How to Conceal Your Pimples

Is there anything that can ruin a great makeup day more than an unexpected pimple? It always shows up at the worst possible time and, unfortunately, makes its presence known by being large, red and often sore. The good news is, we know what causes pimples and how to treat them. The bad news is, it often takes some time for them to subside completely—which means that unless you know of a filter that can smooth your skin in real life and in real time, you will need to embrace concealer makeup to hide and cover your pimples. Luckily, the steps to cover a pimple are simple to follow once you know them.

But first, what causes pimples?

Blemishes occur when oil, dead skin, dirt and/or bacteria block your pores. The buildup in the pores creates comedones—whiteheads or blackheads—that sit at the skin’s surface or directly under it and are typically considered acne. While you have some control over your own acne and the causes of pimples, sometimes there’s no avoiding a blemish, unfortunately.

Almost all of us suffer from pimples from time to time, and since we know that popping them on our own is a no-no, our next best bet is to find ways to effectively cover them with makeup.

How to cover pimples in a few simple steps

1. Prep your skin. Making sure your skin is clean and moisturized before you start using concealer makeup to camouflage a pimple is key. It’s also a good idea to use a great makeup primer when you want to cover pimples—it will help any concealer you apply afterwards to grip the skin a bit better.
2. Apply your foundation. Your first line of pimple coverage is foundation. Apply it over your face the same way you would every day. If that means you opt for a full-coverage matte foundation, wear that. Or if it means you only wear a light tint, do that.
3. Apply your concealer. Apply it to the specific area you want to cover (a.k.a. your pimples.) The best concealer will be a little thicker than your foundation and be full coverage. You can apply it with your finger or a brush (as long as either one is clean) and simply tap the product onto the spot. You may find that a few light layers work better than a thick smear. The key with a targeted concealer application is to blend the edges so that it seamlessly melts into the rest of your complexion. That’s why L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer is a great pick—it blends and evens out your skin tone while it covers. Plus, the oil-free formula ensures that you’re not adding any oil to a complexion that likely already has enough shine.
4. Add powder. If your complexion is especially oily, you may want to add powder on top of your concealer to set everything like L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Sweep & Lock. Though this step is not always necessary with long-wear concealer formulas, opting for a little extra coverage never hurts when you’re combatting red and angry acne.