My Face Makeup Routine When I Have Acne

This post has been sponsored by the PRIMP Network & Zapzyt. All opinions are my own.

While I’ve been trying my best to nail down my skin care routine, I’m still dealing with some acne breakouts due to hormones and stress— you know, the usual. However, my social calendar has been jam packed and I’ve had to wear makeup over my breakouts.

I usually don’t like wearing a ton of product when I’m having a rough breakout. I want to let my skin breath, applying spot treatment throughout the day and overnight to get it to clear up quicker. However, sometimes I don’t have a choice with certain occasions where I want a polished look. Luckily, I have a few go-to products and a face makeup routine when I have acne that’s lightweight but still gives me enough coverage to feel confident in my skin.

Keep reading to discover what I use when I’m breaking out to get a healthy skin look and feel while concealing problem areas.

1. ZAPZYT Acne Treatment Gel

Ever since I tried this spot treatment early this year, it’s been a staple in my routine. Since your makeup application is only as good as your skin care, so I be sure to prep overnight. I use Zapzyt on problem acne— it’s the fastest spot treatment I’ve used recently, and it works for me. It starts getting rid of my acne overnight with less redness and less of a raised appearance. It’s easy to add into my routine with the other products I trust to help keep my skin healthy, and it makes any stubborn spots easier to cover with makeup the next day. Plus, it’s super affordable at Walmart and comes with a decent amount of product.

2. e.l.f. Beauty Shield SPF 50 Skin Shielding Primer

Protecting the skin is imperative when it’s sensitive and broken out. I love the Beauty Shield primer from e.l.f., because it has a whopping SPF 50 with a ton of skin-loving antioxidants. It’s also tinted, which helps give me extra coverage with lighter products throughout the rest of my routine.

3. Sephora Bright Future Color Corrector

When it comes to putting product right on top of your breakout, using moisturizing makeup is key. Especially when you’re using spot correctors, it’s common for your acne (and the skin around it) to dry up… a dead giveaway when makeup accentuates the patchiness. I love the Bright Future concealers because they have a thin, creamy formula that blends easily and doesn’t catch on dry skin. Green is perfect for cancelling out redness of acne and camouflaging it under your foundation.

4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Tint

Formulated with hyaluronic acid, this “tint” acts more like a super lightweight and hydrating foundation. When I first used the HydroBoost Hydrating Tint, I was expecting a tinted moisturizer but was blown away with the coverage I ended up getting! You get enough to offer decent coverage over dark spots and acne (especially paired with the color corrector) and it’s still extremely breathable. I legitimately forget I’m wearing makeup when I have this on!

5. Physicians Formula Butter Highlighters

These are a new addition to the routine, but it’s PERFECT for highlighting over textured skin. The mousse-like texture of the Butter Highlighters smooths over the skin and blurs unevenness without accentuating anything you don’t want on display. I love the “Champagne” shade for a golden glow.

6. It Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder

This is one of the very few setting powders that really smoothes the skin without making it look dry or calling attention to areas I’ve applied extra coverage. Bye Bye Pores Pressed Powder creates a beautiful, even finish while prolonging your makeup for better wear time when you need it most. It never looks cakey, and you don’t need a lot— keeping application light is the key!

Here’s what my skin looks before and after this routine. You can see how much coverage I get, yet my skin feels so comfortable and I have a natural finish. Plus, with many of these products using ingredients my skin loves, it tends to feel great once the makeup comes off, too. When it comes off, there’s one more step…

7. Panasonic Travel Size Nano Facial Steamer

Steaming my face is another new step in my routine, but I can never look back! After cleansing, I run the steamer in front of my face while I tone and mask. This boosts my skin care routine by really opening the pores and maximizing results… which means I can see clearer skin more quickly. It also keeps my skin feeling hydrated which is always a great help with makeup application.

With this routine, I can wear makeup over acne breakouts without feeling like I’m doing more damage. As long as you’re diligent with your skin care plus an acne spot treatment, this routine won’t get in the way of your quest for clear skin.

Do you have a special makeup routine for when you have acne?