Mistake 4: Skipping sunscreen
While it is certainly important not to pile on too many products when you're breaking out, this rule does not apply to sunscreen. "Many people shy away from sunscreen when they're breaking out for fear that it will make things worse, but this is a big mistake," Darden says. "It's even more so important that you continue wearing sunscreen during a breakout, because sun exposure can make it harder for it to heal and can lead to more prominent scarring."
Try: EltaMD UV Daily Broad-Spectrum SPF 40, $26.50
Mistake 5: Using your fingers to apply makeup
Unless you just washed your hands, it's best to avoid using your finger as a makeup applicator. Doing so only spreads bacteria across your face and leads to potential breakouts. Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist at Manhattan Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery in New York, recommends using makeup and concealers that come in a tube or dropper bottle versus a cream or pot of makeup. Additionally, she recommends using thin layers of concealer and tapping it gently on a pimple to cover it. "Set with a mineral-based powder, like BareMinerals Original Loose Powder Foundation SPF 15, $29, which can help hide it more," she adds.
Mistake 6: Forgetting to exfoliate
This necessary step in your skin care routine should not be skipped, even (and especially) in the event that you have a breakout. "If you have flaky, dead skin cells and crusting around a pimple—from both the stages of the pimple itself and acne medications—your makeup will look like a flaky, uneven mess," says King. It's important to use a gentle exfoliating cleanser, like Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser, $42, or Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser With Orange Extract, $38, and a moisturizer, like Avene Skin Recovery Cream, $35, before covering your blemish so that you can get a natural finish.
Mistake 7: Using the wrong kind of makeup
If you're suffering from breakouts on the regular, you might want to take a close look at the makeup you're selecting at the beauty counter. King recommends choosing oil-free, non-comedogenic makeup whenever possible. Additionally, she recommends using combination products, like Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer, $10, which allow you to cover your pimple and treat it at the same time. "Clearasil Stubborn Acne Control 5-in-1 Concealing Treatment Cream, $5.99, is another good choice—it includes benzoyl peroxide in a tinted concealer," she adds.
Mistake 8: Not taking steps to prevent new breakouts
Your overarching goal when it comes to covering up breakouts should be to treat them so that they don't continuously happen. "If you find yourself looking for more concealers, makeup and coverage options, then it's time to take a step back and see a dermatologist," Ilyas says. "Why keep concealing when you can treat?" Schedule a visit with your dermatologist so that you can address the underlying issue and potential cause of your repeated breakouts so that you'll have less to cover up in the first place.
Image via Imaxtree
