Zits definitely come and go, but acne scars? Nope. Those stay. Covering them up isn't that easy either, because when done haphazardly, they end up looking worse. We honestly consider acne scar coverage as a complicated science. But as always, the pros are here to save the day. Below, we give you crucial points to consider when hiding a zit's dark past.
1. Use a primer.
Priming your entire face has its benefits, but you can skip that to focus on the areas with scarring. "After cleansing the face, I [apply] eyeshadow primer [over the] acne scars. [I do this] to make the concealer last all day long," says NARS makeup artist Jason Delos Reyes. Doing so also makes the product glide on smoothly over the scars, and it improves the texture if you use a pore-filling one.
2. Don't use too much concealer.
It's tempting, sure, but don't do it. Applying too much makeup over a scar will only make it more obvious. Remember: the less product there is on your skin, the more natural your makeup looks. Instead of caking on the concealer all in one go, build coverage slowly. One layer at a time.
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IMAGE MUFE
Make Up For Ever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream, P2100, SM Megamall
3. When possible, spot-conceal.
If you have a manageable number of scarring (say, less than ten spots), apply concealer on the scar only. "Using too much product will worsen [how the scar looks]," according to Laura Mercier's Mark Qua. He prefers covering scars with a small pointed concealer brush that dots product directly over problem areas.
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IMAGE Laura Mercier
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Brush & Concealer, P1250 & P1750, Rustan's Makati
4. Make sure your concealer matches your skin tone.
One thing you don't want your scars to do is to stand out. And that's exactly what will happen if you use a concealer in the wrong shade. When shopping for concealer, swatch it on your jawline first or make sure it's the same color as your favorite foundation.
5. Color correct when necessary.
Acne scars can look very red when they're fresh, which can be hard to cover even with concealer. For this, Anthea Bueno suggests using color correcting with a green concealer first. The green will counter the redness on the scar and neutralize it, making it easier for you to cover with a regular concealer.
6. Let the concealer sit on the skin.
Some concealers cover better when you don't blend them right away. This is because the skin tends to cling to pigment the longer it stays on the skin. Jason recommends giving your concealer a minute or two to do the same, then blend away. Do note that this doesn't work with all concealers, because some tend to dry very fast and aren't as forgiving.
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IMAGE NARS
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer, Central Square BGC
7. Be careful when blending.
The standard way of blending over the skin doesn't work well for scar coverage. When concealing spots, focus on blending the edges of the concealer instead of tapping the center of the scar. This makes sure that the concealer maintains full coverage.
8. Always set your work with powder.
Covering acne scars takes a lot of work a.k.a. the work you wouldn't want to fade in 30 minutes. To ensure that your hard work stays on, never skip sweeping translucent powder over your makeup. Powder protects your concealer from rubbing off and makes sure your scar doesn't collect oil throughout the day.
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IMAGE MUFE
Make Up For Ever HD Powder, P2300, SM Megamall
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