Whether it’s the eve of a first date or the morning of a job interview for a killer position, pimples have a habit of appearing at the worst possible time. Even if you get some advance warning, pimples can be problematic. Once they appear, they usually stick around for between three and seven if left to their own devices. Fortunately, there are many ways you can conceal pimples, meaning even the meanest breakout doesn’t need to hold you back.
1. Neutralize Redness with a Colour Corrector
Even a small pimple can be difficult to conceal thanks to its innate redness. Rather than attempting to mask a red blemish with an illuminating concealer or other cosmetic product, you should be focusing on neutralizing the redness instead. Colour corrector products can prove very effective at this. Use a green colour corrector for best results, with the green pigment perfect for balancing out the red. Once you’ve applied some, you can then work your go-to foundation and concealer into the mix.
2. Matte Foundation is Your Friend
Excess oil is another issue you’re going to have to contend with when dealing with a breakout. To compensate for all that extra oil in your skin, opt for a matte foundation when assembling your makeup basics. Matte foundation can help mop up excess oil, reducing the amount of visible shine around the surface of the pimple itself.
3. Enjoy Maximum Coverage with a Thick Concealer
When dealing with a larger breakout, think about using a high-coverage concealer. The perfect foundation to a multi-layered mask to hide acne, a concealer with a thick and creamy consistency provides you with much-needed coverage, enabling you to conceal even the largest pimple.
4. Reduce Pimple Size with Hydrocolloid Patches
Hydrocolloid pimple patches are something else worth adding to your beauty repertoire if you’re prone to breakouts. These patches help absorb excess pus from broken or weeping pimples, and are also effective at soaking up excess oil. If worn for long enough, they can help eliminate redness and reduce the overall size of a pimple. What’s more, they provide an essential barrier that will protect the area in general, preventing reinfection and increased reddening.
5. Unclog Pores with Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid is highly effective at unclogging pores, while it’s also an effective treatment at reducing the appearance of pimples. Use a serum to nip pores into shape before the appearance of pimples, or reach for a salicylic-enriched powder to reduce the visible redness of pimples once they do appear.
6. Conceal Minor Imperfections with Tinted Moisturizer
Fortunate enough to only be dealing with a minor pimple? Conceal undersized blemishes with a tinted moisturiser. Once applied, tinted moisturizer delivers light coverage that will even out skin tone, while concealing more minor imperfections in the skin.
7. Visit a Dermatologist
When home remedies won’t cut it, it might be time to visit a dermatologist. A skincare professional can administer a host of different treatments to help reduce the appearance of severe pimples, with cortisone injections being among the most common.
