I've had acne for 15 years. My 3-step concealer routine would make you think otherwise.
- I've had acne for 15 years, leaving me with scarring and blemishes that I don't always want to show.
- But I also have a three-step concealer routine that's easy to follow and, I've found, always works.
The first time I used concealer, I thought it was magic.
I was in high school, and a MAC Cosmetics makeup artist used the brand's Pro Longwear concealer on me ahead of a school event. My skin looked flawless, and I couldn't wait to replicate the look on my own.
Of course, I had no idea how to use it properly. So for rest of the year, I slathered the product across my face as a foundation, desperate to cover each blemish, acne scar, and pigmentation spot on my teenage skin.
Now a beauty journalist a decade later, I've picked the brains of makeup artists, beauty editors, and other experts who have taught me proper techniques that I've made my own.
And my current, three-step routine is so solid that most people don't even know I've struggled with acne for 15 years.
My top 2 tricks: Keep your concealer light and let it sit.
Let's say you've already done your daily skincare routine, applied any foundation you might use, and are ready to use concealer. Or maybe, that's the only product you want on your face.
Whichever the case may be, you'll want to use as little concealer as possible. You can use whichever one works best for you, but if you're looking for a recommendation, I have both high-end and drugstore favorites.
Makeup artists have taught me that using too much product can actually enhance your blemishes and create a cakey look.
So less is more — even if you have severe scarring and redness like I do. I typically apply small dots of concealer in the places where I need it most, and the technique works perfectly.
Next is the easiest part: Don't touch it.
By letting the product sit on your skin for a few seconds — I give it about 10 — the concealer can melt into skin and slightly thicken, giving you the best coverage possible.
Throw out your sponge and invest in a great brush
Everyone has different brush preferences when it comes to makeup, but my favorites for concealer always have long, tapered bristles and are shaped like a kitten's paw.
I regularly use one from Real Techniques which went viral on TikTok last year and has been sold out since, but I've found others from brands like Morphe and Rare Beauty that work similarly.
Not only do brushes absorb less product than sponges do — keeping the concealer on your face and off the tool — but they also allow you to be more precise in where you blend.
And that's everything. You can lock in your makeup with a great setting spray or powder, whichever you prefer.
But as far as covering blemishes goes, you really only need the right tool and two easy application steps.