First things first: makeup does not work well on flaky, overmedicated, or picked-at, acne-prone skin. If you are prone to breakouts, then chances are you are using all sorts of treatment methods to dry out these suckers. The problem then becomes more about applying makeup that will land smoothly on your irritated and dried-out top layer of skin.
Moisturizer is a must in these situations. Women who are acne-prone are often guilty of frantically applying way too many drying products in an effort to get rid of pimples, and simultaneously dry out the top layer of skin. It it is imperative that you get your skin to its most optimal health before you apply makeup.
They also tend to skip moisturizing because they already feel oily and think they don't need hydration. This is the worst thing you could do. Your skin is already reeling from your topical ointments and cleansers, so if you don't add moisturizer back into the skin, it thinks it's dehydrated and starts producing more oil!
I carry Clinique's Moisture Surge ($39) in my makeup kit at all times. It's perfect for dehydrated skin and will get rid of flakiness in seconds. It is an aloe- and water-based moisturizer that doesn't feel greasy and gets rid of any dry patches that stick out under makeup.
