When you wake up and spot a new pimple or blemish on your skin, it feels instinctual to cover it up. No one enjoys having visible acne on their face, and these blemishes can often be a major insecurity for people of all ages. And while it may be tempting to reach for your nearest foundation or concealer cream, using makeup to cover acne is not always wise. In fact, makeup formulas often contain harsh chemicals and formulas that further promote new acne.
So how do you cover your skin’s blemishes without creating more? In this article, we’ll share the dos and don’ts of using makeup on acne-prone skin.
Let’s get started!
Do: Prep Your Skin First
Before applying foundations concealer, blush, or contour, it’s essential that you prep your skin. Prepping your skin is an excellent method to keep your skin hydrated, balanced, and healthy while wearing heavier makeup products.
Start by using an effective and gentle cleanser to clear out any dirt, bacteria, or particles from your skin and pores. Once clean, apply a toner to balance your pH and moisturizer to revitalize your skin.
These steps should be part of a daily routine that you perform before every application of makeup. When you do not prep your skin for makeup, you’re more likely to layer thick makeup over clogged pores, which will worsen acne.
Don’t: Forget the Sunscreen
Many makeup users apply primer as the first layer of protection over their skin. However, it’s vital that you include sunscreen in your skin prep routine before applying primer. Sunscreen will be essential for protecting your skin from harmful UV rays and sun damage. An SPF of 30 and higher will be the most effective at protecting all skin types from sun damage.
Forgetting sunscreen in your makeup routine could lead to premature wrinkles, sunburn, and potential skin cancer. So don’t forget the sunscreen in your makeup regimen. Instead, search for acne-safe makeup moisturizers or primers that include SPF.
Do: Choose Your Makeup Products Wisely
If you have highly sensitive acne-prone skin, the best way to keep your skin clear is by choosing your makeup products wisely. Unfortunately, many makeup products on the market include highly harmful and damaging chemicals that can promote acne for dry, oily, and combination skin.
For example, comedogenic makeup products use formulas that will likely cause your skin’s pores to become clogged and irritated. Opting for acne-safe makeup will ensure that the ingredients inside your favorite foundations and cleansers are compatible with your skin type.
Don’t: Apply Makeup With Your Hands
It may be tempting to avoid paying for a pack of pricey makeup brushes when you can simply apply your favorite products to your face with your fingers. However, using your hands to add products to your face is a highly unhygienic method that promotes acne.
Throughout the day, our hands and fingers collect tons of bacteria, dirt, and viruses. Using your hands to apply makeup can often cause these pathogens and particles to come into direct contact with your eyes, mouth, ears, and skin. Not only will your skin break out in pimples, but you’re also more likely to catch a cold!
Do: Remove Your Makeup Before Bed
After a long day of work or a night out, our brains and bodies often tempt us to head straight to bed. However, no matter how exhausted you may be, you must remove your makeup before going to bed at night. Neglecting to remove your makeup before bed is a highly effective way to produce future breakouts and pimples.
At night, our skin uses this rest time to heal, repair, and breathe. Pores that spend the majority of the day under layers of makeup have an opportunity to breathe and maintain their pH at night. However, your skin cannot heal, repair, or breathe when you sleep in your makeup.
Sleeping in your makeup will only lead to two outcomes: ruined pillowcases and future breakouts. So don’t make this significant makeup mistake.
Don’t: Use Makeup With Fragrances
Sure, fragrant makeup products do smell nice, and sometimes they can feel luxurious when applied to the skin, but steer clear of these makeup formulas. When skincare products or makeup that include floral or citrus scents can often lead to acne.
Fragrances contain a wide array of ingredients and formulas that can be incredibly irritating to the skin when applied together. Some of the most irritating and acne-promoting fragrances include citrus, floral, and synthetic scents.
Instead of buying fragrant makeup, stick to scentless formulas with effective and gentle ingredients.
Do: Keep It Simple
Applying makeup to acne-prone skin can be challenging. Many people prefer high-coverage foundations and concealers because these heavier formulas are better at hiding facial blemishes. Higher-coverage foundations paired with layers of blushes, bronzers, and setting powders can make even the worst pimples invisible. Wearing layers of makeup is not the solution to fixing your acne problems, though.
In fact, the more minimalist and simple you keep your glam routine, the more your pores will avoid breakouts. As your skin improves over time, you’ll naturally need to apply less coverage to your acne-free skin. So, remember to keep your makeup simple. The more you cut back on coverage and layers, the better your skin will be able to breathe.
The Takeaway
Applying makeup to acne-prone skin is difficult, but it’s not impossible. With plenty of acne-safe skincare and makeup options available to test on your skin, there are endless ways to indulge in a glamorous aesthetic without risking future breakouts. However, before you begin to add these products to your face, remember to follow our dos and don’ts of using makeup on acne-prone skin. Following this guide will bring you one step closer to achieving a clearer, healthier, and glowing complexion.
Want to learn more tips and tricks for keeping your skin breakout-free? At Jil Goorman Beauty, we provide expert guides on the best skin care practices and products to help you achieve the clear and healthy skin of your dreams. To learn more about acne-safe makeup, haircare, and other products, check out our website.
