Concealer and
acne often have a fickle relationship: While you may want to pile on the concealer when you're
experiencing a breakout, unfortunately, too much product—or the wrong formula—can actually end up making blemishes worse. It can feel like an endless cycle, but with a little bit of navigating, you can find a concealer that will cover up acne without causing more irritation.
"There are a lot of opinions about makeup and acne but I think, like most things in life, moderation is key," says
dermatologist Papri Sarkar, MD. "I don't think it's reasonable to ask patients with
acne-prone skin who often have redness, brown spots, acne scars, or active acne to skip makeup. For some people, makeup makes them more confident, more socially engaged, and simply better at performing at work or school. I do think it's reasonable to say that they should be mindful of how they're using their makeup and how much they're using."
To use concealer without sacrificing the health of your skin, Dr. Sarkar has a few tips:
Always apply makeup on clean skin. "Applying makeup on skin that's already dirty or greasy is more likely to clog pores, which is often the first step in forming an acneiform lesion," she says.
Check your concealer's expiration date. "Older makeup can build bacteria and other organisms in it and cause or flare acne," notes Dr. Sarkar. "So storing it properly and keeping track of use-by dates are helpful. I suggest putting the date you opened it on the bottle and checking the back of the label. It usually has a 'use by' symbol that looks like an open container or an expiration date. The use-by date on the container usually says 6M or 12M, which means you should only use it for 6 or 12 months after opening it."
Opt for non-comedogenic ingredients. "Pick lighter formulas that don't contain shea butter, coconut oil, etc.," she says. "Not all people react to those ingredients even if they have acne, but since a higher percentage of people with acne react to those, steer clear unless you're sure you don't."
Try not to layer too heavily. "Layers of makeup stay on longer and look more perfect, but the thicker [the makeup is] or the more layers you put on, the more likely the makeup is to clog your pores," says Dr. Sarkar. Instead of buildable formulas, you might instead look for a full-coverage concealer. And instead of touch-ups, she recommends doing a quick face wash-and-refresh if you can. "Wiping or washing off to start with a clean slate and then reapplying usually keeps their skin clearer and their makeup looking better. Also, this can help to keep the number of layers people are tempted to use lower—like setting spray or setting powder layers."
Best Brightening Concealer: ILIA True Skin Serum Concealer
This medium-coverage concealer feels almost weightless on the skin and blends like a dream. While the pigments conceal everything from dark circles to discoloration to blemishes, the formula's skincare benefits get to work behind the scenes. This clean concealer features an antioxidant blend of Albizia Julibrissin bark extract and vitamin C to brighten, protect, and boost the skin renewal process.
Best for Inflamed Acne: KOSAS Revealer Super Creamy + Brightening Concealer and Daytime Eye Cream
If your blemishes tend to fall into the category of cystic acne or you have a blemish that feels mega inflamed, this medium-coverage concealer may be the go-to move. That's because the formula features arnica, a soothing natural ingredient that may help decrease swelling and promote faster healing.
Best for Targeted Application: BAREMINERALS Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Spot Concealer
This concealer stick comes in a convenient pen-like applicator, making it super easy to apply the product to pimples and blemishes directly. Plus, the formula includes a combination of skincare ingredients that can actively fight blemishes.
Dr. Sarkar notes that opting for makeup products that feature acne-fighting ingredients can make a big difference. "If I were going to formulate a blemish-fighting spot treatment that doubled as a makeup, I would include things like salicylic acid, kaolin clay, sulfur and add some ingredients like licorice extract." (Ahem, this formula features all of those ingredients!)
Her one piece of advice: Makeup products made with acne-fighting ingredients may dry out the skin if they're used as everyday products. So it may be a good idea to have one acne-fighting concealer that you use when you're dealing with active breakouts, and one non-comedogenic formula you use when your skin is clear.
Best for Concealing Active Blemishes: IT COSMETICS Bye Bye Breakout Full-Coverage Concealer
Looking to cover up a fresh pimple that popped up overnight? This formula combines full-coverage pigments with a combination of acne-fighting ingredients like oil-absorbing zinc oxide, kaolin clay, witch hazel, tea tree, sulfur, and a gentle AHA/BHA complex. So not only does it deliver flawless-looking results, but it can also act as a drying lotion, minimizing the appearance of blemishes with or without makeup.
