Apply Makeup to Conceal Acne and Look Natural

If you have any kind of acne on your face and want to cover it effectively with makeup, try these steps to achieve a natural look without the mask effect.

Steps
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 * 1) Wash your face with a medicated acne cleanser, not a scrub.(Ex, Noxzema cream cleanser, clean and clear cream cleanser) Apply a hydrating toner, not a drying one.(Try The Body Shop Vitamin E toner) Then moisturize using vitamin E gel, or Aloe Vera gel or a water based moisturizer.  If you have dark circles under your eyes, use an eye brightener cream and gently pat in with your pinky. (Try Dove Eye Brightener cream)
 * 2) DO NOT USE A HEAVY LIQUID FOUNDATION OR CONCEALER! No matter how bad your skin is, use a tinted moisturizer (like Clinique or Almay) because a)even if you have lots of skin blemishes, most of your face still does not need coverage and b)tinted moisturizers are SO easy to match to your skin tone and you will avoid the fake color look...you only need to pick if you are light, medium, or dark usually.  With your fingers, dab small dots of tinted moisturizer on your chin, forehead, nose, cheeks. Use your fingertips to blend in a circular motion.  Don't try and cover all your blemishes at this point - just create a sheer, base layer to cover the smallest imperfections.
 * 3) Now use a concealer brush (should look a bit bigger than an eyeshadow brush, and be firm but not stiff) to try and cover directly bigger imperfections with tinted moisturizer.  What isn't covered, use the same brush and a liquid concealer (Covergirl or Maybelline) to apply the tiniest amount of concealer directly to the blemish only.  Use a smaller (eyeliner brush) one if necessary.
 * 4) If you have any oozing or oily blemishes, use the concealer brush to apply some loose powder directly to it.  Otherwise, use a natural bristle brush to apply loose powder to set the make up.  Use a transparent shade of loose powder, try Clinique.  Brush in a circular upward motion.
 * 5) If putting on the powder revealed any blemishes, use a smaller brush (eyeliner brush) and a tiny bit of tinted moisturizer to reconceal. Then set by gently dabbing some powder over.
 * 6) Wipe any excess powder from your brows.  Curl your eyelashes and apply  black mascara to the top only.  Use a lengthening mascara not  a thickening one---these only clump and look awful. Put a second coat on just the tips.
 * 7) Use a liquid cheek tint (try Benefit Brand) and put four small dots on the apples of your cheek and gently blend with your finger tip.
 * 8) Use a bronzer (only a few shades darker than your own skin!) and apply lightly to hairline, nose and chin.  Use your fingertip and apply some to your eyelid outer corners.
 * 9) Use a pink or red tinted lip gloss.

Tips

 * ONLY APPLY MAKEUP WHEN YOUR SKIN IS CLEAN! When your skin is dirty and oily, this is only an invite for more acne and skin blemishes. Wash your face daily, focusing on acne-prone areas of your skin. Try using washes such as "Clean & Clear" and creams such as OXI. If you have sensitive skin, ten you may want to apply these creams/washes to a concealed place (such as your wrist) of your skin, just to see how your skin reacts. If your skin breaks out or become red, or irritated, then you do not want to use that product on your face. However, if -- after repeated uses -- your skin is fine with with the product, then feel free to use it on your face.
 * Use as little makeup as you can.....only add more if you need it. Don't be tempted to use a thick concealer all over your face to hide your acne. This looks awful and draws attention to your bad skin.
 * Especially with applying makeup to blemish directly: use just a tiny tiny bit, you should hardly be able to see it at all! Do not surround the entire area of the blemish--this is just excess makeup in the wrong spot.
 * Do not pick your skin! It makes your skin bumpy and irritated and you cannot cover puffiness with makeup!
 * If you have a large pimple you must accept you cannot conceal shape with makeup or anything else! You can only conceal color, dryness, oiliness. But if you put just a tiny brushing of bronzer over at the end this may reduce its appearance.
 * For most people, concealing products that are yellow-toned will look the most natural, provide the most coverage, and best tone down redness.
 * Be sure to sufficiently moisturize the area with an oil-free moisturizer in order to ensure smooth coverage. Otherwise, it will look rough and chalky, and the pimple will show through.

Warnings

 * Do not leave makeup on over night. It will only make acne worse. (If it is left on, your skin may soak in its chemicals or it clogs your pores.)
 * If your acne cannot be toned down by any means, see a dermatologist, who can provide you with a better acne product.

Things You'll Need

 * A good cleanser
 * Acne medication
 * Tinted moisturizer/light concealer or foundation
 * Oil-free moisturizer
 * Bronzer, cheek stain, other makeup essentials, etc.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Get Rid of Acne Without Using Medication