Spots are the bane of my skincare regime. Recently I blogged about problem skin products. But what about disguising spots? In my younger days, I thought the answer was heaping on the concealer. Now, however, I’ve learned some top tips on how to use makeup to cover up blemishes. Handy hints like those from MAC Senior Makeup Artist, Lesley Keane, seen here below.
She points out that layering your products are a more effective way to camouflage a blemish. She says,
” When covering blemishes I always use a cream concealer, as under eye concealers have moisturisers and silicone in them to even out the surface. I normally use M.A.C Studio Finish Concealer as it’s really opaque and a little goes a long way. With a blemish it is better to use a cool tone eg NC20 as it neutralise reds and I always try and match the skin as much as possible towards the paler side. Apply your concealer with a small brush such as the M.A.C #219 brush. Pat the concealer on the blemish and blend the edges not the whole area. Follow with a powder like M.A.C Mineralise Skinfinish Neutral (use the shade that suits you best) to matte the surface down. Top tip – be careful to keep the tone of the powder on the paler side as otherwise it will darken the concealed area and resemble a bruise.”
The MAC Studio Finish Concealer, £13.50, comes in 15 shades so you ought to find you to suit your skin. It’s also enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E) and contains Silica to help adsorb the skin’s oils. The MAC Mineralise Skinfinish Neutral, £20.50 gives a matte finish without looking caked on and comes in ten different shades.
When it comes to giving my face a flawless finish, I also like Estee Lauder’s BB cream – or to give it its full title, Daywear Anti-Oxidant BB Creme SPF 35. BB creams have literally taken over the makeup industry this year, with what seems like a conveyor belt of brands releasing their version so I’m sure you’ll have your own favourite. But if you haven’t already, I’ve found Estee Lauder’s especially good. It can be worn on its own but I usually wear it under my foundation. It helps to even out skin tone, and, for me, works as another step in disguising any flaws, blemishes or spot scars. It also helps to control oil production, keeping me shiny face free throughout the day.
Aside from concealers and BB creams, foundations are another handy tool in covering spots. Not in a specific spot situation, but more to help create an overall flawless finish. These are a completely personal choice, but currently I am a massive fan of a few new foundations including Benefit Cosmetics Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow, £24.50. This is a great product for people like me with oily or problem prone skin. It comes glass bottle with pump so it’s totally mess-free. When I first tried this foundation, I wasn’t convinced it was going to last: it seemed more runny than other liquid foundations which usually means it’s going to slide right off my face after a few hours. I was also worried that although it’s pitching itself in the light to medium market, it was going to be too light, almost tinted moisturiser light. Happily, I was proven wrong on both counts. This foundation is absolutely brilliant, and probably gives more medium coverage than light. It lasts a full day when I’ve worn this on my home turf of Scotland, with a temperature of about 11 degrees. It’s also really easy to apply, I just use a few squirts, dab onto my face, then blend with my fingertips. It’s done in less than a minute and gives skin a flawless, dewy finish without looking oily. It’s also worth considering Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra 24H, £27. I found this gives a matte finish but doesn’t dry out skin nor is it powdery. I also found it stayed in place and gives a natural finish to skin.
And to finish, whether it’s a practical or a confidence thing, I always like to set my foundation with a powder and my current favourite powder is Clarins Ever Matte Powder £25. The gold compact is the perfect handbag size, not too chunky nor too small, and the mirror in the lid is a decent size to use when applying. It comes with a foam sponge which is what I’ve been using, but I’m sure you could use whatever kind of applicator you usually prefer. It’s finely milled but gives long-lasting, mattifying coverage which doesn’t look caked on, nor does it feel heavy. In short, it’s perfect for stopping shine, setting and prolonging the life of my foundation. I have this in Shade 02 Transparent Medium and it comes in four shades in total.
