Q. Dear Jordan,
From your pictures it seems like you have the most perfect skin, but I know you wrote about occasionally breaking out, so I thought I would see if you have any suggestions. Lately my skin has been going a bit crazy! I’ve been trying to figure out how to cover the spots well, but I can never seem to get it right.
I was wondering if you could share any tips you might have and any products that you think work well and look natural.
Thank you so much!
~Allison
A. Why, thank you! Alas, though, ’tis true: as I’ve written before, I most definitely do not have perfect skin – I nearly always am in the middle of some minor breakout or another, and ever since my pregnancy have had breakouts and redness across my cheeks (an area that never bugged me before).
It’s getting a lot better thanks to my new, gentler skincare program (right now, I’m using Simple Skincare’s perfume, dye, and irritant-free products, in addition to La Roche-Posay’s salicylic acid treatment on particularly annoying spots), and I’ve found that drinking more water than you ever thought possible helps enormously…but the right makeup is still a must.
My #1 must-have for concealing what I need concealed: MAC Studio Fix (3) – it’s a slightly-heavier-than-normal powder that doubles as a sort of light foundation, and I love the coverage level and finish. I’ve been using it religiously for years, and it’s one thing that I never leave home without.
Next, I add concealer to any areas that need extra assistance: Clé de Peau Beauté’s (1) is the absolute best. I mean that: it’s the best. It’s also inexcusably expensive ($70), but on the bright side, it lasts just about forever, since you only need a tiny amount to get flawless coverage. If you’re looking for something a bit more reasonably priced, Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage is also great, and you can blend the shades to suit different areas and seasons.
Two more products worth mentioning: Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer (4), which is great for light coverage on days when your skin is more or less behaving (if you like tinted moisturizers, you may also want to try Dr. Jart+ BB cream). And for undereye concealer, it doesn’t get better than YSL’s Touche Eclat (5).
