How to Wear Make-Up Without Worsening Acne

If I had a pound for every time someone has told me that I have acne because I wear make-up, I would be a millionaire. It’s either ‘make-up gives you spots’, or ‘if your skin is that bad you should let it breathe’- or words to those effects. 

But as a lot of acne sufferers will agree with me on, when you have acne, you often want to wear make-up to cover it up. Whilst make-up is totally down to individual preferences, there is no hard rule that just because you struggle with your skin you should be binning the make-up for good. 

This blog post is going to discuss tips and tricks for wearing make-up when you have acne to prevent aggravation and making it worse- and it is possible! Read on to find out more. 

Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse 

Whether you suffer from acne or not, cleansing your face before applying any make-up is always a good idea. Cleansing your skin removes any dirt, impurities and even any leftover old make-up that is on your face, providing a clean slate for your new make-up to sit on. 

Covering your skin in more make-up when there is already dirt and grime on the base will only make it’s condition worse. You may have to trial different cleansers to find one that works best for you and your skin type, as we are all different. My personal favorite right now and one that I can’t see myself changing from anytime soon is The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser- it is fragrance free, has limited ingredients and does an excellent job. 

Wash those brushes! 

Okay, how many times do you see Instagram influencers talking about the importance of washing make-up brushes? Turns out they aren’t just saying these things, it is incredibly important to do this at least once a week, but maybe even twice if you have very acne-prone skin and are wearing make-up daily. 

Skin that is already sensitive to impurities and bacteria doesn’t need week old make-up and skin oils being brushed onto it every time you put make-up on, so keeping the tools you touch your face with clean is incredibly important when you are wearing make-up but have acne. Not only do dirty tools aggravate pre-existing acne, but it can cause new bouts of active acne due to the transmission of bacteria onto your skin. 

There are lots of ways to clean make-up brushes and sponges, from the simple using baby shampoo and rinsing under water, to cleaning mats to sprays. 

Be smart about the make-up you buy 

When you have acne, you need to be smart about the products you buy and are putting on your face. Make-up that is oil-free, non-comedogenic and non-pore blocking are the best options, and can easily be found with a little research. Suitable make-up products will do the same job, but not block your pores with bacteria that will make your acne even worse. 

Foundations like the Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup Foundation, their Stay-Matte Oil-Free Makeup, Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter and Maybelleine Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation are all examples of acne-safe make-up products, so do your research for other face products too, like blush and bronzer, to find one that is best for you. 

Wash your make-up off properly 

Whilst washing your face, your brushes and choosing suitable, acne-happy make-up products are all fantastic ways to protect your acne whilst still wearing make-up, it is just as important to make sure that you are washing your make-up off properly to ensure it stays clean and happy. 

When you wash your make-up off at the end of the day, make sure you are double cleansing to remove all dirt, product and impurities so that your skin has that time to breathe. You can also consider using paper towels to dry your face with instead of a towel/face cloth that will be harboring bacteria and oils each time you use them, so that you are always drying with something clean that won’t transfer any bacteria onto your freshly washed skin. 

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Just because you struggle with acne, doesn’t mean that you can’t wear make-up or that the make-up will be making it worse. By being smart about the make-up products you buy and wear, and keeping on top of washing your face and your brushes, you can enjoy wearing make-up whilst still taking good care of your skin and acne.