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Beyoncé may look flawless (even when waking up), but the rest of us lesser beings have to deal with the cards mother nature have dealt us. Including acne. Acne isn't restricted to your awkward teenage years and many of us still struggle with breakouts.
Here are some hot tips on how you can combine beauty products and that bothersome pimple.
1. DO use a decent cleanser that can remove dirt and keep your skin clean. Make sure its gentle and alcohol-free. (Yes, your skin is a teetotaler.) DON'T wash your face with harsh soap. This will get rid of any natural oils and irritate your skin.
2. NB: always use makeup that is non-greasy, oil-free, hypoallergenic, non-irritating and non-comedogenic. Non-comedogenic products (or non-acnegenic cleansers) are oil-free and contain ingredients, which won't clog up your pores or cause further breakouts.
3. CC (colour corrective) creams vs BB (beauty balm) creams. BB creams are a bit heavier and tend to work wonders for dry skin, so in this case, rather stick to the lighter and colour-concealing CC creams for a flawless complexion.
4. You can apply primer, foundation and concealer as long as its light, oil-free, and - in the case of primer - contains an SPF. Setting powder is great if you're prone to having oily skin or just want a few extra hours of looking fab. Try mineral powder - its a gem!
5. Thick or solid makeup is a no-no. Stay far away from cream or cream-to-powder foundations. The ingredients in these products will make your skin hate you. Liquid formulas are a better option. H20 yo!
6. Avoid products containing isopropyl isostearate, isopropyl myristate, myristyl myristae, lanolin oil, coconut butter or lauric acid. These are the problem kids in the acne playground as they will cause your pores to clog AND irritate your skin.
7. Intothegloss.com warns to stay away from foundation containing salicylic acid. If you're using a salicylic acid-based cleanser, the combination of the foundation and cleanser will dry your skin out, causing your makeup to look caked-on or flaky.
8. Read the fine print! Double-check that the ingredients of your chosen product either include water, silica, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are the power couple in the world of skincare: not only do these ingredients absorb oil, but they also conceal signs of redness, won't irritate your skin and - hallelujah! - won't cause any unexpected spots to appear.
Now THAT'S something I'd like to see Beyoncé try...
More on skin care:
5 basic (but super effective) ways to improve your skin
