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I have been wanting to talk more about how I get ready for a while, but avoided the topic, because I wanted to include video and for it to be perfect. Buuut if I were to wait for that to occur, you'd still be waiting, because it is never going to be perfect! The other day I videoed myself getting ready because I thought it would be fun to share, but quickly realized it would make for a great blog post. One of my most asked questions right now is what foundation I wear. A lot of you are experiencing similar acne flare-ups and seem to notice that mine is barely visible when I am wearing makeup.

The quick answer is that I don’t actually wear foundation. I use an amazing concealer! I have never been one to wear a ton of makeup, so when I do wear it, I don’t like to feel heavy, cakey, or look unnatural. Because I have fair skin, a lot of foundations tend to make me look orange, so that’s another reason I stay away from it most days. I will say when makeup artists do my makeup, the great ones I have worked with do not make me look orange, but I digress.

get ready with me, makeup for acne, adult acne, hormonal acne, foundation, lments of style, ellemulenos, cruelty free and nontoxic beauty make-up

Photo taken around 2:30 pm on 11/22/19

These pictures are very personal to me, but I wanted to share them, so you knew what I was working with. It was important for me to share the dates and times, as well as several options, so you can see canned lighting and natural lighting. Anddd of course bare faced. While I have become more comfortable in my skin than I ever have been (and the most uncomfortable in my skin ever!), I am truly thankful for makeup and I hope this post helps you!

Back on the topic of makeup for acne, one thing makeup isn’t going to do is cover up the bumps on your face. It sucks. I know. The best it can do is help you with discoloration and redness. Though my face has been healing, especially on my forehead, I do get the occasional bump on my chin, and friends, even my amazing concealer isn’t going to fix that. Just keep that in mind! ALSO I know struggle with it too, but please don’t pop your pimples. If you leave their head and let them heal on their own, you won’t have to worry as much about covering up scabs, as that is harder than covering up a bump in my opinion. Just leave it alone, let the head form, and eventually fall off, leaving you with less scarring and less healing time. Again, I knowwww it is hard. Just try!

Photos taken around 10:30 pm on 11/22/2019

Let’s get to the actual makeup. While I don’t wear foundation, I do use a tinted moisturizer before applying concealer. I’m really happy with this Jane Iredale one. I used to use Juice Beauty CC cream and LOVED it. I stopped using it since it had coconut oil as a top ingredient, but might consider going back to it, as I’m not 100% sure it was a cause of my breakouts. (Though I don’t think the coconut oil helped the situation…) To learn more about coconut oil and how it can clog pores, click here. (Side note - my current concealer does have coconut oil, but I was using it before breakouts started.) Besides using a base like a tinted moisturizer, I also apply concealer TWICE. Once after my base and again over trouble spots, after I apply loose powder. Below is a video of how I put on my makeup and then under the video I links to the exact products, listed in the order I use them. I’ll share my current products and some similar options I have used, so you can be sure to find something you like and in your budget.

Andddd of course, everything is cruelty-free and on the non-toxic end of the spectrum.

Photo taken around 8:30 am on 11/23/2019

Gigi Pip Monroe Hat (use discount code ELLEMULENOS10 for 10% off) | American Eagle Sherpa Bomber Jacket | Madewell Jeans | Madewell Sweater

Outdoor Voices Athena Crop | Outdoor Voices CloudKnit Sweatpant (c/o) | Outdoor Voices Long Sleeve CloudKnit

Sunscreen. This isn’t shown in the video, but I wanted to mention it. I don’t put it on every day, but I for sure do if I’m going to be outside for a prolonged period of time. I’m currently using Badger, but I’ve used SuperGoop! Unseen Sunscreen and it goes on so easy. It isn’t rated as low on EWG’s scale, but it isn’t horrible. It rates a 3/10 - Badger rates a 1/10 for reference.

Jane Iredale Tinted Moisturizer. I’ve been using this as my base for over a year now. I’m really happy with it! I wear “light”. I’ve also used Juice Beauty CC cream as a base in the past and really liked it. If you like the SuperGoop! brand that I mentioned above, they have a CC cream that I haven’t tried, but it rates a 1/10 on the EWG scale and looks promising!
Hynt Concealer. This is my fave part of makuep up routine, because it is what makes my blemishes disappear! It does have coconut oil, but I don’t care. I was using it before this recent breakout began, andddd the fact that I’ve removed it from most things I use is still beneficial. It lasts a really long time and goes on easily. I like to use my finger to blot and rub in. I wear it in “fair”. If you want to try other brands, I like Juice Beauty Phytopigments Concealer and Ere Perez Concealer. One I haven’t tried, but have heard good things about is RMS Beauty Uncover Up.
Ilia Blush Stick. Okay, so I’m using this product in the video, but I only started recently using it, as Follain gifted it to me. I like to use it when I need my blush to last all day, as I layer it under powdered blush, but it isn’t a MUST HAVE. Something it is great for though is traveling! It doubles as lipstick, so super versatile. One of my favorite lipsticks is Ilia Color Block lipstick, so I’m not surprised I liked this. The color I’m using is Lady Bird. If you want to try another cream blush, I have tried and liked Juice Beauty Phytopigments Blush.
Lily Lolo Pressed Blush. I looove this blush! Pressed blush is what I grew up using. I’m wearing it in shade “burst your bubble”. One that I haven’t tried, but is supposed to be good, is RMS Beauty Pressed Blush.
Juice Beauty Loose Powder. I use the color “buff”. I think it works like a finishing powder! I’ve also considered RMS Beauty Luminizing Powder and Lily Lolo Mineral Powder.
Hynt Concealer. Like I mentioned earlier, I use concealer twice! Once on all my trouble spots and under/on my eyes. The second time I only put it on my trouble spots and only blot it, so it covers them better.
NYX Brow Gel. I just started doing my eyebrows this past spring! I put them on with a q-tip, so I don’t get it all over my hands. I use color “chocolate”. I’ve also tried and enjoyed Juice Beauty's Brow Gel.
Alima Pure Eye Shadow. I’ve never been a huge eye shadow person. I like that these give me some shimmer, but aren’t too loud. I like to use the color “champagne” under my eye like a highlighter and on my actual eyelid. I also have taupe and like to use it on my eyelid only. Lily Lolo has some pretty palettes I’ve looked at too! Juice Beauty Jelly Eyeshadow Sticks work well if you don’t want to worry about using a brush to apply. They travel well too! Cocokind has highlighter sticks that work similarly as well. I have tried and like both!
Jane Iredale Lash Primer. This is a must for me if I’m wearing mascara! It lengthens my lashes and keep them fresh all day long!
Thrive Causemetics Mascara. I’ve been wearing this mascara for almost 2 years now! It is the best non-waterproof mascara that I’ve tried. It does have phenoxyethanol in it, so there are cleaner options out there, but this is the cleanest option that give you volume and the longest wear, in my opinion. It is 3D fiber, so it wears differently than normal mascaras, but I like it, because you don’t get raccoon eyes when removing it. If you want a cleaner option, I really like Ilia Limitless Mascara. It is less glam and more natural.
Honey and Vinegar Lipstick. Their “malibu” shade is my go-to right now. It is a nude look, but still provides some color and finishes out my look. Try them for 25% off w/code ELLE25. I also really like Ilia Color Block lipstick in “rosette”, which is a dark nude, so it shows up more vs being barely there. It is similar to shade “wailea” by Honey and Vinegar, which I also love.
BKR Paris Balm. I love wearing it alone or finishing my lipstick off with it! Lipsticks can be drying and this keeps the color from visibly cracking andddd keeps your lips looking lush. The clear is the most versatile, but I have the BTS tint (what I’m wearing here and it is fantastic over lipstick.)

Andddd if you want my opinion on good foundations, I really like Vapour Beauty Foundation. Juice Beauty Foundation is good as well!

One thing I do want to say about makeup, is make sure you remove it before going to bed, especially if you have acne! Right now I hav removed all the oils from my skincare routine until my face settles down, but I do use a face oil to remove my makeup. I only use this 1) when I have worn makeup and 2) when I double cleanse. New to double cleansing? It just means I wash twice and use 2 separate soaps - the first is oil based and the second is glycerin based. Read more about double cleansing here.

Tune in tomorrow for another Get Ready With Me, but this time about HAIR!! Have any requests for “Get Ready With Me”? Let me know! I’ve thought about doing a skincare one, but it’s pretty drab right now, since I have been scaling back. I for sure one to do one on my high frequency wand though!! If it is skincare you want though, I’ll be sharing my winter skincare regimen at the end of the month though. See ya then!