To brush or not to brush? That is the question when it comes to applying makeup to problem skin. If you apply it with your hands, it goes against the advice that you should touch your skin a little as possible. However, applying makeup with a brush can be less hygienic if the brush isn’t cleaned regularly. So what is the best way of applying makeup to breakout-prone skin without irritating it?
Using makeup brushes on problem skin
Brushes are a great way to apply makeup to blemish-prone skin if you’re keen on avoiding a caked-on or overly made-up look. And a far more natural look can be achieved using brushes because they’re a good tool for blending makeup. This is especially important for those with blemishes, as there is often a tendency to use lots of product on problem areas, which doesn’t look very subtle. Blending is essential to achieving a smooth finish.
Another plus point for brushes is that unlike sponges, they absorb far less of the product, which means less wastage. This also makes them easier to clean. A key point to note about brushes is that they should be cleaned thoroughly after each use. This is especially critical for those with blemish-prone skin so that you don’t transfer any bacteria onto problem areas.
Using your hands to apply makeup on problem skin
Whilst we often see professional makeup artists using brushes to apply makeup, this is mainly for hygiene reasons. In fact, many professionals prefer to use their fingertips to apply makeup.
When using your hands, it’s important to wash your hands thoroughly before touching blemish-prone skin. Using your hands makes it easier to achieve a more natural second-skin look because you can control how much product you apply better than when using brushes. It also means that you are warming the products before using them, which allows makeup to blend with the skin more easily.
Using your hands also gives you great control over where to put your product; manoeuvring around the contours of your face is far easier than with a brush or sponge.
Using sponges to apply makeup on problem skin
Sponges are best used for focusing on problem areas rather than applying product to the whole face. Make sure you use a blotting motion with your sponge to ensure your concealing work blends seamlessly with the rest.
Sponges are also quite versatile. Whilst powder makeup can look messy when applied with hands or brushes, sponges are work well. Wet the sponge slightly before applying powder makeup, as this will give a much smoother, more natural finish.
