Makeup kit

Acne can make you feel embarrassed about your skin, and when you’re embarrassed about your skin, you might feel like you need to cover up your acne with makeup. Unfortunately, that can actually make your acne worse if you choose the wrong kind of makeup.

The wrong type of makeup will also do a pretty bad job of covering up your acne. While you should avoid wearing makeup every single day if you have acne even though you might feel the urge to cover up your skin, there are some tips that can help you pick the right makeup for the times you need to wear it.

Always Buy Oil-Free

For many women, acne is caused by increase production of sebum, the skin’s natural oil. If you have acne, piling oily makeup on top will only make things worse. If you have anything in your makeup kit that doesn’t say oil-free, you need to switch it out for something that does.

Don’t Forget the Toner

Before you apply your makeup, using toner can help to get rid of the excess oil on the surface of your skin without stripping all of your skin’s natural oil. If you do use a toner, make sure you use it sparingly, and not more than once per day. Even gentle toners can be harsh if used too frequently.

Moisturize the Right Way

Makeup looks better when it’s applied to smooth, well-moisturized skin. While you need to use a quality oil-free moisturizer, or a moisturizer designed for acne-prone skin after you wash your face, using a tinted moisturizer before you apply your makeup can help.

Tinted moisturizer can help cover acne spots without actually making acne worse by clogging your pores. A quality tinted moisturizer will also provide a good base for the rest of your makeup so you don’t have to use as much for full coverage.

Spot Concealer

When you have acne, it can be easy to really pile on foundation in order to cover up unsightly pimples. Instead of a lot of foundation, using spot concealer first can be very helpful.

To use spot concealer, simply dab a bit on areas that you want to cover up, and that you think might still be visible once you apply a light layer of foundation. Allow your spot concealer to set and dry for a few minutes before you move on to applying foundation.

Picking Foundation

The type of foundation you pick really depends on what type of skin you have. If you have oily skin, an oil-free liquid or powder foundation will be best. If you have combination or dry skin, you’ll probably want to stick with a powder foundation.

When applying foundation, you only want to use a light layer, especially when you have acne-prone skin. Using too much foundation can aggravate acne, and your skin can start to look very unnatural in a hurry if you apply layer after layer.

Mineral Makeup

Applying makeup

If you have acne-prone skin, mineral makeup is going to be the best option for that completely finished look in most cases.

Unlike other liquid and powder makeups, mineral makeup isn’t as likely to clog your pores and cause more breakouts. Some women even claim that using mineral makeup has helped clear up acne because the powder absorbs oil.

Mineral makeup also does a pretty good job of covering up any blemishes that are still visible through your tinted moisturizer and foundation.

Add a Little Blush

If you still notice a little redness in your skin after applying your makeup, a little bit of blush can help take the eye away from it. Choose a shade of blush that’s your natural color – literally as close to the shade that you blush on your own as possible.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment

Everybody’s skin is different, and that includes women with acne-prone skin. What works for someone else may not work for you.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with a few different brands of toner, tinted moisturizer, spot concealer, foundation and mineral makeup to see what works best for you and causes the least irritation.