This article originally appeared on InStyle.com.
Celebrity makeup artist Hung Vanngo’s clientele is like a who’s who of the most beautiful people, and that’s no coincidence. The Vietnamese MUA is known for turning up the dazzle on stars like Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Lawrence, Julianne Moore, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, and Cindy Crawford, using his deft hands to transform their good genes into red carpet and Instagram gold.
While some makeup artists stay tight-lipped about the secrets they use to beautify celebs, Vanngo has taken the opposite approach via his YouTube channel that features models like Karlie Kloss and Emily Ratajkowski (in his first video back in August, Ratajkowski called Vanngo her “favorite makeup artist”).
Luckily for us, Vanngo’s ASMR-esque tutorials are a trove of knowledge on how, exactly, he deals with all the skin issues that both celebrities and us normal people face. In a video he posted in October on how to achieve a ‘90s supermodel look, Vanngo explains that when it comes to concealing pimples, he sees most people making one huge mistake: using their go-to under-eye concealer to cover up blemishes.
The problem? The right under-eye concealer should be a shade or two lighter than your skin tone in order to counteract dark circles and even out discoloration. So if you’re using a lighter concealer under your eyes (as you should), using that same shade on acne will cause you to “see pronouncedly where the pimple is,” Vanngo says — especially if you’re dealing with hormonal acne scattered across your jaw.
Related: Our Editors' Favorite Skin Care Picks for Healthy and Glowing Skin All Winter Long
Instead, the concealer you use for acne should be an exact match to your foundation, he continues. As Vanngo demonstrates with the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Foundation and Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer, using a small brush to pinpoint and cover blemishes with a coordinating concealer leaves them invisible to the naked eye — and HD lenses.
To buy: $25 (Originally $29); nordstrom.com
Two concealers for one face may seem excessive, but if you’re regularly dealing with pimples, a specialized concealer definitely pays off. And in a happy twist, both of the products that Vanngo features are currently 15 percent off at Nordstrom. The foundation alone has racked up 462 five-star reviews on the site, with happy shoppers writing that “pores just disappear, as well as age spots.” One person said: “Most people don’t think I have makeup on. I receive so many compliments on a daily basis.”
To buy: $41 (Originally $48); nordstrom.com
Seeing is believing, and watching the duo of products seamlessly blend into Vanngo’s model’s face is a testament to excellent products used skillfully. Thanks to Vanngo’s knowledge bomb, both are yours for the taking.
