Blemishes & Hyperpigmentation
Conceal blemishes and hyperpigmentation like a pro.
By GLOWIFY
When we get blemishes or pigmentation, we always feel the need to wear a sh*t ton of coverage. Mainly because we think that’s the only way to cover them up.
Well I am here to share with you the good news that that is not the case! You can absolutely cover up blemishes and pigmentation without wearing full coverage.
Before we get into the HOW?, lets talk about the WHY?
Blemishes/Acne
Acne can happen for many reasons –
- Hormones.
- Stress.
- Unhealthy diet/lifestyle.
- A skincare routine that doesn’t suit you.
- No skincare routine!
The list goes on, but these are some of the most common. This is caused by an over production of sebum (oil) or when the sebaceous gland is clogged or inflamed. (There are loads of YouTube videos you can watch about this in more detail) I’m here to teach you how to conceal them without the coverage.
Pigmentation
Hyperpigmentation can be caused by-
- Exposure to the sun.
- Age.
- Skin injuries.
- Hormonal influencers.
Hyperpigmentation is caused by an increase in melanin. Melanin is the natural pigment that gives our skin, hair and eyes their colour.
“Don’t be afraid to apply a small amount of face oil to the pigmented/blemished areas. The oil is going to help soften the texture and allow concealers/foundation to sit well on top, without showing texture.”
So you're saying I don't need full coverage?
Oh yes… and I am the living proof. I suffered from acne for 9 years and have both blemishes and pigmentation on my skin, hence why I am so passionate about the subject. Here is a very easy guide on how to cover your pigmentation and blemishes without the coverage.
5 Key Steps
- HYDRATE – This is key. The texture of blemishes and pigmentation is generally more on the dry side. Make sure you are prepping your skin well with the right skincare to suit you. Don’t be afraid to apply a small amount of face oil to the pigmented/blemished areas. The oil is going to help soften the texture and allow concealers/foundation to sit well on top.
- EVEN OUT – Now is the time to apply your favourite foundation/tinted moisturiser/BB cream (whatever formula you love) You can even skip this step if you want to have little to no coverage. If you have a full coverage formula, a great tip is to mix it with a little illuminating moisturiser or a drop of face oil to thin it down (MAC strobe cream is great for this). Pop a THIN layer on the face. This will give an even colour all over the face, ready for concealing.
- CORRECT – Correcting the colour of the pigmentation/blemish is the game changer when properly covering blemishes and pigmentation. A corrector helps to correct discolouration. If your blemishes are more of a brown tone, opt for a peach toned corrector. If they are more purple/blue, opt for a pink/bisque toned corrector. (Bobbi Brown cosmetics do it best in my opinion). Stipple the corrector over the blemishes/pigmentation with a small brush. This will allow you to add a good amount of coverage to the area. Don’t blend it out too much as you will be adding a concealer over the top to bring your skin back to its natural colour.
- CONCEAL – Concealer is essentially the fuller coverage version of your foundation. Of course you can use a brighter or warmer concealer to highlight and contour. But in this case, use your exact skin tone colour to make sure that your blemish/pigmentation is properly concealed. The best type of brush to use on this is a small, fluffy eye shadow brush (think MAC 286). The fluffiness of the brush allows you to lay a thin layer of product on the area and blend it out at the same time. Just use soft bouncing motions to make sure you are not buffing all the product away. Of course, this is the time to also conceal your under eyes.
- LOCK IT IN – You don’t want to put all this effort to waste, so your final step is to lock that baby in! Use a foundation powderon top of the blemishes/pigmentation and a setting/translucent powder on the rest of the face. Your setting powder is going to set the skin without the coverage but your foundation powder will give your blemished/pigmented areas that extra, final step of coverage. Again, use a small brush to bounce the foundation powder on (I love the E45 brush from sigma).
- FAKE A MOLE (optional) – This step is entirely up to you and to be done at the end of your full makeup. I have been loving it on myself! Great when you have those stubborn raised blemishes that just won’t F off, and of course it’s the day you have an important event to go to…Have a look at the colour of your natural moles and find a powder eye shadow to match it. Using a thin eye liner brush (Bobbi Brown ultra precise is great), carefully dot the shadow on your spot. It will of course look very dark at first, but just press a little foundation powder over the top of it so it looks like it is an actual mole and then re-apply the last makeup product you applied (blusher/bronzer).
Pro Tips
- If you love a glow, make sure to avoid any blemishes/pigmentation when applying your highlighter. Anything shiny will bring out the texture of the blemish/pigmentation. If you do get a little highlighter on them, just re-mattify them with your setting powder.
- When applying bronzer and blusher, make sure to use a bouncing/tapping motion instead of buffing the brush on the skin. This will stop you from removing any coverage from the blemished/pigmented area.
- Finish the skin with a setting spray to really lock in the products and take away any powdery finish.
And there you have it, completely concealed blemishes and pigmentation WITHOUT heavy coverage. I know it seems like a lot of steps, but remember, the only full coverage you have on the skin is on the blemished/pigmented areas. I hope this works out for you!
Till next time…
G x