Skin advice · Acne-prone skin
Acne can make you feel self-conscious, precisely because it's so visible. And it's definitely not just a teenage thing. As an adult, you can still struggle with spots, blackheads, redness, inflammation and blemishes that just never seem to calm down. That's why this page isn't only about covering up, but about a lighter, more mindful make-up routine that takes restless skin into account. With our mineral make-up products, we aim to put as little strain on your skin as possible, help it settle down and give it a good base to recover, while you still look and feel well put together. And even if you have acne, make-up can simply be fun. Make-up is for everyone: not just for hiding things, but also for feeling beautiful, playing with colour and enjoying a bit of time for yourself.
Jump to what helps you
First, give your skin some rest with a simple, gentle routine and products that work lightly and in a targeted way. That way, you can soften redness and uneven areas without weighing your skin down. Further down, we explain why mineral make-up, zinc oxide and a pore-friendly approach can feel so comfortable on acne-prone skin.
Kiki's story
From feeling insecure about her skin to a make-up routine that feels comfortable. Kiki shares her personal experience and now works at Creative Cosmetics herself.
These photos were taken at different times, years apart. They show Kiki then and now and are not a direct comparison of before and after applying make-up. Kiki's experience is personal; results and skin reactions may vary.
Personal story
Now working at Creative Cosmetics
Mijn naam is Kiki en dit was mijn huid een aantal jaar geleden. Mijn gevoel? Erg onzeker. Het deed pijn en ik wilde het het allerliefste verstoppen achter make-up.
In het begin kocht ik de goedkoopste, meest dekkende foundation om mijn acne weg te werken. Maar ik merkte dat mijn acne steeds erger werd en mijn make-up zwaar aanvoelde op mijn huid. In de avond voelde het dan ook als een soort bevrijding wanneer ik mijn make-up er eindelijk af kon halen.
Totdat ik in aanraking kwam met Creative Cosmetics, nadat mijn schoonheidsspecialiste het mij had aangeraden. Zo maakte ik kennis met minerale, parfumvrije make-up. De minerale foundations bevatten zinkoxide, dat een verzorgende en ontstekingsremmende functie heeft. Make-up laat je acne niet verdwijnen, maar ik zocht vooral iets dat prettig aanvoelde op mijn huid.
Het was in het begin even wennen, omdat ik nog nooit met poederfoundations en bronzers had gewerkt. Maar al snel kwam ik erachter dat de dekking heel gemakkelijk op te bouwen was en dat het ook niet zo zwaar aanvoelde als eerdere make-up op mijn huid.
Ik wil niet zeggen dat make-up mijn acne heeft laten verdwijnen. Wel heb ik zelf ervaren dat mijn acne bij deze make-up niet erger werd. Daarnaast voelde mijn huid overdag veel beter aan, waardoor ik lekkerder in mijn vel zat.
Dus heb jij ook last van een acnegevoelige huid of onzuiverheden? Vanuit mijn eigen ervaring raad ik Creative Cosmetics zeker weten aan!
Love, Kiki
We understand the impact
Acne can affect how you see yourself, how comfortable you feel without make-up and even social situations. Research shows that acne can not only be a physical burden, but is also linked to insecurity, a more negative self-image and a lower quality of life.
That applies to young people and adults alike. Some people mainly have acne during puberty, others struggle with it for years or get blemishes again later in life, for example due to hormonal changes. What's more, how visible your acne is doesn't always say much about how much it bothers you.
For us, make-up should never become a thick layer you have to hide behind. The goal is that you get to choose what you want to even out and what can simply stay visible.
A calm daily routine
The essence is simple: cleanse gently, correct in a targeted way, build up thinly, work hygienically and remove everything again at the end of the day.
Cleanse your skin gently but thoroughly. Our natural cleanser removes sebum, dirt and make-up without harsh scrubbing and without drying out your skin unnecessarily. That way, your skin keeps feeling fresh and comfortable.
Cleansing Face Wash | Face Wash GelUse Balance Primer on larger red areas and Concealer Green on individual spots. That way, you don't have to hide redness under a thick layer of foundation.
Balance Primer (formerly Primer Green)Start with a small amount of product. Work in thin layers and only then add extra coverage where needed. This keeps the result more natural and avoids unnecessarily emphasising skin texture.
Colour matchShine on your T-zone? Then apply a suitable Finishing Touch just to those areas. That way, you mattify where needed, without applying extra foundation all over your face.
Finishing touch Milk MatteRemove your make-up before bed and keep your brushes clean. That way, you work hygienically and avoid a needless build-up of old make-up, sebum and dirt.
Natural Cleansing MilkExtra care when your skin feels dehydrated
Acne-prone skin can also be dehydrated. If your skin feels dry, sensitive or tight, add a light moisturiser after cleansing. The Natural Sensitive Repair Fluid has a light texture and is designed to hydrate and help calm sensitive, restless skin without feeling heavy.
Natural Sensitive Repair FluidView skincareOur selection
Selected based on Creative Cosmetics' current product information: cleanse gently, correct redness, even out the skin and mattify shine locally.
Correcting redness
A red spot can stay visible even under a good foundation. The temptation is then to keep adding more foundation. It often looks better to correct the colour first.
Balance Primer is suitable when larger areas look red, for example around the cheeks, nose or chin. Concealer Green, on the other hand, is for very targeted use on a single red spot. Then apply your foundation thinly.
What happens with acne?
Acne develops around the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Sebum, dead skin cells, blockages and inflammatory processes all play a role together. That's why acne can show up in different ways: blackheads, whiteheads, red spots, pustules or deeper, painful inflammation.
Hormonal changes during puberty are well known, but menstruation, pregnancy, stopping or switching contraception and other hormonal fluctuations can also play a role later in life.
Acne-prone skin can be oily and sensitive or dehydrated at the same time. Cleansing too aggressively or drying out the skin can make it feel more restless and doesn't automatically mean less acne.
After active spots, red or dark marks can remain visible. Those colour differences often call for a different approach than active inflammation: targeted correction then looks better than applying extra foundation everywhere.
The make-up question
Niet per definitie. Juist bij een acnegevoelige huid is het belangrijk om te kiezen voor make-up die licht op de huid ligt en de poriën niet afsluit. Zware of sterk afsluitende formules kunnen onrustige huid sneller belast laten aanvoelen.
Onze minerale make-up past bij een anti-comedogene aanpak: de fijne poederformules verstoppen de poriën niet, voelen licht aan en laten de huid vrij ademen. Je bouwt de dekking heel dun en plaatselijk op, zodat je roodheid en oneffenheden kunt verzachten zonder een dikke laag over het hele gezicht.
Creative Cosmetics' loose foundations feel light and can be built up in thin layers. This means you can first even out your complexion and then add extra coverage only where needed, instead of heavily covering your whole face.
All Creative Cosmetics foundations contain zinc oxide. This mineral is known for its skin-protecting and soothing properties and is also used, for example, in nappy creams to protect and soothe irritated skin. There are also indications that topical zinc may have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In our foundation, zinc oxide is part of the mineral pigment system and fits beautifully into a light, skin-friendly make-up routine.
Green and red sit opposite each other on the colour wheel. That's why a green primer or concealer can optically neutralise red spots before you apply foundation. As a result, you often need less foundation.
Ingredient in the spotlight
In all Creative Cosmetics foundations, zinc oxide is used as part of the mineral pigment system. Together with other mineral pigments, it helps build colour and coverage, but zinc oxide is more than just a pigment. It has long been used as a skin-protecting and soothing ingredient. A familiar example is nappy creams with zinc oxide, which are designed to protect irritated skin, soothe redness and keep moisture out.
That's why zinc is also an interesting ingredient for acne-prone skin. Research on topical zinc describes possible anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, and zinc oxide is also used in dermatology as a soothing ingredient. Our foundation is of course not a medicinal zinc cream, and the composition and concentration are different, but it does explain why zinc oxide is such a good fit for a make-up formula for sensitive, red or restless skin.
Also important: not every acne product in our make-up routine contains zinc oxide. Concealer Green works mainly through colour correction with mineral pigments.
Common misconceptions
No. Acne doesn't mean your skin is dirty. Scrubbing hard, squeezing and aggressive cleansing can actually irritate it and increase the risk of damage.
Not necessary. By correcting only the redness and building up foundation locally, your skin often looks much more natural.
Not cure, but a light mineral routine can help restless skin feel calm and cared for. Our foundations contain zinc oxide, which is known for its skin-protecting and soothing properties, while you can even out redness and uneven areas without a heavy layer. With active, painful or persistent acne, professional treatment remains important.
Not all synthetic make-up causes acne, and silicones don't automatically clog pores. In fact, they can make the skin look very smooth and temporarily blur texture optically. That effect is mainly camouflage: it doesn't treat the cause of acne. Long-wear, richer or strongly film-forming formulas can feel heavier on some acne-prone skin, and when a formula irritates, is comedogenic or isn't removed properly, blemishes can get worse. That's why, for restless skin, we prefer our light mineral powders: you only build up coverage where it's needed and keep the rest of your skin as light as possible.
When extra help is a good idea
Do you have deep, painful inflammation, acne that leaves scars, acne that keeps coming back over a long period, or do you notice that your skin has a big impact on how you feel? Then talk to your GP, dermatologist or skin therapist.
You don't have to wait until your acne seems “bad enough”. The impact you experience matters too. Make-up can be a nice everyday choice alongside treatment, but it never has to be the only solution.
Personal advice
Start with the right foundation colour, correct redness only where needed and build up coverage gradually. That way, you stay in control of what you want to show and what you want to soften.
Balance Primer (formerly Primer Green)
Concealer Green