Top Five Tips for Concealing a Pimple
Written for Walgreens.com
It’s on your face and now it’s unavoidable: a big, red zit. You don’t need to panic. We’ve compiled a list of our top five tips for concealing a pimple. Read on and learn how you can camouflage that blemish in only a few easy steps. Pretty soon, even you won’t notice it.
1. Prep
In order to camouflage your pimple, you first need to prep it. That means washing your face and then adding a thin layer of either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to the area. These ingredients will fight the pimple all day long and under your makeup, where it belongs. Once you’ve allowed the acne fighting cream to dry, apply a layer of moisturizer to the area to help ward off dry, flaky skin. This will also help your foundation and concealer to blend into the area once you’re ready to apply them. If your pimple is oozing because you just poked at it, apply a tinted blemish cream that covers and heals, then wait a few minutes for the oozing to stop before applying your makeup. Blot any leaking fluid with a tissue.
2. Tools
The next step in concealing your blemish is to choose the right tools. Opt for a thin, pointed concealer brush, which can reach into more areas than your fingertips and can apply concealer more delicately. Always remember to wash your concealer brush between uses to kill bacteria that can accumulate on the bristles.
3. Foundation
We’ll come back to the concealer brush in a moment. For now, smooth a thin layer of foundation onto your entire face, paying extra attention to build up the area around the pimple.
4. Concealer
The foundation should have alleviated some of the redness and discoloration of your pimple, but if there’s more work to be done, pick up the concealer brush and start painting on small amounts of green concealer. The green tint will counteract the red in your pimple. Once you’ve applied enough green concealer to neutralize the redness of your blemish, use the concealer brush and top the area with either another layer of foundation, or with a concealer that matches your skin tone. This will further even out the color of your skin. If there is a shadow underneath your pimple, dab on a lighter-colored concealer to the affected area to minimize the shadow.
5. Powder
Once you’ve layered on your foundation and concealer, it’s time to set the whole look and create a matte finish. Dust a layer of loose powder on your entire face, making sure to even out any areas of oiliness. Then, dust the powder all around the pimple, especially underneath it, where there might be a residual shadow. Be careful when you apply the powder to your blemish, though. If you press too hard, you might disturb the concealer and foundation already in place. It’s better to dust the powder on lightly and use several coats than to disturb the makeup you worked so hard on. Your look is now finished. Hopefully your pimple is just that, too: finished.