Acne can be painful and embarrassing. The residual scarring can take an even worse toll on your self esteem. Methods such as chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing can minimize the appearance of these scars. But they are expensive and time consuming and require recovery time. While you are considering those alternatives, you can cover up acne scars with a daily moisturizing regimen and some makeup tricks.

Moisturize Skin

Keep your skin soft and supple by using an oil-free moisturizer twice a day. Acne treatments, internal and topical, often leave skin dry. This gives acne scars a flaky, pitted appearance. A regular moisturizer gets rid of the dry flakes so that your makeup can provide better coverage.

Concealer

Find a concealer that matches your skin tone. Dab a little concealer over the scars that are most prominent and let it dry for a couple of minutes. If necessary, reapply until their appearance is significantly diminished.

Foundation

Foundation gives your skin a smooth, even appearance. Find a foundation that matches your skin and is oil free so it will not clog your pores. Apply this all over your face once the concealer is dry. After the overall application, focus on the jawline, hairline and neck. Blend well in these areas so there is no line where the makeup stops.

Powder

After spot concealing and applying foundation, set the makeup with powder. This keeps it from fading and prevents shine due to oil. The powder can be loose or compact, as long as it blends with your skin and gives it a matte finish.