Just got that beautiful nose pierced? Did you know that piercing aftercare should start on the day that you get the piercing up until it’s fully healed? Regular cleanings, just as with any new types of face piercings, are important as it prevents infection, nose bumps as well as other issues.
How do I clean my nose piercing?
Can I do my skincare routine as usual?
Can I wear makeup after getting my nose pierced?
Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
How to clean nose piercing
It might be challenging to clean your nose piercing for the first time, because it might be swollen, sore and painful. But by cleaning the piercing area, it’ll help the swelling go down as well as soothe and make it less painful.
1. Cleaning Process
It is recommended that you clean your nose piercing twice a day until it fully heals. One way you can clean it is by soaking the piercing area in saline or salt water for 3 to 5 minutes. For this, a small cup should be good enough to hold the saline or salt water in. After that, you can rinse it with clean water and then pat the area dry with a paper towel.
Another way you can clean your nose piercing is by dipping a cotton swab or cotton ball into the saline water and cleaning the area around your piercing. This will help get rid of the crustiness and clean off any fluid or blood from the piercing. Make sure the piercing area and the jewelry itself is thoroughly cleaned to avoid any complications. However, try not to move your jewelry around too much when cleaning as it might irritate the piercing site.
2. What to Use
In order to clean your nose piercing, you’ll need a few things:
- Saline or salt water
- Cotton swabs or cotton balls
- Paper towels
- A small cup
You can make your own salt water by mixing ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt with warm distilled water. You can then proceed to dip the cotton balls or cotton swabs or even just soak your nose piercing in the salt water. However, it is not recommended that you make your own salt water as the measurements will not be consistent. So, maybe you should just buy the saline solution from a pharmacy near you. Also, do not double dip the cotton balls or cotton swabs as it will make the saline unsterile and spread more bacteria and dirt to the piercing.
3. Aftercare
Getting the nose piercing itself is a really quick process that only takes a few minutes. It’s the healing process that takes quite some time; it can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months depending on what nose piercing you got. There’s no doubt that the aftercare for nose piercing is important. Usually, the professional piercer will recommend the aftercare below:
- Cleaning the piercing site at least twice a day (best if you do it after you take a shower and try to make it a routine until your piercing is fully healed)
- Do not touch, twist, or move the jewelry
- Avoid touching the piercing site unless you want to clean it, but make sure your hands are clean and recently washed.
How Nose Piercing Affects Your Skincare Routine
After getting your nose piercing, it doesn’t really affect your skincare routine much. If your nose piercing is yet to heal, then you should avoid putting any products near the piercing site as it can cause buildup. If your piercer says it’s okay and part of the professional aftercare recommendation, then you may apply the product your piercer recommends. However, even after the piercing is healed, there are a few things that you should be careful with.
1. Pat, Don’t Rub
After cleansing your face with your favorite face wash, it’s tempting to dry off your face by rubbing it with a face towel right? Let us tell you now, that that is not what you’re supposed to do. Rubbing your face in general is bad for your skin because it’s harsh, but now that you have a nose piercing it’s even more important to not rub your face as the jewelry can get stuck and pulled on the towel. Instead, just gently pat your skin dry with the towel.
2. Face Masks
We get it, you’re tempted to apply your face mask all over your face to get that glowing skin. But, you wouldn’t want the product to get stuck between your jewelry and skin… It will be hard to remove, so it’s best that you be careful when putting product near the piercing site to avoid buildup and infection.
3. Removing Makeup
When you have a face piercing, removing makeup is just as important as applying makeup. The best way to remove your makeup with a nose piercing is by dropping some micellar water onto a cotton swab and to clean around the piercing to get rid of makeup, dirt or even any crusts. However, if you prefer using makeup wipes, then just put the makeup wipe around your finger and gently go around the piercing to remove the makeup without snagging the jewelry.
How to Apply Makeup After Piercing Your Nose
We recommend that you wait until your piercing is fully healed to apply makeup, but if you must… Here are a few tips on how to apply makeup after getting your nose pierced.
1. Use Your Fingers
When applying your makeup around the piercing site, use your fingers to get the product around the site itself. With your fingers, you can control how near or far you get to the piercing site. This might not be everyone’s favorite way to apply makeup that’s for sure but it’s an effective way to get foundation or concealer around the nostrils and bridge.
2. Use a Small Tapered Brush
A small tapered brush will be great if you want a precise, full-coverage makeup look free of any redness or discolouration. This will allow you to apply foundation as near to your piercing as possible without your jewelry being coated with your makeup and risking an infection. However, if you want to try this, it’s better if you have a nose ring instead of a stud because a nose ring is easier to move around compared to a stud.
3. Clean Up with Micellar Water
Last but not least, the simplest way is to continue with what you’re used to and just clean up later. This method is best for people who have a nose stud instead of a nose ring. Just apply your foundation as you usually do, but go easy on the buffing and blending if you’re using a makeup blender. Once you’re happy with your makeup, wipe up any extra foundation from your piercing with a cotton swab dipped in micellar water and you’re done!