Dear Skin Care Expert,

I have been dealing with pretty serious acne for some time and to make my face look a bit better I wear makeup on a regular basis. Even though it covers up the acne, it seems that when I wear the makeup my acne problem gets even worse. I don’t want to go without the makeup, since I’m so self conscious about my skin, but is there anything I can do to keep the makeup from making my skin even worse?  

  – Mad about Makeup

Dear Mad,

Unfortunately many people who wear makeup to help make their skin appear better end up with the same problems you are having. While makeup is not the enemy, you may be using the wrong products or using the makeup in the wrong way, causing your problems.

If you are going to wear makeup, the first important thing to remember is to never go to bed at night with the makeup still on your face. It is important that you thoroughly cleanse your face or the makeup is going to clog up your pores, which will definitely end up making your acne problem much worse.

Another thing you need to remember is to look for makeup that is nocomedogenic. This means that the makeup won’t block your pores, which will also help to prevent worsening your acne condition.

To further prevent making your acne worse, it is important that you clean all of your cosmetic brushes on a regular basis with warm soapy water. Also, if you have makeup that is getting old, it may be contaminated, so you may need to throw it out and purchase new makeup.