Since most acne scar treatments take a few weeks to work, you can use these makeup tips from Stapleton while you patiently wait. First, here is what you will need:
1. Concealer. Choose a concealer that's non-comedogenic (look for that term or non-acnegenic on the bottle), and provides full coverage and a matte finish. He recommends M.A.C. Pro Longwear Concealer, $20.
When you're buying concealer, you want to look for a shade that perfectly matches your skin tone. To be safe, go to a makeup counter to find your perfect shade. However, if your scars are indentations in your skin, you can try a concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin tone. Stapleton says this can help balance the natural shadows that happen with depressed areas of skin by "lifting" out the darkness.
2. Color corrector. Steer clear of shades with red undertones in them; there's enough red in those scars already. Instead, buy a green color corrector. If the scars are more of a dark grey or purple color, try a rust-colored corrector to neutralize your skin tone. Check out Physicians Formula Gentle Cover Concealer Stick in Green, $6.55.
3. Primer. If your scars are more like indentations in your skin, you'll want a primer to smooth the surface, which will help your concealer go on more smoothly. Try Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12-Hr Perfection Primer, $31.
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How to Conceal Acne Scars with Makeup
Stapleton lays out the step-by-step makeup application tips you need to cover acne scars, depending on the type.
If you have red and purple/grey marks: Step 1: Dab on your color corrector with either your finger or a brush and blend well.
Step 2: Pat on a concealer that matches your skin tone, making sure to blend the edges out well (so you don't just have a dot of concealer on your face).
Step 3: Finish with either your regular foundation or a dusting of translucent powder to set your concealer.
If you have concave scarring:
Step 1: Apply a primer to your face to smooth the surface.
Step 2: Apply concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin tone to the depressed area of skin, making sure to blend well.
Step 3: Finish with your regular foundation or a dusting of translucent powder to set.
One last note from Stapleton: "Always remember, textured skin [skin with concave scarring or red marks] looks better matte. It hides imperfections. Think about painting a wall -- high gloss shows off imperfections, while a matte finish will make them less noticeable."
So hold off on the dewy look (for now), and soon you'll have the clear skin capable of that trendy glow.
Wondering how to get rid of acne scars? We feel you, girl. Though the lifespan of a pimple is usually about three days, acne scars can last for weeks, months -- or even years. The good news is that there are acne scar treatments and skin-care technologies that can obliterate hyperpigmentation and retexturize skin to make acne scars a thing of the past.
Whether you're interested in how to prevent a pimple from scarring in the first place or the best acne products, we're filling you in on how to get rid of the annoying remnants of past breakouts and pimples.
We chatted with skin care experts to find out the newest treatments for acne scars, so you can finally get the clear skin you've always wished for. They filled us in on the ingredients that will diminish acne scars and the treatments that will zap them away. Plus, M.A.C. makeup artist John Stapleton shared his tips about how to hide acne scars as you wait for these acne scar treatments to kick in.
