How to Apply Foundation Over Acne

How to Correctly Apply Your Foundation

“Once you've color corrected your blemishes, you want to stipple your foundation over these areas — no swiping!” says Spickard. “Stippling is the process of using a stiff foundation or concealer brush in quick staccato tapping motions over the skin, rather than brushing, dragging, or swiping the product over the skin. Stippling allows the product to layer over the color correcting you've done rather than mix together with it. I love the IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Foundation Full Coverage Moisturizer SPF 50+. Stipple that on with a foundation brush.”

What Products to Avoid

Spickard recommends avoiding anything very powdery because it can settle onto your acne as it’s healing and leave it looking dry and flaky. “Rather than powdering my finished product, I will use a setting spray to set everything in place and then a hydrating facial mist on top of that to make everything look hydrated,” he says.

Accept That You Will Have Some Texture

“There is absolutely no way to cover skin texture with makeup,” Spickard continues. “This is the number one thing they teach you in makeup school. If something is raised or dry or flaky, there's only so much you can do to hide that with makeup. You can always neutralize colors and tones but never texture. So, be kind to your skin and understand that there's a limit to the magic of makeup, and that's OK!”