Pimples are a pain in the face, no question. Even crummier: The post-breakout blemishes besmirching your complexion – arguably tougher to tuck out of sight than spots proper.
Happily, there’s hope yet. If you’re an apprentice in the art of subterfuge, click through for a bad-ass four-step beauty strategy to aid you in your blemish-busting battle. Ready? Go!
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Spend some quality prime time and that extra step will stand you in good stead. An acne-alleviating and pore-perfecting primer like Laura Mercier’s nifty new Foundation Primer Blemish-less, $69, will provide “grab” and glide for the flesh-toned pigments to come. Cycle through your usual unguents, then go over the particularly pitted areas with a generous patting of your go-to primer.
Okay, step one down. Onwards and upwards. Next, foundation. Formula-wise, you should be gunning for glimmer and gleam. I know a dewy-finish fluid foundation may seem counterintuitive when it comes to screening out scars – shouldn’t we be cutting down on spot-causing gunk and grease instead? – but it’s the intricate interplay of light that deflects attention away from the discolouration of acne scars.
Think of it this way: Luminous liquids like Stila’s sensational Aqua Glow Serum Foundation, $77 from Sephora, will furnish your face with a ravishing radiance that’s quite similar to that afforded by selfie filter apps. More light, less visible scars. Oh, and choose a blendable and buildable product that boasts decent sun protective powers – pivotal for preventing further skin damage – and a plethora of plush moisture magnets for cushiony all-day comfort.
Bring out the big guns because it’s time to get serious on any spots, scars and such that are still visible after applying your base. A creamy concealer like fan favourite Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer, $116, is best for our purposes because you want to amplify the light-reflecting loveliness of your foundation.
Go right ahead and use clean fingers if you must, but I’m partial to using a stiff angled brush for precision coverage; simply stipple onto the scar itself and blend outwards to blur the boundary between blemish and the surrounding skin. Or stash a pen-type product in your purse for fuss-free touch-ups on the go.
Got your concealer of choice on standby? Now for the brilliant bit. If your acne scar has resulted in a shallow depression (I hesitate to use the word “pockmark”, which sounds so very harsh), the trick is to switch to a concealer that’s a shade lighter than your true match. My suggestion: Try playing around with Nars’ nifty Soft Matte Complete Concealer, $45 each in 16 Asian-friendly hues – this baby boasts budge-proof coverage and one of the most fantastically flawless finishes on the market, IMHO.
Again, it comes down to smoke, sheen and mirrors: The paler concealer “lifts” your sunken scar to bring it near-level to the rest of your skin. The result? A smooth mirror-like mirage that doesn’t dissipate until your admirer is an inch or two away from your face!
This last step is optional, but if you time to spare while waiting for your date to come knocking on your door, do as I do and finish off your face with a gilding of Guerlain’s gorgeous Meteorites Happy Glow Pearls, $115, a covetable collectible composed of carefully curated colours that simultaneously sets and “freezes” pigments, lends a hint of a tint and prevents slipping and sliding.
Right, then. Quick recap: Primer, luminous foundation, a lighter shade of concealer, setting powder, done. This ought to take the edge off the sting of your spots. Congrats, you’re now a cherished member of a covert community of “undercover” agents.