How To Apply Your Makeup Like A Pro (And Stay Acne-Safe)!
Just like an artist with brushes, a chef with their knives, a golfer with their clubs, a makeup enthusiast is made great by their tools. What about the makeup novices out there, the acne-prone, the au natural girls that want to get dressed up every now and again? Do you feel clueless or overwhelmed? We got you covered! Here are some pros, cons, tips, and tricks to applying your makeup like a pro while keeping it acne-safe!
First, what is the best tool for applying your makeup? It’s different for everyone. Essentially, there are three main options.
Brushes
Brushes can be very confusing, especially with all the contouring and highlighting trends. Think of them like knives. Any of them will get the job done, but if you really love doing makeup, like cooking, you will become a brush snob.
It’s most important to use the correct brush for the correct application. For example, there are brushes for applying foundation, loose powder, blush, bronzer, contouring – and not to mention the many different brush styles for applying eye makeup!
Basic, affordable kits can be a great place to start, or you can purchase brushes one by one if you want to be pickier. Popular high-end brush options include the Hourglass Foundation Brush, Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Brushes, Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush, and the Pat McGrath Concealer Brush. Denser brushes give better coverage. Usually, more expensive brushes have softer and more natural bristles, whereas a more affordable brush feels a little more synthetic. Again, just think about getting a basic set of knives. You will still get all your cooking done, but you might find higher-end tools more enjoyable.
How should you wash your brushes? We recommend Green Tea Cleanser. It’s our favorite, and it should be a staple in anyone’s routine. It’s affordable, and if you wash your brushes once a week, you won’t need much product to get them clean. If you are not acne-prone, you can use dish soap. Once you’ve washed and rinsed them, lay them flat to dry. It can be nice to have a backup set, as brushes may take several hours to dry.
If you are really acne-prone, washing your brushes is non-negotiable. If you struggle to wash them once or twice a week, have a backup set. The benefit of cheaper brushes is that you can have backups.
Hands
Your hands are a great tool for easy foundations like ColoreScience Flex or SkinBetter tinted SPF, SAIE slip tint, etc. From an acne standpoint, you don’t have to worry about bacteria growth like on brushes. Often, lightweight coverage tinted moisturizers work well with your hands. Some people like to mix a mineral or fuller-coverage foundation with a little of their moisturizer for a lighter finish and easier hand application.
Sponges
These are often used alongside brushes by makeup gurus to blend further and come in many formats and price points. Because sponges are porous, it’s impossible to get them fully clean – so these aren’t always the best choice for the acne-prone. However, disposable sponges that you clean regularly or use minimally per sponge can work. Also, be sure to leave these out to dry fully, not just stashed in a makeup bag or drawer, or left in a humid bathroom. Even if you are not acne-prone, you can still get bacterial infections. You can clean your sponges the same way you clean your makeup brushes: use your Green Tea Cleanser if you’re acne-prone or just dish soap (or a specific makeup sponge cleanser) if you’re not.
Do you need a primer?
We believe regularly exfoliated, well-hydrated, and moisturized skin is a primer. So find the right types and frequency of exfoliation for you and use a quality moisturizer, like Allantoin, to help your skin feel balanced and not flaky under makeup. Also, washing your face in the morning will lift dead skin that would otherwise settle mid-day.
We prefer using a skincare serum like Rejuvenating Ampule or Pure C and E to get a primer and better skin in one. Primers are typically silicone-rich products designed to smooth and mattify or are hydration-rich products meant to increase skin’s natural glow. Again, using your routine to do that will create healthier skin for makeup to enhance, which is like a two birds, one stone scenario!
Finally, a finishing powder?
Finishing powders can be a great way to increase the staying power of your makeup. We’ve been finding more and more acne-safe options available by big makeup brands, but when in doubt, lean towards a loose mineral powder – they are often (not always) acne-safe. They can also be a great highlighting option since highlighters are often not acne-safe, but the minerals in the makeup offer natural highlighting benefits. You can even use a foundation powder, like Bare Minerals Loose Original Foundation, to give a little more coverage or a translucent powder like Hourglass Translucent Powder to just increase the life of your makeup application.
Of course, we are mainly skincare experts, but we also have a passion for helping people with makeup. There are endless videos that can help you grow your makeup skills. And like those makeup creators, we believe that makeup should be fun! However, it’s going to be even more fun if your skin is prepped properly underneath.