How to Apply Mineral Makeup Over Acne

Mineral makeup is, by its composition, perfect for acne-prone skin. Other types of makeup, especially liquid foundation and packed powder, clog pores and cause acne breakouts. Mineral makeup was designed specifically to cover all types of skin imperfections without aggravating sensitive skin. No matter what your age, mineral makeup is the best choice for acne-prone skin. Before you start, do your homework on choices among brands of mineral makeups. Some brands are pricey and worth it, while other brands are merely cheap "knock offs."

Things You'll Need

• Mineral makeup of your choice; a loose powder foundation that contains sunscreen of at least SPF 20, and a powder "veil" worn over the foundation. Include a "face primer" made by the same company; this gives you an oil-free, long-lasting matte finish.
• Non-clogging green liquid made for spot coverage and blemish concealment.
• Gentle, mild soap and toner lotion made for acne-prone skin.
• Foundation brushes to sweep the mineral makeup onto your face.

Instructions

1. After selecting your mineral makeup, lotion toner, soap, green cover-up primer and foundation brushes, wash your face thoroughly but gently with your mild, pure soap. Follow with a gentle, oil-free moisturizer on dry areas of your face in a small amount. With a mineral makeup kit, less is always more! Use only about a fourth (if even that) of the amount of water-based moisture only on dry areas. Do not apply moisturizer to acne-prone areas.

2. It's recommended that you "prime" your face before applying your mineral make-up. This primer give your makeup something to cling to, giving you a smooth, even, matte complexion. Both Raw Minerals and Bare Essentials have primers for their mineral foundations. Again, a bit pricey. But consider that very little of this product goes a very long way! Spread a small amount of primer over your entire face and let it sit for about a minute.

3. Now for the green stuff! Unless you want to look like a Japanese Kabooki, take it very easy on the amount used! Remember, most blemish concealers are overly oil-based and tend to blob or crease; they also don't give lasting coverage. DHC and Merle Norman's brands conceal your blemishes and have a real staying power. Smooth a very small amount of the green stuff over your blemishes and pat gently. The treated areas will have a slight green tint to counteract the red of the blemish.

4. After spot-treating your acne areas, use your foundation brush to smooth the mineral foundation over your face. The accepted rule in applying mineral makeup is "touch, tap, and apply." You need very little mineral makeup to achieve a healthy, glowing effect; touch your brush to the loose makeup, tap it to remove excess, and sweep it over your face. If you notice that your blemishes that were covered with the green stuff appears overly white, then you've used too much green! Just experiment until you find the right amount of everything that works with your skin.

5. Next, sweep your mineral "veil" over your face; this is like powdering your face once you've applied foundation. The mineral powder seals the foundation and give you a naturally polished look, with the appearance of your blemishes greatly diminished. If you like, you can also sweep your face with a light mineral bronzer to give you a "warm" look or a sparkling, translucent or pink mineral glow powder. Both these should be applied AFTER your veil.

Tips & Warnings

• Nearly a decade ago, i.d.'s Bare Minerals introduced the first line of mineral makeup. In its infancy, we mostly learned about it on late-night TV infomercials! Now in the mainstream, Bare Minerals can be found on their website or through Sephora's site.

• Ther brand Raw Minerals is the "next generation" of mineral makeup. Like Bare Minerals, it has excellent acne coverage and has even more all-natural ingredience that is good for your skin. Compare both by reading about them on their web sites, and ask people who use mineral mineral makeup which brand they prefer.

• You should also choose your green cover-up carefully. Since acne is red, green cover-up neutralizes red, inflamed acne spots. Merle Norman carries a tubed green cover-up that has been a favorite of their customers for generations. DHC, a Japanese Internet company, offers of a splendid green underbase that very reliable.

• Don't be put off about the price of Bare Minerals or Raw Minerals; yes, they cost more than drugstore brands. But since only a small amount of mineral makeups are necessary for your face, they last much longer; you may only need to replenish your stash once a year!

• In addition to covering your blemishes, try this trick of using mineral eye shadow, mascara and lipstick to draw attention to your best facial features instead of your imperfections.

• All mineral makeup is not created equal! You can easily obtain the front-runners, Bare Minerals and Raw Minerals on the net. In drug stores you'll see brands that are much less expensive, but not even close in performance. Remember, you do get what you paid for!

• Strictly avoid all cosmetics that are oil-based; moisturizers, toners and eyeshadows in particular. These products counteract the mineral-based products and cause increased acne. Look for products that are water-based. If the label doesn't say the product is oil-free, assume that is is not!

• If this issue concerns you, the best-selling mineral makeup is not tested on animals.

• Be sure to keep your mineral foundation brushes clean! Most top lines offer a brush cleaner that you should use at least monthly, depending upon how often you use makeup.