Let's Talk Pores, Breakouts, and Blackheads

Yes, everyone has them and everyone thinks theirs are the worst!

Firstly, if you breakout, don't be quick to blame it on your makeup. Do you moisturize? Moisturizers are designed to get down into your pores and into the skin. If you moisturize and everyone should, make sure to use one with a salicylic acid in it, like Clean and Clear's Dual Action Oil Free Moisturizer which is about $5.
Makeups like foundations, powders, and blushes are not designed to sink into your skin and generally shouldn't cause breakouts unless you are not removing them completely. Sometimes your skin is just not going to agree with a makeup, but that doesn't mean all makeups will cause you to flare. Any makeup remover will work, but remember to CLEANSE your skin after taking your makeup off!

Once your skin is clean, you may notice you have blackheads. DO NOT SCRUB THEM! They are not dirt, so there is no reason to scrub and scrub. Blackheads are black because they have oxidized. You have to exfoliate in the pore to get rid of the lil things. Salicylic acid is your friend here also. BHA or AHA products with a pH level under 5 will also help get rid of them. Both BHA/AHA are pH dependant but do not work over a pH level of 5.

Do you use pore strips? I know I have. Its exciting to see all your blackheads be gone in five minutes with a lil white strip, but do you realize you only pealed the top of the black head away? You have to continue to treat the area with a product mentioned above to actually correct the problem and prevent them from coming back.

Retin-a is something you should look into for both acne and blackheads if you have normal skin . It helps to change the function of cells by helping them to produce healthier more normal cells. If you have sensitive skin steer clear of it! If you've ever tried a product that caused your skin to become red and flakey, it probably contained Retin-a. Some people tolerate it well and some do not. If you are using a product with Retin-a in it, make sure to use a sunscreen since it does make the skin more sensitive!

Proactive Solutions and Neutrogena's oil free acne control are great for normal skin types.
My personal suggestion is to try tea tree oil. You can get it at any health food store. Remember to use it in a one part oil to one part water solution, it can burn your skin. It is great for drying up acne and reducing blackheads. It stinks terribly, but if you can get over the horrendous smell it really does help your acne.

Anyways, now that we've covered treating acne and blackheads, let's talk about how to make them less noticeable with makeup. 
Think about it....How do you apply your foundation?  Allot of gals just wipe it on.  Wiping your foundation on in any fashion will cause your pores to stand out.  Using a sponge or foundation brush will not make contact with all the areas that are visible to the eye. Your foundation is generaly brighter then the inside of the pore, so it ends up looking like your pore is a big shadow on your face.

I highly suggest you invest in a stippling brush.  This particular brush, by Real Techniques, is one of my favorites and retails at Ulta for $10..  It has a flat bottom so it can stand on your counter out of the way of  everything else.  It easy to hold and use and is just overall nice to look at.  Did I mention it feels like heaven on your face along with having zero fall out from the hairs!
You can use any brush, you want something that is about half the size of a normal powder brush.  If you are just going to be covering pore in a small area such as your cheeks, use a large eye shadow brush. 

Take your brush, with foundation on it, and buff your foundation in a circular motion all over the areas your need your pores to be covered. The circular motion will cause the makeup to make contact with all areas that are visible to the eye, preventing to shadowed look that makes them stand out. Finally take your powder and PRESS it onto the areas you have just buffed. You do not want to disturb the layer of foundation you have just laid down. Gently press it on and you should have an air brushed look with minimumally noticeable pores!