Experts Share Makeup Tips for Acne-Prone Skin

Applying makeup when you have acne-prone skin can feel like a daunting task. The wrong products or techniques can worsen breakouts, leaving you frustrated and self-conscious.

Thankfully, with advice from skincare and makeup experts, you can learn how to apply makeup that not only hides blemishes but also supports your skin’s health.

In this article, we’ll share tips from professionals who understand the struggles of acne-prone skin. From choosing the right products to perfecting your application techniques, these expert insights will help you achieve a beautiful, natural look while keeping your skin happy and healthy.

“Prepping acne-prone skin is essential for flawless makeup application. After cleansing, choose a moisturiser/primer that hydrates and evens skin tone. Effaclar Duo is excellent for blemishes, combining salicylic acid, LHA, and niacinamide to exfoliate and reduce inflammation. Effaclar K+ offers Airlicium and Carnosine for oily skin with blackheads for sebum absorption and blackhead treatment. Effaclar Mat, with Perlite, is perfect for mattifying shiny skin. With this preparation, your skin will be primed and ready for makeup.”

The pores on the skin allow it to breathe and release oil and sweat from the skin. When they are covered by heavy make-up products, this can lead to pore blockage, exacerbating acne/blemishes on the skin. Breathable make-up allows the pores on the skin to perform its normal function of allowing the skin to breathe, reducing the likelihood of breakouts. For foundation, the perfect choice is the Original Foundation; this best-selling base is weightless and made from just 5 pure minerals.

By using products that are half skincare and half makeup, you will feel effectively camouflaged, knowing the active skincare ingredients are working to clear imperfections without leaving you feeling caked on.

Makeup products that infuse skincare ingredients, such as white ginseng and fermented ginseng flower, like Erborian Super BB Concealer and Covering Care-Cream, in the formula that instantly reveals smoother, moisturised skin. It allows you to tackle skin concerns even when wearing a full makeup face. For more acne-prone skin, a foundation or concealer enriched with niacinamide, a powerful active ingredient for clearer skin, will help you feel confident, knowing you are taking care of your skin without hiding it.

If you’re struggling with redness because of rosacea, acne, going through menopause, or you have pink undertones like me, you must turn to my anti-redness concealer. It’s a thick, creamy formula you apply with a brush to those angry areas. It’s like a concealer, but it’s green, which neutralises the red. Apply it to the skin before foundation, and no one will know there’s redness underneath.

Dirty makeup brushes can harbour bacteria, leading to clogged pores, skin irritation and acne breakouts. That’s why I recommend cleaning your makeup brushes every two weeks. It’s a task people dread, but the Real Techniques Brush Cleansing Balm makes the process quick and easy, plus it’ll extend the life of your brushes!

“At the end of a long day, don’t forget to cleanse. Not only does it remove your makeup, but it also removes any impurities or environmental aggressors that have built up on your skin during the day, which can cause premature ageing. Removing your makeup at the end of the day also reduces the risk of blemishes, redness, and spots appearing as your skin is given the chance to breathe overnight. For the first cleanse choose Vichy Normaderm Micellar Solution, it has lightweight, watery formula that removes sebum, dirt, impurities, SPF and makeup. Next, use the Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution Intensive Purifying Gel; this face wash contains salicylic acid, a BHA with anti-blemish properties.” – Vichy Skincare Expert