As Kate Upton, Kendall Jenner, Cameron Diaz and Emma Stone can tell you, acne spares no one—no matter how beautiful the face. When it's time for these celebs to stand in the spotlight? Well, they have expert makeup artists on hand to make the most glaring of zits fade away.
Meanwhile, those of us who fend for ourselves are often left with caked pools of makeup, which only enhances the blemish. #fail
Here's the good news: Though it takes artistry to erase blemishes from view, you don't have to be a makeup artist to get it right, according to beauty guru and E! Style Collective member Tina Turnbow, who works with celebs like Taylor Schilling and Keri Russell. Here, she offers her seven rules for covering a blemish correctly.
Pick the right shade: If covering a three-dimensional zit, apply concealer in a shade darker than your skin tone. This will make the blemish's appearance recede, Turnbow said. Don't reach for an undereye concealer when looking to cover a zit; its shade, which is typically lighter than your skin tone, will enhance, not distract from the blemish.
Find the right consistency: Liquid concealers can be hard to control, while other formulations can be too dry—and cause makeup to cake around the blemish. Turnbow suggested looking for a formula that has somewhat of a creamy consistency, but is also dry enough to stay in place. (Two of her picks? Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage, which comes with a color to combat redness, and Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, a celebrity favorite.)
Use a light hand: "I love when you don't see makeup on the skin," Turnbow said. To hide the look of the blemish—and the makeup used to cover it—load your brush or finger with concealer, then tap it on the back of your hand to minimize the amount applied to the face.
Deflate volcanos: When reaching for a concealer to cover a raised blemish, stick to matte formulas. "You don't want to put a shimmery product on top of a blemish," Turnbow said. "It makes them seem more raised."
Pick powder: "Another safety net I use when hiding blemishes? A powder that gives coverage," Turnbow said. After applying concealer, Turnbow uses Josie Maran Argan Matchmaker Powder Foundation, which provides coverage, but is not too dry or cakey. Using a small fluffy brush, lightly dust the spot to help set the concealer without making it look too makeup-y.
Disguise redness: To erase redness, Turnbow suggested applying concealer with a pointy, firm brush, then tapping the formula in with your finger to blend. Stick with drier formulas so the makeup stays in place. Finally, if covering a blemish on the face, skip the use of cream blush afterward—it can add extra shine.
Relax: Covering a zit may help you feel more confident while at work or an event, but at the end of the day, remember, a blemish is a little wound that needs to heal. Be gentle when covering your zit and reach for a formula that includes acne-fighting salicylic acid and tea tree, like Yes to Tomatoes Corrective Concealer Stick—or be brave, like Upton, who is known to go makeup-free when suffering a breakout.