Lauren D'Amelio is a celebrity makeup artist and educator who teaches master classes on makeup application.
BuzzFeed recently spoke to Lauren who shared her best tips and tricks for hiding acne and blemishes by breaking her process down, step by step.
Before you apply any makeup, Lauren recommends using a primer. "I believe primers are extremely important. They not only help protect your skin by creating a barrier between your skin and your makeup, but they also help adhere the makeup to the skin, providing a more flawless, longer-lasting application. There are primers that color correct, fill in pores and fine lines, hydrate, mattify, and more."
The best way to conceal blemishes is to color correct and then conceal them. "Color correction means using a contrasting color to neutralize the unwanted color of a blemish. Your skin tone will determine how light or dark of a corrector you would need," Lauren explained.
Lauren said the main color correctors are red, orange, purple, or green. "When color correcting, look at a color wheel and find the color of the blemish that you would like to conceal. Choose the color directly across on the color wheel — this is its complementary color — to neutralize the unwanted color of the blemish," she said.
After you've chosen the correct color corrector, you need to choose the right tone of that particular color. Birchbox has a more in-depth article if you want to read more.
Lauren also said that you can DIY your own color corrector if needed by using eyeshadow. "Scrape a tiny bit of product off of the top and mix it with your concealer."
Once you have chosen the right color corrector in the right tone for your skin, make sure you don't apply it too thick. "When color correcting, only use a very thin layer. This is extremely important because the goal is to neutralize the unwanted color, not to make it a different, unwanted color. If you apply a thick layer of corrector it may show through your concealer or foundation," explained Lauren.
After the thin layer of color corrector has dried, you then use concealer that is the same tone as your skin or a little lighter. "When applying your concealer over your corrector, make sure to tap or press the product on top. DO NOT rub it! If you rub the concealer, it will mix in with your corrector and cause the correcting color to show through. It is important not to disturb the previous layer," she said.
THEN BOOM! Blemish concealed.
So now that we've discussed how to properly conceal blemishes, let's discuss foundations. Lauren suggests that when looking for a long-lasting foundation or concealer, you should look for products with silicone ingredients such as dimethicone or cyclomethicone. "Silicone gives products the ability to be water resistant, control oil, hydrate, fill in pores and fine lines, and provides a longer-lasting wear. They also will not streak from tears or humidity," she said.
When applying cream or liquid makeups, Lauren said it's best to use a brush first, then blend it out with a damp makeup sponge – like a Beauty Blender. "The more compact the bristles of the brush are, the more product you will be applying. The fluffier the brush is, the more diffused the product will apply. I do not recommend applying products with makeup sponges because it will absorb a lot of your make up and waste it. If you apply the product with a brush and then blend it out with a damp makeup sponge, you will not waist your beloved products. This also allows you to achieve the coverage you want and have a smooth finish."
Lauren said that some myths about foundations and concealers are that they can make you look older. "This can be true if you’re using the wrong product for your skin type. As we get older, we typically get dryer, needing more hydration and better skincare."
Lastly, it's important to remember that there's no right or wrong order to apply your makeup. However, Lauren suggests doing your eyes first. "Personally, I like to do the eyes first — the brows, shadow, and liner — and then wipe the face clean of any shadow fallout with a makeup wipe. After that, I color correct and conceal. You can also apply your foundation after you color correct and then apply your concealer last for a brighter look!"
