How to cover up a zit cover

For most of life’s problems, covering things up is an ineffective coping technique. However, this morning, I woke up with a sore blemish in the middle of my eyebrows, and I want it gone. It is, in fact, in exactly the spot I have been most self-conscious of lately because I’ve noticed those “angry elevens” developing, which is always a fun discovery. I also found a smattering of redness on my left cheek, so that was great, too.

I do not tend to get a lot of blemishes (I am more prone to extreme dryness and flaking, which I realize is much less stressful so I am by no means comparing the two), but when I do, I do my best to conceal them. The danger of covering up zits is that too much makeup can lead to looking like a foundation cake monster–and it can cause more blemishes, so the miserable cycle will begin again. Today, I will be concealing a small blemish and ensuring it doesn’t get gloppy.

0. Wash your face and moisturize as usual. Look at your target. Stare it in its weird little nucleus (yes I know that every blemish has like a million of those). Is it staring back? Gross.

1. Apply a primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. Use a small concealer brush to apply a concealer like Urban Decay‘s that matches your skin exactly. Tap it lightly on the blemish, then twist a little to ensure the concealer reaches all over the blemish’s round surface.

2. Now, using either your finger or a blending sponge, dot around the blemish to blend the concealer into the surround skin. I did the same on my cheek, too.

3. Apply foundation to the rest of your face as needed. For the rest of my face, I used LORAC POREfection Foundation.

4. Take a kabuki brush, swirl it into pressed translucent powder like Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Pressed Powder, tap it on the side of a table to remove excess, then swirl it all over your face. This will keep it from budging and give it a finished, airbrushed look.

5. Some people will tell you that if you have a blemish, even if you cover it up, you should avoid wearing any sort of red lipstick. I personally like to distract from whatever I’m not digging on my face that day, so I popped on a bit of Illamasqua Lipstick in Maneater because I feel like eating men today. It’s a gorgeous red that won’t overpower your face, but does give a solid focus to the look. For the rest of my face, I used Smashbox Halo Long Wear Blush in Peachy Dream, Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss, and Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes! Mascara.

And then put on your favorite shirt, because you’ll be happier that way. In my case, that is this Grumpy Cat shirt I got from ThinkGeek.