The Acne Concealing Hack That Provides Tons Of Coverage
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
BeautyTok comes through once again with another flawless makeup hack that makes concealing pesky blemishes easier than ever. Popular makeup artist Mikayla Nogueira shares her go-to trick for masking acne underneath foundation in this viral TikTok video using a technique she refers to as the "sticky method." This is likely the only time that you want your skin to feel tacky after your pre-makeup skincare prep, as the idea behind this tried-and-true method revolves around creating a sticky base so your concealer and foundation adhere to the skin more effectively. What this does is create the ideal canvas for your concealer to do its job and minimize the appearance of pimples.
Nogueira's "sticky method" is perfect for covering up angry last-minute breakouts that always seem to rear their head right before a big event — or worse: that Saturday night date you've been looking forward to all week. While acne is never something you should feel ashamed of, it's understandable to want to feel confident in your skin when you go out. So, here's everything you need to know about this brilliant concealing technique so you feel ready to take on the world.
Prime and prep your skin
The first step in the "sticky method" is, by far, the most significant as you need to use the right products to achieve a tacky base. Mikayla Nogueira stresses the importance of using a sticky serum that contains hyaluronic acid. In her video, she uses Glow Recipe's Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum, but any hyaluronic serum that leaves your skin tacky to the touch will work. Apply a few pumps of serum to create the desired effect and then let it sit for a moment to dry. If it doesn't feel sticky enough, then try adding a thicker layer or try using another serum. You need your skin to be tacky so your next layer of skincare — a primer — will add another layer of stickiness to enhance the grippy effect.
For the primer, be sure you use one that is silicone or dimethicone-based, similar to the E.l.f. Power Grip primer used by Nogueira in her video, as this will contribute to the stickiness and allow your concealer to better adhere to your skin. Then, wait a few minutes to let the primer work its magic.
It's time to conceal
Before you pull out your concealer, gently dab at your skin with the pads of your fingers to confirm that your skin has reached peak tackiness. In other words, if your skin sticks to your fingers a bit when you pull them away, then it's ready for concealer. A high-quality matte concealer will work best for this method as you want the concealer to provide full coverage and dry quickly after application. Mikayla Nogueira recommends using a brush to apply your concealer, as opposed to a sponge or beauty blender, as a brush makes it easier to layer product and spot treat each blemish. Use enough concealer to completely cover the blemishes but do not blend it in. "Tapping heavier concealer onto the blemish helps it meld with your skin without dispersing the coverage. If you blend it around, the pigment spreads and sheers out more, rather than staying in one spot," makeup artist Jamie Greenberg tells Allure. Let the concealer fully dry down before going in with your foundation.
Blend it out
If you don't own a medium-to-full coverage foundation, then you might want to get your hands on one for this method. Sheer or light foundations will not cut it here, unfortunately, as you need a decent amount of coverage to create an opaque layer on top of the concealer. Opt for a beauty blender sponge in lieu of a brush to apply your foundation as a brush may dislodge the dried concealer. Keep dabbing with your sponge until the foundation is fully blended and then carry on with the rest of your makeup routine.
The goal of this concealing hack is to minimize the appearance of acne so it doesn't steal the spotlight away from the rest of your face. You can also get creative with fun eye makeup or lip color to lure any lingering eyes away from your breakouts. At the end of the day, just make sure you double cleanse to remove the heavy layers of makeup or you might end up aggravating your skin. Thick layers of makeup tend to clog pores, so remember to cleanse thoroughly and use a cleanser designed for breakouts, especially if you have acne-prone skin.