Up to 50 million Americans struggle with acne each year. Are you part of this group? Do you have a hard time figuring out how to conceal acne and keep it from ruining your photos (and your self-confidence)?
If you struggle with these issues, you’re in luck. Read on to learn how to cover up pimples with makeup in the most natural, professional way possible. You’ll also get some great advice on treating and preventing acne breakouts from affecting you in the future.
How to Cover Up Pimples with Makeup
The pimple cover-up process can be a tricky one to get right. You have to choose the right shade of concealer, for example, and you have to avoid layering on too much product, as that can end up drawing attention to the area you’re trying to hide. If you’re not sure how to handle covering up a pimple, try these tips:
Exfoliate and Moisturize
Always start with a clean, fresh base. Gently exfoliating your skin, preferably with a chemical exfoliator, and applying moisturizer before makeup will help to give you a smooth, even surface.
Apply Foundation
Next, apply your foundation. Always do this first so you know which areas to target with the concealer. You might also be surprised to find that some of your blemishes get covered up completely just with the help of your foundation.
Apply and Blend Concealer
After your foundation is on, go ahead and add your concealer. Apply a thin layer of matte concealer over the top of your blemish. Then, use a fluffy blush and light pressure to blend it.
Set with Powder
When you’re satisfied with the coverage, dust on some setting powder. This will help to keep your concealer in place and ensure you have a flawless-looking face all day.
How to Cover Up Acne Scars with Makeup
You might not have to deal with a lot of pimples anymore. You might have scars from past pimples that are causing you problems, though. In these cases, here are some additional tips you can use to cover them up:
Get a Clean Start
In the same way that you want to have a clean, blank canvas when applying concealer to cover up blemishes, the same goes for covering up acne scars. Gently cleanse and moisturize your face before you begin.
Apply Primer and Foundation
Next, apply a primer. This helps to further prep your skin and ensures that your foundation goes on as smoothly as possible.
Apply Concealer
After your foundation is in place, it’s time to conceal. When covering up acne scars, use a criss-cross motion as you apply the concealer.
Blend
Gently pat the concealer in with your fingers (make sure they’re clean) to blend it. You can also use a fluffy brush and gentle pressure.
How to Prevent Acne
If you don’t have pimples presently and want to keep it that way, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent acne from popping up or coming back. Here are some of the best steps to take:
Wash Your Face
For clear, acne-free skin, make sure you’re washing your face twice per day. Use a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water to wash it in the morning and again at night. This helps to keep acne-causing dirt and bacteria out of your pores.
Moisturize
Always moisturize after washing your face, too. This is important even for people who have oily skin.
These folks might assume that they don’t need a moisturizer because their skin is so oily. Skipping this step, though, can actually cause their skin to produce more oil. This, in turn, can increase the likelihood that they’ll have to deal with breakouts.
Eat Clean
Your diet can have an impact on the appearance of your skin. If you eat foods to which you’re intolerant, for example, you may have higher levels of inflammation in your body. This can lead to more breakouts and other skin ailments, such as eczema or psoriasis.
Even if you don’t have any known food intolerances, you should still make it a priority to eat antioxidant-rich whole foods. This includes fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fats that come from foods like salmon, sardines, and avocados.
Minimize Dirt Exposure
Finally, reduce the amount of dirt that your skin is exposed to each day. Clean your cellphone each day (think of how many germs are on that thing that could be getting on your skin), and wash your sheets and pillowcases once a week. Clean your makeup brushes each week, too.
How to Treat Acne
There’s nothing wrong with covering up a pimple or two when you want to look and feel your best. It’s better, though, if you’re also taking steps to treat that pimple and minimize your acne. If you’re trying to figure out how to treat stubborn acne, try these tips:
Clean and Moisturize
Keeping your skin clean and moisturized is essential if you have active breakouts, too. It’s not a mere preventative measure. Cleaning and moisturizing the skin will prevent the breakouts from becoming irritated or spreading.
Apply a Spot Treatment
Look for a spot treatment that contains salicylic acid. This can help to dry out pimples so they can heal and go away faster.
Avoid Picking or Popping
Do your best not to pick at or pop your pimples. Sometimes, they need to be popped. In many cases, though, it’s best to go ahead and leave them alone.
Picking and popping can increase the amount of dirt and germs that get into your pores. They can also irritate pimples and cause them to look worse.
Start Covering Up Blemishes Today
Whether you want to know how to cover up pimples with makeup or how to cover acne scars with makeup, the techniques outlined above will come in very handy.
Don’t forget to follow the guidelines for preventing and treating acne, too. They’ll save you from having to worry about investing in makeup for acne scars or pimples in the future. For more great makeup and skincare advice, be sure to visit the Makeup and Skincare sections of our site today.