Makeup tips on covering acne scars

[Jen76b]

Over the years I have received great advice on various issues. So I thought I'd ask this question since it's been bothering me for a while.

I have several acne scars on my chin and can't find anything good to cover them that doesn't make it look like I have caked on make-up on my chin. Any suggestions?

I've been using Bare Minerals for about a year. While I love the feel and look of it, it doesn't cover my blemishes. I have the bisque, but it still doesn't cover right. Not to mention that I'm 31 yrs old and still breaking out like I was a teenager. Is this ever going to end?

I would love to be able to walk around DW without having to cake on makeup so I look good in pictures.

Thanks!

 

[Jack&Ryan'smom]

I too suffer from bad adult acne. I am 38 and it has been really bad this year. I too use Bare Essentials, especially the bisque...couldn't live without it. I use a really small brush to dap it on my "marks".
I have just recently discovered a new acne treatment. The acne kit by Philosophy. It's a four strp treatment and very pricey($47)...but it has worked so much better than ProActive ever did.

 

[Jen76b]

Thanks for your reply. I've tried Proactive but it did nothing to help. I've tried so many over the counter products and nothing seems to control them. I never break out horribly, usually just one at a time, but I thought I should be done with this by now. I wash my face twice a day and usually don't even wear makeup during the day b/c I work from home and no one sees me

I'll have to check out Philosophy. I hear good things about their make-up but never about skin care. Thanks!

 

[aynt79]

I have old scarring as well and have found the mineral makeup to be the best temporary solution. I like Everyday Minerals better than Bare Escentuals actually, I think they have better color choices for my skintone. But it still isn't perfect.

Before my wedding a few years ago I had a series of Microdermabrasion treatments. They helped permanently remove some of my not-as-deep scars. The person who did it also said that a good chemical peel would lighten the worst ones even more (I never tried it myself though). I want to go back and do it again once I can justify the extra money for the treatments. I hate having to put on makeup everytime I leave the house to try to cover the scars up. I believe you can also get laser treatments as well, but those are probably $$$.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I am 41 and I still break out-although mine is cystic acne and not the type that come to head that you could pop. After years of trying different products-tried all the fads-proactive, Murad, Perricone...you name it-and tried all the prescriptions from antibiotics to scrubs and washes to accutane-none did squat for me except lighten my wallet and get my hopes up.

For times I need to cover a really bad breakout, I use Prescriptive's Camouflage Cream. Works wonderfully and doesn't give me that caked up and heavy look. When I'm not broken out, I use Bare Minerals. Never tried the other mineral makeups since I figured this works for me, why mess with it. I think they are all basically the same except for maybe shade choice.

As far as the acne itself, my dermatologist did chemical peels for me and they are okay, but did not give me any noticeable results. Thought they'd be the answer, but no-not in my case...and boy are they hot and painful! I actually turned to light box therapy and bought my own unit ($300). I sit in front of it for 8 minutes each morning before I put on my makeup and it has worked wonders. Took about 2 weeks to start seeing the results, but this has saved me! I work at home (most often), so when I am home, I don't wear makeup-only when I have to meet a client. The light box has been a life saver and it only took me about 6 dermatologists before it was finally recommended.

 

[NU2WDW]

See a dermatologist for your breakouts, you probably need an antibiotic. I never had any success no matter what "latest and greatest" wash product I used. But I began taking something called Doryx about a year ago. Within 2 weeks I had absolutely no -- zip, zero, nada -- no pimples or cysts, and I have had only the tiniest whiteheads on occasion since (almost certainly since I've gotten lazy about taking the meds). I still have some scarring and redness but nothing compared to what I lived with for 15 years before finally doing something about it! I was floored at how quickly the majority of my skin problems were resolved and still kick myself for waiting so long. I recently began using mineral makeup and love it, esp. now that I no longer have those hideous bumps to cover up! Good luck to you!

 

[SuperSteelerFan]

I use the Everyday Minerals makeup too. Since I switched, I have far few breakouts than ever before and it's much less expensive than the other brands.

 

[LuvOrlando]

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[*KeepMovingForward*]

What is a light box?

It is used in phototherapy. Very similiar to a facial tanner, but different lighting. It's used to treat a variety of skin disorders as well as SAD (seasonal affective disorder).

 

[dani blaski]

I have adult acne also. Mine is influenced by hormone levels. I mostly get milia (whiteheads) that have to be extracted otherwise they get inflammed, become cystic. I have recently started using the L'Oreal version of are minerals and I was surprised at the coverage and less breakouts. I use Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA cleanser & environmental repair gel. Murad worked great for me for years but not so much after I had my DS last year. You may want to ask your dermatologist about teh use of spironolactone--it is a diuretic that suppressed androgen so it helps with hormonal breakouts.

 

[GoingtoWDWagain]

I used to breakout in my late 20's into early 30's (now 35). Finally, learned it was due to my eating habits. Had to give up, now I can have here and there, soda, anything with caffine is the worst for some peoples skin (I have two friends with the same problem). Can't eat out too much as that also contains lots of oil, etc.

Skin has got much, much better now. At first I had to use thick makeup and went through many different kinds before I finally discovered Clinique, a friend that suffered with acne told me she used it. What I used to use and sometimes still do in the summer or when I know I'll be sweating and don't want the makeup to run is Clinique Workout makeup, it's a bit thick and is designed to use while sweating and swimming along with some pressed powder to set it. When you use it and need to dry off your sweat, pat with a cloth, not tissue since it absorbs too much of the makeup then retouch with some pressed powder. I still use it lightly on those hot Florida days .

Hope this helps, feel free to ask me any questions as I know how frustrating this can be. Good Luck

 

[amykathleen2005]

In a related question, what do you do about large appearing pores across the middle of the face. These make most makeup look horrible and uneven. They are really only around my nose and cheeks and the rest of my face is clear. Any suggestions. I really can't afford REALLY expensive makeups however.

 

[dani blaski]

In a related question, what do you do about large appearing pores across the middle of the face. These make most makeup look horrible and uneven. They are really only around my nose and cheeks and the rest of my face is clear. Any suggestions. I really can't afford REALLY expensive makeups however.

I have found that exfoliating regularly will make pores to appear smaller. If you can invest a great exfoliant that you may use twice a week then it would last a while.So if it is more than you wanted to pay if may be a better investment when you look at the cost per use.

 

[wiggles02]

You might have great success if you try a retinol treatment or vitamin c treatment. I have seen a lot of pictures of acne scars fading with the combo of these two. Please pm me and I can give you some good links.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

In a related question, what do you do about large appearing pores across the middle of the face. These make most makeup look horrible and uneven. They are really only around my nose and cheeks and the rest of my face is clear. Any suggestions. I really can't afford REALLY expensive makeups however.

They do make products specificaly for this. Biore puts out a pore reducer lotion and it doesn't clog the pores or cause breakouts.

 

[matdrew]

wow . I am 33 and all of a sudden I have one huge and now three huge pimples that form right near each other. I have alsways had nice skin. I am embrassed by them. The look really bad and might kind of go away for a few days then reappear in the same spot. I am puzzled to what is causing them. I have cut back on coffee in case that is it. I think they may be cystic kind.today i got a new one on my chin

 

[Jen76b]

I was hoping on a cheaper alternative than some people have suggested. I'm glad to know I'm not alone with my problems.

Unfortunatly my insurance won't cover adult acne after the after of 29. I really can't afford to pay out of pocket for the dr and medication.

As a teen, I tried Retna (sp?) but my it was too strong for me and my acne was never that bad. As I said before, I only have 1 breakout at a time, so it's not severe. It's just the left over acne scars that I hate. I had a friend have a chemical peel and she said it was so painful. Not to mention it looked discusting seeing her skin just peeling away. Over the past 2 or so years, I've tried Palmer's Fade Cream and Neutrogena Visably Even. I just saw that Acne Free has a Scar Fade & Erase treatment. I wonder if it's worth the $20??

I have large pores on my nose, chin and cheeks. I've been using Biore for about 3 months now and have noticed no difference.

I thought about trying one of those at home microdermabrasion kits, but not sure if it's worth the money. Has anyone tried it?