal enough to protect itself from any bacteria on brushes or makeup. If you really can’t stand the idea of parting ways with your makeup routine for a day, some estheticians say you can apply makeup six hours after your injections.

It’s worth noting that there are a handful of side effects when it comes to Botox. Primarily, you might notice pain, swelling, redness, or bruising at the injection sites. For this reason, you should avoid rubbing your face or otherwise agitating it. You can see, then, why it would be a good idea to avoid wearing heavy makeup.

4 Tips for Wearing Makeup After Botox

Wear the Right Type of Makeup

There are tons of different types of makeup—from eyes to lips and cheeks to brows, it’s almost overwhelming. When you’re just stepping out of the treatment room, you might think it’s fine to apply the makeup you  have at home. A better idea, though, is to stick to products that offer light coverage instead of medium or full. Additionally, there are some ingredients that would be better for your post-Botox skin. Think hydrating stuff like hyaluronic acid.

Which Ingredients to Avoid

The main thing you want to look for in a product is that it’s oil-free. This is because the oil can clog pores (also referred to as comedogenic) and potentially worsen the side effects of Botox. Steer clear of retinol and salicylic acid, since they could be quite irritating. You’ll also want to avoid non-skincare ingredients like aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil, reports Vogue, since those may worsen side effects of the neurotoxin. (FWIW, we love anything Thrive Causemetics because the brand leaves the bad ingredients out. Feel free to check out our Thrive Makeup Reviews to see why else we stan the brand.)

How to Apply the Products

Again, the main thing you want to avoid is accidentally moving the Botox all over the place. This is why knowing how to apply the products is paramount. Regardless of which tool you use—a brush, a sponge, or your fingers—there will be some bacteria on it. Our advice? Wash your hands and use your fingers, which reduces the risk of applying too much pressure.

How Much Makeup to Use

This is going to depend on how much makeup you put on in your day-to-day. Ideally, though, you would use as little makeup as possible. We’d suggest sticking to mascara and a little bit of blush to go for that no-makeup makeup look. Remember, it’s just for one day. After that, you can beat your face to your heart’s desire.