Disguise a Popped Pimple

My mother always said, “Never pop a pimple.” We all know that popping pimples is a mortal sin in the beauty world. A hands-off approach is the best way to get those blemishes to heal quickly and without scarring. But in the real world, we know it happens, even if we don’t want to admit it. So if you broke the rules and broke open your blemish, at least know you can disguise your dermis misdeed. Here’s how.

See your derm. If you’re getting painful acne or finding acne scars, you need to see a dermatologist. Your skin doctor can stop acne at its source and help you find the right skin care routine to give you the healthiest, most beautiful skin. Dermatologists can also help with scarring and discolorations so you get the beautiful skin you’ve always wanted. Also, make sure you’re drinking enough water and eating a healthy diet. Wash your face every night to clean away dirt, germs, makeup, and pollution.

Treat it. For now, you’ll need to treat your popped pimple. You’ll need to gently wash it, apply some acne cream with salicylic acid, and maybe even put ice on it to relieve swelling and redness. Do whatever it is you need to do to keep the area clean and keep infection at bay. Keep in mind that you may have squeezed the infection back further under the skin, so it may get worse for a few days. If this happens, you will probably notice a larger, deeper pimple forming under the skin. These can be even more painful than the first and take longer to heal. You’ll dermatologist can usually fix these up with a small steroid injection. The bacteria in your fingernails may cause additional infection, which could make the blemish bigger. Remember not to touch your face until after you’ve washed your hands, even if they look clean.

Apply primer. After the blemish is dry, apply a tiny bit of silicone primer over the blemish. This will help fill in any holes and give you a smoother surface for your makeup to adhere to. All the better if you can find one made specifically for blemishes.

Tap on concealer. I prefer to use a dry stick concealer with salicylic acid. Use your ring finger to gently pat it in place, blending it around the edges.

Layer foundation. Gently apply your foundation, being careful not to wipe off your concealer. If you still see any redness, apply a bit of mineral powder concealer in a cool tint with a concealer brush, directly on the blemish. Follow up with your regular mineral powder foundation.

Hopefully, this will completely hide your blemish, although, depending on the size and severity, you may still see a raised spot. As much as it bothers you to see a popped pimple when you look in the mirror, let it be a good reminder of why your mother was right. Never pop a pimple.