How to Cover Acne Without Concealer

Whether they popped up due to hormones or seemingly out of the middle of nowhere, pimples are a fact of life — at all ages. Even if you follow a strict skincare routine to keep breakouts at bay, every once in a while a blemish or two will find a home on your face. If you want to embrace your spots, we support you. But if you’d rather cover them up, a full-coverage concealer is usually the way to go. That said, it’s not the only way to cover acne. Keep reading to find out how to hide pimples sans concealer.

What Is Adult Acne?  

Before we dive into how to cover up acne without concealer, let’s first discuss why you may be getting blemishes after puberty. Many people wrongly assume that pimples are reserved for hormonal teens. Adults can get acne, too — even if they never dealt with pimples during their adolescence. While teenage acne is most often caused by excess oil and clogged pores, adult acne is typically caused by hormonal fluctuations, a blockage of oil, bacteria, stress or pollution-driven flare-ups. Adult acne is cyclical in nature and presents itself most often as papules, pustules and cysts around the mouth, chin, jawline and cheeks. Adults also have a higher risk of scarring due to a slowed rate of cell turnover. 

Can You Cover Adult Acne With Concealer? 

So, how does one go about covering these unwanted blemishes? First things first, patience is key. Resisting the urge to pop, poke and pick at your skin is of paramount importance. Not only can you make matters worse, but you can also end up with a scar long after the pimple has made its exit. We know, easier said than done. If you do pop a pimple, do not — we repeat, do not — put makeup over the area until after you’ve let it heal. Instead, reach for an acne-fighting product, and remember, until that blemish has dried up and closed, makeup is off-limits. Below find three tips for making your acne heal faster and appear less noticeable. 

Acne Tip #1: Ice

Icing the skin helps to cause short-term vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, which in turn will temporarily improve the appearance of some pimples. Wrap a few cubes of ice in a paper towel and hold up to the affected area on and off every few minutes.

Acne Tip #2: Color Correctors

Pimples may come in various sizes, but one thing they all have in common is their tell-tale redness. Regular concealer alone may not do the trick. This is where color correction comes in. To neutralize the appearance of redness, you’ll want to reach for a green color corrector. We like the Maybelline New York Master Camo Color Correcting Pen. The precision tip makes application easy and the full-coverage formula camouflages signs of redness. Pat the pigment gently on the affected area and then reach for your foundation. No concealer necessary. 

Acne Tip #3: Spot Treatment

Have a pimple you need to get rid of fast? Reach for a spot treatment formulated with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur. Many spot treatments can dramatically minimize the look of breakouts. We like the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Acne Spot Treatment. It’s formulated with benzoyl peroxide to visibly reduce the appearance of acne blemishes.

Photo: Chaunte Vaughn

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