How to Cover Up a Bad Breakout and Acne Scars With Makeup

Make those marks disappear!

By Sam Escobar, Woman's Day

Anyone who's suffered from acne as a teen or adult knows how stressful it can be to always feel like everyone is staring at your skin. If you want to make your pimples and acne scars seemingly disappear for the day, this video by YouTube vlogger Jess Bunty is the most relatable and easy-to-follow tutorial we've found.
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Let's break down her tips.

1. Start fresh.

Make sure your skin is clean and moisturized to give your makeup the proper starting surface. Even oily skin needs moisture! Try one made for your skin type, like Ole Henriksen Counter Balance Mattifying Moisture Crème  (sephora.com).

2. Apply primer.

Using your fingertips, apply a primer to ensure the rest of your makeup goes on smooth and stays on all day. Jess uses Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Pro Primer (amazon.com). She recommends waiting a few minutes before applying foundation.

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3. Apply concealer to spots in a criss cross motion.

Jess applies a generous amount of concealer for ample coverage. If you're using a concealer in a pot — NYC Concealer Jar (ulta.com) is a great affordable choice — scoop it out with a new cotton swab each time to avoid cross-contamination from fingers and broken-out skin. Be sure you cover each side of the blemish by applying concealer in an "X" pattern.

4. Blend the concealer by gently patting it.

Using the pads of your (clean!) fingers, carefully press your concealer, blending it onto each blemish. Don't rub it, or you could risk streaky results.

5. Cover up under-eye circles.

While waiting for your makeup to "cook" (i.e. set into your skin), apply a different concealer, like Benefit Boi-ing Hydrating Concealer (sephora.com) to any under-eye discoloration or darkness you may have. Want to make it perfect? Use our handy concealer trick to eliminate dark circles.

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6. Blot your base with a tissue.

Absorb any excess makeup by lightly pressing a tissue into your skin, allowing you to get as natural finish as possible.

7. Use a stippling brush to apply liquid foundation.

While the other steps can be done using fingertips, Jess says her stipple brush provides "good coverage and an airbrushed, even finish" when it comes to applying foundation. Apply the liquid makeup — she uses Revlon ColorStay Makeup (amazon.com) — in round, stippling motions so you can get coverage without wiping off the concealer you already applied. Try a brush like like Sephora Collection Pro Stippling Brush #44 (sephora.com), starting off with a little product, then building to avoid going overboard.

8. Set your makeup.

After waiting a few more minutes for your makeup to set itself, apply either a pressed powder or finely-milled loose powder to ensure it stays put for the rest of the day. Jess recommends e.l.f. High Definition Powder (ulta.com). Using a large fluffy brush, apply your powder in a stippling motion.

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9. Use a finishing spray to seal your look.

A setting mist like Supergoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist Broad Spectrum SPF 50  (sephora.com) will not only help your makeup last, but also break up any cakey-ness caused by the heaviness of the makeup.

Then, apply the rest of your makeup — Jess recommends a bold lip or eye to distract from any bumps that may still be visible — and you're ready to go!