Blemish Basics

Blemishes are tricky to cover up at the best of times, so here’s how the pros camouflage spots with pinpoint precision.

1.Apply your primer or foundation first, and if the pimple is still oily, blot it with a tissue to remove excess sebum before trying to conceal it. ?When choosing concealer for pimples, you need it to be pigment-rich, so you don’t need much product, and choose ones that have a light, powdery texture or oil-zapping properties, as the biggest problem with spots is the sebum which seeps out from them, eventually dissolving all overlying product,? says Irish make-up artist Leonard Daly. ?Pots of concealer or even heavy foundation sticks are perfect for the job, as they are pigment-dense and have a nice, chalky texture.?

bareMinerals Correcting Concealer SPF 20, €24

2.The best trick for covering pimples is a technique Lisa Eldridge, global creative director of make-up at Lanc’me, calls pinpoint concealing: ?You need a tiny brush – like an eyeliner brush or very small lip liner brush, which you run over the concealer and then swipe it across the back of your hand first, so you don’t overdo it. Then simply stipple it over the trouble zone in tiny pinpoints, starting around the edge of the pimple, and then blend it toward the centre of the spot.?

Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, €37

3. If your concealer looks obvious, soften it by buffing with an eye shadow brush – it works even better if you dip it in translucent powder first. Make-up mogul Bobbi Brown’says??always finishes off any concealing work by using a powder puff to apply a small amount of face powder onto the blemish. It locks cover-up in place for hours.?

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clearing Concealer, €20

Watch: Lisa Eldridge’s Pinpoint Concealer Trick – The Eldridge Technique

This article originally appeared in the May issue of IMAGE. The June issue is on shelves right now. Subscribe here.