My Concealer Won’t Stick: How To Cover A Popped Pimple

I can’t remember how many times I’ve been told not to pop pimples and how many times I promised myself not to do it in the future. Somehow I failed to learn from my mistakes and assumed that the next time will be different, but unfortunately I’m proven wrong time after time. The biggest problem with squeezed pimples is that the aftermath makes things worse and traditional remedies won’t work.

Instead of helping yourself to heavy concealer and hope that powder will cover up the mess you created, consider liquid bandage instead. The reason you want to use this is that concealer doesn’t work on open skin and if you want to cover the blemish temporary, you need to use a more complex solution. The good news is that in addition to the bandages that need to be purchased from a local pharmacy, you won’t need anything fancy but a cotton swab.

Before applying anything and trying to cover the squeezed pimple, make sure you clean up your skin and let it dry for a couple of minutes. I know that it is frustrating to wait for so long to address a matter that was caused by an action that took only a couple of seconds but at least these minutes will allow you to think things through and next time you will refrain from popping the pimple and create the mess in the first place. It is safe to apply makeup over the liquid bandage, just wait a few minutes before doing it.

1Dab a bit of liquid bandage on pimples with a q-tip, let it dry. When the liquid bandage dries, it forms a barrier that is antiseptic, flexible and waterproof. It’s great!

2Apply concealer by pressing the bristles on top of the pimple, then give the brush a twist. This gets the concealer into the blemish’s nooks and crannies. Repeat till it’s totally hidden.

3Place your finger on one side of the zit, then gently tap the concealer from the edge into the surrounding skin. Do this all the way around the zit to soften and blend the edges

4Now apply foundation as usual to the rest of your face. Take it all the way up to the zit’s perimeter so skin is one even shade.

5Dip a clean, dry finger into loose powder (it should match your skin exactly), then lightly tap it over the concealer. Talc or cornstarch in the powder prevents your skin’s oils from melting the makeup under it.

How Does It Work?

It’s essentially an antiseptic that fills in the wound and seals it, allowing for a smoother surface for your cover-up and protection from bacteria. Since it minimizes healing time (and keeps your fingers off the area), it makes it’s a great over-the-counter popped pimple fix. Keep a tube of the stuff in your cabinet in case those moments strike. You can cover it up and act like nothing ever happened. Our secret.