Makeup tips for covering acne, pigmentation and dark circles
Advertorial: How to create a flawless base when you’ve got problematic skin
In the past few years we’ve seen a huge trend for no makeup makeup - the kind of look that pairs a flawless base with a radiant glow in a way that’s meant to seem like you just woke up with perfect skin.
But what if you don’t have a flawless canvas to begin with? What if you suffer from acne, redness, pigmentation, scars or dark circles? For many, problematic skin can be a barrier when creating a naturally smooth and radiant complexion. But it doesn’t have to be.
We spoke to Tobi Henney, L’Oréal Paris Makeup Director for Australia, to pick her brain on how to tackle these skin issues with a few makeup tricks.
Regardless of your specific issue, she recommends having a few essentials in your kit: a selection of colour correcting concealers (which can be found in the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette), and a foundation that offers a higher coverage, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation. Although this foundation has been formulated to ensure there’s no cakey finish so you don’t have to worry about looking like you’re wearing a mask, Henney has this pro tip for a natural finish: “High coverage foundation is best applied with a damp beauty blender sponge as this will ensure the product is beautifully worked into the skin and blended flawlessly. Also, it’s best to blend the product down the jawline and neck.”
The L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover range
If you suffer from: Acne,blemishes or redness
When it comes to any skin issue that leaves your skin looking a little red - whether that’s acne, pimples or redness, Henney recommends “knocking out the redness with a green-based concealer first.” Try using the green shade in the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette, then conceal with a beige shade that matches your skin tone.
To best cover pimples, Henney recommends you focus only on the actual blemishes that need covering, and then aim to keep your skin looking as fresh as possible by avoiding a heavy base, as “sometimes this can draw more attention to bad skin.”
Once you’ve corrected and concealed, apply a layer of L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation to give your skin the even coverage it needs without a cakey finish.
If you suffer from: Pigmentation
“Pigmentation requires a good amount of coverage,” says Henney. “ L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation is perfect for evening skin tone for a flawless finish. Focus on covering the areas with pigmentation first with foundation, and then use concealer for any darker areas that need more evening out.”
If you want to avoid looking like you’ve gone too heavy with your foundation, Henney stresses that you shouldn’t use more product than necessary. “Your whole face does not need a face full of product. If you cover the main areas and buff the product lightly to the outer areas of your face, you will avoid looking like you are wearing too much makeup.”
If you suffer from: Scars
Henney has different recommendations depending on what kind of scars you’re dealing with.
“If your scars are raised and a little red, avoid putting any brightening and highlighting products on them as this will draw attention to the scar. Instead, cancel it out with your green-based concealer, and then use your regular conceal,” says Henney.
If it is indented, work on evening out your skin tone with a buildable foundation such as the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Foundation, then follow with a concealer that matches your skin tone from the Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette.”
When picking your concealer from the palette, Henney stresses the importance of choosing the shade that best matches your skin tone, as using the wrong tone will only enhance your scars.
If you suffer from: Dark circles
Typically dark circles have a blue undertone, so Henney recommends you use an orange-based concealer from the Infallible Total Cover Concealer Palette to reduce the darkness, and follow with your concealer.
“Press the products under your eyes with your ring finger to blend, and apply powder to finish - this area is delicate and only needs a light dusting of powder to set your foundation and concealer in place,” says Henney.
To take it up a notch and erase any signs of tiredness, she also recommends brightening the under-eye area with L’Oréal Paris Lumi Magique Concealer.
Image credit: Supplied
