Makeup artists have told me that wearing blush and having blemishes are mutually exclusive. To this unofficial "beauty rule," I say: nope. Even when cystic breakouts have completely taken over my cheeks, skipping blush has never crossed my mind. If I'm wearing makeup, blush is as much of an essential as mascara.
Kleven likes jane iredale's blush sticks and highlighter sticks because of their creamy formulas that contain jojoba seed oil, which is a "natural emollient and soothing ingredient that mimics the skin's own natural sebum [and] is often used to tackle symptoms associated with acne." The shimmery blush stick comes in ...
Since acne-prone skin is sensitive, people with acne may find that certain makeup products, such as foundations and concealers, worsen acne or cause new breakouts. However, dermatologists from the American Academy of Dermatology say it's okay for acne patients to wear makeup.
If you want to avoid breakouts and irritations when it comes to blush, non-comedogenic cream blushes are the best choice to use on a daily basis.
It's a fact that a lot of these blushes are comedogenic ( products that clog the pores). And clogged pores result in… you guessed it — breakouts! It's just that such formulas blend into your skin seamlessly, and even though that sounds great, it's not the best for your face.
Blush Products to Avoid for Acne Prone Skin
Crème blush often contains emollients, or oils, and this can aggravate acne. Cheap makeup products are also a good idea to avoid; these may or may be made with inferior ingredients that could also aggravate pimples.
Mica, Silica, and Talc
Our estheticians say that these light-reflecting particles, found in everything from foundation and powder to bronzer, can all cause irritation and dehydration, potentially leading to breakouts.
Certain red dyes, specifically those derived from coal tar, and that can be found in many blush formulations, have been shown to be comedogenic. In fact, New York dermatologist Eric Schweiger, MD, told us that there's even a medical term for the condition: acne cosmetic.
Cream or Powder? Cream blushes work best on dryer skin types. They tends to let your skin show through so if you have oily skin, acne-scars or you're prone to blemishes it's better to steer clear of these.
If you want a bold looking blush, pick one with the opposite undertone as your skin. Therefore, If you have a warm skin tone (a yellow undertone), choose warm blush shade for a natural look and a cool blush shade for a pop of color. Vice versa if you have a cool skin tone (a pink undertone).
Mineral makeup is the best kind when acne-prone or sensitive skin is in question. “These have fewer chemical actives and tend to be gentler on your skin.” Look for products like the Natio Pure Mineral Face Primer and the Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Loose Powder to avoid an acne flare-up the next day.
Acne cosmetica looks like small bumps across the surface of the skin or scalp. The skin will look and feel rough. Many comedones, and possibly some small papules and pustules, will be present, but there usually is little to no inflammation.
Can oily skin use cream blush? A cream blush is likely to fade away on oily skin sooner than a powder blush. If you have oily skin, and want the blush to stay for long in its place, it is recommended you go for a powder formula. Powder blushes will absorb the excess sebum and keep your look last longer than usual.
Cream blush is often touted for looking more natural than it's powder and gel counterparts but sadly, it can often fade faster than a Tinder connection.
“For some, the silica in primers can clog pores or some cream-based makeup can also cause acne,” says Mariwalla. “For others, the actual dye or colorant in the makeup can cause skin irritation, which can in turn cause acne.” When your acne is caused by your makeup, it's actually referred to as acne cosmetica.
The dermatologist should known better than to scare my mum into thinking that blush causes and exacerbates hyperpigmentation. I checked with my dermatologist and with quite a bit of chuckling, he said no, blush does not cause freckles. And that, to date, is the worst advice I've ever heard about blush.
MAC. MAC pressed Blush is made with D&C Red #30. Don't waste your time hunting through the pore clogging list to see if this is safe, it's not. D&C Red #30 will aggravate your acne.
Wearing heavy makeup.
While you don't necessarily have to skip wearing makeup, be sure to avoid putting on too much just to conceal your scars. Caking up on cover-ups like foundation can only make your scar look worse and irritate the skin.
Acne develops when sebum — an oily substance that lubricates your hair and skin — and dead skin cells plug hair follicles. Bacteria can trigger inflammation and infection resulting in more severe acne.
If you don't feel comfortable going makeup-free all day, cleanse your face as soon as you get home. This will give your skin a few hours every evening to go bare. Makeup alone typically doesn't cause a full-blown case of inflammatory acne, so just keeping your skin bare isn't going to be enough to clear up your skin.