Prom Make-Up Tip - Covering Up a Zit

Nothing is as horrifying as waking up on prom day to see a bulging red beacon of a zit staring at you in the mirror. When I was in high school, I couldn't wait to outgrow my teenage years just so I wouldn't have to deal with acne anymore. Unfortunately, I'm still as acne prone as an adult as I was in high school--and it's just as embarrassing as it was back then. Today, the one tool I have against acne is experience. I have stockpiled some threatening ammo to use against these beastly bloomers. With just a few tools you can zap the red right out of your prom pimples.

What You'll Need

• Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 Lotion $6
• Smashbox Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer in green, $38 for the bottle, $17 for travel size
• Covergirl Invisible Concealer, $4
• Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Powder, $10
• Powder brush, $8-$50 at Sephora

Step 1: Moisturize
Don't argue with me on this one, your adult self will thank me. All you need is one or two pumps of Lubriderm Daily Moisture with SPF 15 to protect your skin from sun damage. Lubriderm was recommended to me by my dermatologist, and it's the best facial moisturizer for three reasons: it's cheap, it absorbs quickly and it's not greasy.

Step 2: Neutralizing the Red
Obviously, you can't flatten, shrink or change the shape of the zit, so our goal is to reduce the redness as much as we can. My favorite product for neutralizing redness is Photo Finish Color Correcting Foundation Primer from Smashbox. I love its velvety texture. Now, I know, $38 is a lot of money. But this little jar will go a long way and you can use it to neutralize wind burn, rosy cheeks and other redness on your face.

To cover-up a single zit, use a tiny amount. A drop the size of a pencil tip should be enough to cover the blemish. Dab it on until it's blended. Because of it's grainy-ish consistency, wiping or smearing it on won't work. Just tap, tap, tap over the pimple. Give it a minute or so to dry.

Step 3: Concealer
I prefer to use liquid concealer over stick because stick concealers tend to be greasy. Liquid concealers dry nicely and offer decent coverage. Pick a concealer that's one shade lighter than your skin tone, anything too dark will only accentuate your pimple. Covergirl Invisible Concealer works great, it's not goopy and it's somewhat translucent so it blends well. Put a dot of concealer right on top of your zit and dab with your finger until it's blended. Wait a minute for it to dry and reapply the same way. You may need a third coat if you have a particularly colorful zit.

Step 4: Set it With Powder
All that's left to do is dust on some foundation powder. Using a powder brush (the brushes that come with powder foundation are dreadful, don't even bother), dip the brush into the powder and tap or gently blow off the excess on the brush. I like Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Loose Powder because it's hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, talc-free and non-comedogenic. Those are all really good things when you're breakout prone. Brush a light amount over your entire face, including your zit, to create a nice even skin tone.

Even if you don't like wearing make-up, this is an easy way to hide your flaws that won't leave you looking like a prom night prostitute. For a simple, glowing look, just add some mascara and lip gloss (I happen to adore Maybelline's Shiny-Licious gloss in Strawberry Tart). If you are planning on going all out with your make-up, this is the perfect starting point. You don't have to let a sudden breakout ruin your big night. If you cover it up right, you can worry less about your skin and concentrate on making some sweet prom night memories.