Getting acne is a serious bummer at any age—it’s not just a teenage issue. In fact, adult acne is a significant problem among many women today. Yes, you want to treat it so it heals fast. But what do you do in the meantime? What’s the best way to cover up until it clears up?
You don’t want to aggravate your condition, so it’s best to use the right products. Caking on layers of pore-clogging makeup isn’t going to help the situation. You want to start by making sure your naked skin gets treated with the right acne-fighting topical products. Beware that higher cost and popularity don’t translate into the most effective. For example, you’ll find plenty of Proactive reviews that are less than stellar.
Okay, so let’s say you’re using acne medicine that works for you. What do you put over those zits so no one sees them? The good news is that you can find foundation and concealers that treat the acne, too. Here are a few key cover-up tips to keep in mind:
Use Oil-Free Products Always
This goes for your foundation, concealer, and powder. Make sure they are hypoallergenic as well, so they don’t cause more problems for your skin. It should say “oil-free” on the packaging. The reason you don’t want oil is that it can clog your pores, which is exactly what you don’t want if you are susceptible to acne. Other ingredients you might want to watch out for are fragrance: Sometimes fragrance can irritate the skin, especially with acne.
Look for Salicylic Acid
This is a proven acne-fighting ingredient. Many foundations and concealers contain a bit of salicylic acid to help kill acne-causing bacteria right in your makeup. It’s just an extra way to combat the problem with your makeup. It doesn’t just have to be in your skincare products; make your acne covering makeup work for you, not against you.
Use Brushes, not Fingers
Using a foundation and concealer brush to apply your makeup not only helps it go on better and smoother, but it will also keep your hands off of your face. Why does this matter? Oils on the pads of your fingertips can exacerbate your acne. Clean your makeup brushes daily with a little bit of brush cleanser, gentle face soap or baby shampoo to make sure you are getting rid of all the oil and bacteria that can build up on your makeup brushes.
When you apply foundation, spread it all over your face first, in a light layer. Then spot correct with your concealer. Using your concealer brush, dab it on each acne spot, and then let it dry out for a minute before you blend out the edges with your concealer brush. This will give you the most coverage you need for those dreaded spots.
Always Set With Loose Oil-Free Powder
Applying a light dusting of oil-free powder can help your makeup stay put all day long. The last thing you want is that pink pimple poking out of your makeup in the middle of your day. Keep it flawless all day long by applying your powder in a light layer right after you do your makeup in the morning.